Yard of ale

A yard, also Yard -of- Ale, Long Glass, Ells Glass or Cambridge Yard Glass is a tall drinking glass, which is usually used for the consumption of beer.

Naming and structure

Its name owes to the glass dimensions. It usually has a height of one yard ( 91.44 cm) and a capacity of two imperial pints ( 1.14 L ). However, smaller yard -of- ale glasses exist with a height of only 18 inches (45.72 cm) and greater with a height of about a yard and a capacity of up to 4 pints (2.27 liters ). The glass is composed of a funnel-shaped tube, which occupies approximately 85 % of the glass thickness; this leads into a ball. Thanks to this design, the glass can not be turned off without tools. One usually puts it in a special mount or hang it on the wall.

History

The yard glass was first mentioned in 1617 by Thomas Young in England 's Bane. In John Evelyn 's diary can be found on 10 February 1685 is a further indication. Here it is described that was drunk to celebrate the proclamation of King James II in Bromely ( Kent, England) from the high sheriff, his officers and high gentlemen from a " flint glass from a yard length."

Although it loud Evelyn seems that the yard was used only on special occasions, there are plenty of indications that it was mainly used in truck stops, taverns and pubs for everyday use in drinking contests. This practice continues to the present day. Thus we find in the Guinness Book of World Records from 1975, a record that shows that Peter Dowdeswell of Earls Barton, England, has made ​​it a yard -of- ale with a capacity of 2 imp.pt ( about 1.14 liters) of beer drink up within 5 seconds.

Dissemination and use

Yard glasses can be found especially in the UK where they were for about 400 years in use and in some cases still are. Also in New Zealand and Ireland, these glasses are found. Because of the construction, the yard is often used for drinking games. It's hard to sell the glass without the running back of the contents splashing out a bit. It may also happen that the contents of the glass over the inexperienced drinker pours as soon forms a bubble of air in the ball.

Antique Yard glasses are due to the fragility of their material almost disappeared. One of the largest collections of yard glasses entertains the family Sackville of Knole House, Sevenoaks, Kent, England.