You’re out at a bar or brewery and you order a pint. But, depending on where you are, you don’t get the same size pour. The bartender may even pour less than you were expecting.
A pint of beer is a 16-ounce pour in the United States, or 20 ounces in the UK (called an imperial pint). However, not all beers are 16 or 20 ounces when served as a full pour, and your bartender may assume that asking for a pint means a full pour.
How Many Ounces Is a Pint of Beer?
In the United States, a pint is a 16-oz pour of beer, which is four ounces more than a standard 12-oz bottle or can. It’s pretty much the universal go-to size at any bar or brewery for lagers and ales.
| Pint Type | Size |
|---|---|
| US Pint | 16 oz |
| Imperial Pint (UK/Ireland) | 20 oz |
| Half Pint | 8 oz |
An imperial pint is a 20oz pour. If you order a pint in the UK or Ireland, expect to get an imperial pint, since over there, a pint is closer to 20 ounces. Some bars in the US offer imperial pints on certain beers, too, so it’s worth knowing the difference before you assume you’re getting a deal.
Then there are airport bars, which sell 22-oz beers. That’s not officially a pint, but I would call a 22-oz beer an “airport pint” if given the naming rights.
The “Cheater Pint” Problem
Just because you order a pint of beer in the US doesn’t mean you’re getting 16 ounces, because some bars use what’s called a “cheater pint.” The cheater pint is a pint glass that’s supposed to look normal-sized but actually holds just 14 ounces of beer. You’ve maybe noticed out at the bar that some pint glasses are bigger than others, and this could be the culprit. If you do get a full-priced beer in a 14-oz glass, I encourage you to stop frequenting the bar that did that.
When a Pint Isn’t 16 or 20 Ounces
At a craft brewery, you might order a “pint” of beer, but only get a full-poured 12-oz glass. This is because some beers, like triple IPAs or sours, might have a full pour of just 12 ounces. Don’t blame your bartender, though; it’s pretty common to exchange the terms “full pour” and “pint,” the same as we might interchange “half pour” and “half pint.”
Types of Pint Glasses (And Why They’re Different)
Depending on where you go, your beer might show up in a glass that looks like it belongs at a wine bar. These are probably chalices, goblets, or tulips, which are designed to hold 12–14oz, though some do hold a full 16oz just to keep things interesting.
Why use a specialty glass instead of just marking “12oz” on a standard pint? Because glassware actually affects the beer. Depending on the shape, a glass can bring out more aroma, control how fast bubbles rise, affect the size of the foam head, and change how the beer tastes. It’s not just aesthetics.
There are even more niche types of glassware out there, with my personal favorite being the Teku glass. Glassware is a rabbit hole worth going down.
How Much Beer Do Steins Hold?
Everyone knows that a stein is the big beer mug with a handle, the one you picture at Oktoberfest. Steins can hold anywhere from 16–32oz. A full Oktoberfest-size stein holds nearly 34oz, which is exactly 1 liter for anyone keeping metric score.
Knowing your glass sizes matters for a couple of reasons. First, you’ll know how much you’re actually drinking, which helps you pace yourself. Second, the glass tells you something about the beer. Nobody’s pouring PBR into a chalice, and you won’t be drinking a Belgian tripel out of an Oktoberfest stein.
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