What's your preferred serving size for one beer?

My favorite taproom does 6 oz pours as their "sample" pour for reasonable prices. I feel like I get a good taste of each beer without the palate fatigue of normal 4-6 beer flights.

 

This is where I'm at. BA stouts, big barleywines, quads etc. I really only prefer 5oz or so. Its more a desert. I'll have to look into the uKeg thing. 2 of us tried to muscle through a 32 oz crowler of Black Tuesday last night (19.5%), and I had around 12oz, which = 4 standard AALs. Would love to have been able to just have a few oz. knowing it wouldn't go to waste.

 

Which planet is that? Very few countries on Earth even use the US Standard measurement system. The US 16 oz. pint traditionally wasn't the typical bottle size for beer in the US; that's been 12 oz. since before Prohibition with some slight variation (12.5 through 15/16 oz.).

And a draught "glass of beer" served in bars had been 8 - 12 oz. glass of beer" in most regions and most bars after Repeal right up until the 1970-1980s. Occasionally even dropping down to 6-7 oz to avoid price increases, since, rather than volume, customers prized the "nickel [then, rather quickly, "dime" and by the early 50's in most regions the "15¢" ] glass of beer".

Nothing "traditional" about ordering a "pint" in the US - just look at the size of pre-craft (and, needless to say, pre-shaker) era brewery logo-ed beer glasses. Or this mid-'80s chart from AB.

Probably what many drinkers get when served beer in a "shaker pint" with a proper head on it (or, especially, in a faux "pint" with the thick bottom, regardless of the size of the head).

from Libbey's commercial glass catalogue (note outside dimensions).

 

I like the 16 oz. I love pouring it into a glass, taking some sips, then topping it off a while later, it feels like I’m getting more (yes I realize it may cost more). And I am a session guy so I’m good with more of the same beer on that regard. The smaller the serving size the more annoyed I get. Just me.

 

Notice the thickness of the bottom of each glass. They are also called “cheater” glasses.

An argument can be made that these glasses are more difficult to accidentally tip. This is one example of why reputable establishments do, or should, list volume sizes on the beer menu.

 

As always. @jesskidden bringing the knowledge. I love it.

 

Yes, but he often annoyingly ends a perfectly good debate by spouting facts. The gall.

 

I took the way the poll was worded to have the words "...for your everyday beer" implicit in the question. For us, we are fans of 16 oz servings for lagers and mid-range (5-7% ABV) ales, of which there are vast selections in the PNW. For those special beers, less is sometimes better.

The 500ml size is a nice fit for some.

 

I went with 16oz. A lot of the stellar qualities of beer come out later, as it warms. A 12oz is oftentimes too small to get those results.

 

I mean when able a flight is great to me but I love a 12oz can/bottle wish more breweries were in this format rather than 16oz cans but to each their own

 

Half or full liter for low abv beers. 12-16 oz for middle abv beers. 4 oz for high abv beers.

 

Put me down for a pint.

 

I'm a big fan of the 8oz half pour...might I want more? Sure, another half pour it is. Just like to keep my options open for that second half.

 

16 ounce cans of a nice IPA is perfect, only need one... but usually crush two!

 

11 oz. One third of a liter feels just right

 

Absolutely! For me 12 ounces is generally not quite enough, but two 12-ouncers can be too much, hence what @utopiajane has said...

But I've been informed that the Imperial pint is not 20 American ounces, but actually 19.2064... and, as noted by @marquis, there's the whole headspace issue... so how many ounces do I really want? I'm guessing about 18.

 

Why isn't 4oz. one of the main choices? Over in the Controversial Opinions thread, it's being lauded as THE target beer serving size.

 

I voted 10oz. or under since my real answer would've been 8oz., but it really does depend on the beer style. I want 500ml/16.9oz of German, lighter Belgians, and English beers meant for really drinking (even sometimes opting for the full liter or 20oz., depending on the establishment). With most other things, I prefer 8oz., which I feel is enough for me to get to know the types of beers that I prefer to drink this amount of (sours and imperial beers).

 

I like 12 ounces for home consumption. In a pub give me a pint, or even better, a British pint.