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Home > Blog > Know Your Pint – A History of the Crown Stamp

Know Your Pint – A History of the Crown Stamp

By Liz Chatterton | 23 April, 2010

miscellaneous draft beer

We sell a ton of Authentic British Style Imperial Pint Glasses and it's no wonder why. They're as official as pint glasses get.

Authentic Imperial Pint with Crown Seal

The prominent Crown Stamp on the glasses we sell today dates back to 1826 when King George EB established the Imperial system of weights and measures. From then on, all beer and cider in Britain was served in -pint and 1-pint quantities. All glasses underwent an inspection of Weights and Measures to ensure that they were fit for use for trade. The glasses that passed were "stamped." The little seal of approval is usually sandblasted on after a sample of glasses from each batch made has been tested. This system is still in place today.

Those that make the cut are usually of the brim variety, meaning to give the correct measure, the glass must be filled to the top.

If your pint glass doesn't have an etched seal and you're concerned about being short poured, you can always use the Piaget Beer Gauge to measure the volume in your glass. Either method will ensure you've got a full pint.

Hope you've enjoyed this brief beer related history lesson. Drink on.


Liz Chatterton


Comments

Robert Mach
May 10, 2021, 1:27 pm

Hi, have you any idea what the number 3 refers to on a G.R crown stamp?

Cheers

Robert

Jason Davies
May 14, 2021, 7:38 pm

The crown was first put on the pint glasses by law in 1700 William 3rd.

Robert Levin
June 13, 2021, 11:16 pm

Hi,
I just recieved my pint glasses today and love them. I did have a question about what factory made them, as theres no numbers under the crown. Couldn't find anything about the maker's symbol on the bottom online.
Cheers,
Bob

Ed Ford
February 22, 2022, 11:54 pm

HI, a very good friend from Leeds who has since passed away several years ago, gave me a pint glass and said they don't make them any more . It is a some what typical pub pint glass but has a the crown emblem etched toward the top and looks like it has the numbers 303 under it. Can anyone tell me more about it, it would be very much appreciated. Ed.

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