Tankards

Subject: Tankards
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 05:29 PM

I am fascinated by these things. I saw quite a few in action today at Hull shanty festival! I don't own one, though I am a folk lover and real ale drinker. Do female 'folkies' have them or is it a man thing? I notice you do get them in half pint sizes. I'm not really up on the folk 'scene' so am rather naive on this point you see..

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 05:36 PM

Oh no it's very much a female thing too.

One advantage is that it stops you losing beer from those awful thin squishy plastic 'glasses' that many festivals charge you an extra 10p for and you can leave a pub and move on to another venue without leaving your ale behind or supping up more quickly than you'd want.

Mind you it gets a bit addictive and one day you suddenly find you own 2 dozen of them :)

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 06:02 PM

Excellent. I'm on to one now! I never thought of those advantages. Yeah I hate drinking from plastic too!

Just been looking online - I quite like those leather ones..

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 06:15 PM

ohh I've got one of those blackjacks Jane (half pint size)
They are really very nice but be careful not to squeeze them and crack the proofing interior.

If you look in your local charity shops you can always find some good quality pewter tankards at very low prices but cider is a no no becuase of it's acidic qualities.

My favourite 'tankard' is in fact an early Victorian half pint measure (complete with standard mark) but it is very heavy in lead content.

Good luck and slainté.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Folkiedave
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 06:20 PM

I am with Emma on this one. I foten nip into a charity shop looking for them and it is rare that there isn't one. I never pay more than £3.00 and that's for top notch stuff.

One year at Warwick Festival there was a stall selling them - clearly someone who had been around charity shops and just picked them up, marked them up and seemed to be doing a good trade.

Another tip - some hold more than a pint....shhhhhhhh

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: LesB
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 06:23 PM

Another advantage is that in a concert, at a featival you can put them on the floor, with much less chance of them being knocked over.
(Having had my feet soaked at Fylde by the chap in the row in front kicking his full pint over)
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: the button
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 08:30 PM

"Another tip - some hold more than a pint....shhhhhhhh"

Thanks for that, Folkiedave. I'd often wondered....

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 08:34 PM

I reckon I'll seek out some charity shop ones and 'personalise' them by engraving.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: bobad
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 08:43 PM

Can someone elucidate the association between tankards and festivals for us colonialists across the Atlantic.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 08:54 PM

Well many festivals are based in towns and use local hostelries.

To buy a drink may require you to 'buy' a glass (i.e. put down a £1 deposit or similar) or alternatively drink out of some flimsy plasic container that spills half your drink when you attempt to pick it up.

It has also been known for pubs to run out of clean glasses from time to time.

As sessions are also held in these pubs you may wish to move from one to another venue without necessarily quoffing your ale in one go; a tankard enables you to take your drink with you.

Maybe you just have to be there :)

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: bobad
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 08:58 PM

Well, that seems to be a rather quaint and ecology friendly practice. thank you Emma B.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 09:05 PM

I like the look of the Georgian ones. Do you get ceramic ones too? I think I'd like one of those.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 09:10 PM

They don't 'bounce' quite as well Jane :)

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 09:17 PM

And I guess slamming them down on the table to a rousing chorus isnt possible with ceramics!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: the button
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 09:38 PM

Should disaster strike, you could always keep the bits, and stick them in a Tupperware container -- instant ceramic shakey egg.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: open mike
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 10:54 PM

i used to have one that had a curved handle..looked like a ram's horn.
fit neatly tied onto a belt at the renaissance faire..alas pewter must
have a low melting temp as there is no sign of it since the fire...

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Gurney
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 02:42 AM

Sure does, lass. If you get a leak in one, you can mend it with a soldering iron. But, you have to be careful, you can melt your way right throuh it....

I'd hesitate to drink wine or fruit juice out of pewter with an unknown lead content.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Dave (Bridge)
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 02:47 AM

Get one with a lid and it keeps the wasps out.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Micca
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 05:10 AM

If you drink Cider or ANYTHING that may be acidic get a stainless steel tankard (I have been searching for years for a Stainless with alid to keep out the wasps) the advantages of SS are:-
1 they bounce even better than pewter
2 if you "inadvertently" hit someone with it they stay Hit!!!
3 they do not poison you by leeching Cadmium or lead into your drink
4 you do not have to "think" about what you pour into it as it is inert to most commonly met drinks
5 they stay shiny .

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 05:24 AM

Oh Micca the beauty of pewter is that lovely old patina.

I agree a tankard with a lid is also great for stopping your beer getting watered down when you are looking after a gate at our rainy summer festivals :)

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: GUEST,Sapper STILL stuck in Derby
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 05:41 AM

I'll echo Micca's comments regarding pewter tankards, but the problem is lead, not cadmium.
Modern pewter is lead free, so isn't so bad, but drinking cider out of the the older alloy is certainly a no-no!!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Folkiedave
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 05:49 AM

And amongst the selections of festival tankards I have is one made of stainles steel.

Eat your heart out Micca.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Paul Burke
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 05:57 AM

I had a nickel tankard once, a bloody great quart mug. Certainly held a lot of beer, but unfortunatley made it go flat in no time at all.

As for glass bottoms in tankards, to pre-empt any turn of the conversation that way, it WASN'T to avoid getting the King's Shilling slipped into your drink. It was so you could see if the beer was cloudy.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:06 AM

Be careful about dented ones... they will hold less than a pint so it goes both ways.

More on our collection of 20+ tankards later...

LTS

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:23 AM

Mmm... thinks... I have a very nice George V tankard in the cupboard - must get it out.

Some seaside pubs I know won't serve any drinks other than in a plastic glass if you say you're going to drink it outside (!). I once had an argument with a girl behind the bar who wouldn't serve me a glass of wine and insisted I drink it from a plastic wine glass. I told her it tasted horrid from plastic, but she "knew best" and aid she had to obey house rules.

So - question: what would you experienced tankard users recommend for wine? I do like beer but sometimes can't always drink it.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:36 AM

Bearing in mind what has been said about old pewter and acidic drinks there are plenty of attractive metal goblets for your margharita, dry martini or even a nice Chablis like
these

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:38 AM

Thanks for that link Emma B - the one in the middle looks great. I might invest!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:45 AM

Well now - look at this lot...


Heavy metal goblets

Somehow can't imagine one of these hanging from my belt!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: GUEST,Rich A
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:53 AM

My tankard is from A E Williams, world renowned for its pewter. Very well made and has survived being dropped many time on Morris tours etc.

AE Williams

They're quite pricey but worth it.

Rich

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 07:00 AM

and if your tipple is something a little shorter still.....

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 07:04 AM

Dalvey stuff is very good. I have several Dalvey pieces and they're excellent quality.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Micca
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:01 AM

Sapper, the "lead-free" modern pewter in many cases substitutes Cadmium and its alloys to replace the lead used in old pewter which in certain conditions of acidity will leach into your drink and give that touch of "metallic" taste

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:05 AM

As I have a 'Free Beer' deal at one of the sessions I help out at , I have a Cow Horn (Wooden base) that holds about two pints ! Only time I drink 'Cooler' beer , as the horn keeps the beer cool better than Pewter does . Have to be careful NOT to drop it as a hair line crack can leave you thirsty , with a VERY wet table .

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: My guru always said
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:20 AM

Mine's an old battered Pewtwer one of my Dad's that was left behind the bar at his Cricket Club. I remembered it a couple of years after his death & they were glad to be able to pass it on to me!

Good advice about getting your tankard engraved, mine has my name & phone number on the base.

Another good reason for tankards which I don't think has been mentioned, is that no-one accidently drinks your pint *grin*

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: LesB
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:40 AM

They are particulaly popular with Morris dancers due to the constant moving from dance spot to pub to dance spot etc, & also finding 'which one is mine'.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:41 AM

Emma B, you're a fountain of knowledge! I love those goblets! I drink wine often, too, so I'm tempted.. just hope my bank balance doesnt get so drained I can't afford to buy the liquor to go in them!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 09:20 AM

I have two leather ones, plus several wooden ones I make myself. The nice thing is that indoors, they serve as combo coasters/mugs. (funny, I had never called them 'tankards', though I suppose there's little difference.) I do have several 'beer steins' with lids, though I seldom use them, as they are ceramic and leave wet spots.

I'll take a picture of my collection.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: GUEST,Essex Girl
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 09:30 AM

I've got a whole set of Pewter Tankards, from the quart pot (which was Dave Bryants)and the pint pot which I use all the time down to the tiny gill pot. Beer does taste much better out of pewter than plastic!!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: le cheffie
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 09:59 AM

I have a collection of pewter tankards for different occasions. One for Morris, one for festivals and a really battered on for re enactment. I'm still after a nice ceramic one or a leather one to use for re enacting.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 10:06 AM

I don't know if the tankards you have over in the UK are manufactured differently, but every tankard I've tried in the U.S. that is made of metal just makes the beer taste awful. The metalic taste is something I just can't shake. I know that often the kegs are metal, but they are coated to protect the beer from exposure.

I can see where ceramic mugs would be a problem, but a good size plastic one could surely serve the purpose and retain the taste of the beer.

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Splott Man
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:17 AM

Are there any chemical leaching problems regards drinking red wine from a pewter goblet?

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:30 AM

Yes, but it's probably minimal in modern pewter. In 17th or 18th century France it was noted to cause some rather nasty symptom which were reprised in the 'Dorset Dropsy' of later times. 'Dorset Dropsy' was found noted to occur in cider drinkers but couldn't, initially, be linked to lead poisoning as cider, in England, was being drunk from earthenware vessels. Eventually they found that lead solder was being used to repair the oaken boards that the fruit was chopped up on!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Micca
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:33 AM

Splott Man it would depend on the acidity of the wine, ie "Cheap generic red Vin (extremely)Ordinaire might be a bit rich in the acids and taste a bit worse than a good burgundy, also even a GOOD young Chianti might be a bit crappy from one, I personally prefer Glass for wine so I can view the colour before that first heavenly sniff and then taste(oops! sorry I was Waxing lyrical there) but I personally would hesitate to drink my good Rioja out of it, if you need a "metal" wine drinking vessel it is often easy to pick up a half pint Silver tankard from markets or antique fairs fairly cheap and they are usually supposed to be OK, after all it is a Traditional vessel for drinking Champagne!!!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:37 AM

silly me I was thinking it was one of

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Emma B
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:38 AM

these
ooops!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Micca
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:49 AM

" drank Champagne from her shoe
it was more than a sup
It took near 2 bottles
to fill the thing up
a simple experience
not to be missed
but it wasn't surprising
I ended up pissed"

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:56 AM

DOrset Dropsy! I've been mislead all these years - it was Devon Colic!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: lady penelope
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 04:55 PM

I have a set of goblets made from pewter (Neither high in lead or cadmium!!!) each goblet takes over half a pint. It can be dangerous drinking wine out of them (volume wise...), but it does keep the wine nice & cool!

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 02:47 AM

All you had to do was ask me... after all, I'm FROM Dorset - as if I'd let you forget.

My granfer always said they'm funny in Deb'n. Guess we know the reason.

Somerset also had its problems and even now, 'Zummerzet volk be daft, you' if you ask the people in north Dorset.

My granfer's cider press was wood and cast iron... but the only metal that touched the cheese was the stainless steel milking bucket.

LTS

Subject: RE: Tankards
From: Paul Burke
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 03:22 AM

Devon Colic was attrributed more to lead-lined cider presses and pipes. This makes more sense- in a tankard, the lead is in contact with the liquid for a relatively short time (especially if it's my tankard). Here's an article on the disease, its prevalence, symptoms, and discovery of the cause. This case had a wider importance, in that a disease was ascribed directly to a given cause, thus questioning the medical belief of the time that disease was caused by bodily imbalances.