BS: Dimpled pint pots

Subject: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Stu
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:11 AM

I'm really brassed off with the fact that dimpled pint pots appear to be in terminal decline in England.

Obviously this is a matter of choice, as I much prefer my beer in a dimpled pot rather that a straight glass, but I can't help noticing that now if you ask for an ale you more often than not get it in a straight glass with some form of branding on.

So now I always request a pot.

Strike a blow for dimpled pots! Request a pot next time you order a pint (unless you don't want one of course).

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Dead Horse
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:18 AM

I nearly always carry my own. Pewter, but very dimpled by years of abuse.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: IanC
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:18 AM

I always preferred straight glasses which are, anyway, more traditional where I come from. You don't have any problem getting a jug with a handle round here!

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:32 AM

When I started drinking, I lived in Kent and most of the glasses were dimpled. I can't remember why I first had a pint in a straight glass but I know I found it far more pleasant to hold and to drink from. I ended up doing the opposite of what stigweard suggested - asking for a straight glass in an area where the normal was a thing with a handle on.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: IanC
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:35 AM

BTW I forgot to say that I collect the straight sided pint mugs (octagonal in cross-section) which were superseded by the dimpled ones around about the 1950s.

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:37 AM

Think you'll find the dimple will be an endangered species as the company who produced them are stopping making them as of this year

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 08:12 AM

I always ask for a 'handle' with my pint. Reasons? force of habit, and a willingness to drink the beer I pay for. Drinking in a group where most people are drinking whatever the local real bitter is, when there are several sat at a table it is easy to pick up the wrong pint (by accident or otherwise). This doesn't happen if you are the only one drinking from a handled glass. (You have no excuse for drinking someone else's either, but 'thems the breaks').
I am currently seeking a couple of replacement 'handled' 'pint' pots which are a measure 'to the line'. The two I have used in my local club over the last 20 years have both now expired, and replacing them is proving to be a problem. E-mails to a couple of manufacturers listed in "What's Brewing" have so far failed to find such items.

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 08:24 AM

Ain't nobody picking-up a red-clad stainless steel tankard 'cept the guy in red!

AND it comes back to me when I leave it - pewter never did - too heavy I guess.

And what were the dimples for? Anything like the dimples on a golf ball? Keeps it steady while in motion? stigweard , old chap, have you noticed you spill more without handles?

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 08:51 AM

I don't care if it comes in a pint glass, a mug, a pitcher, or an old hat! Just so long as I can drink it!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 09:07 AM

The dimples are an absolute necessity when playing 'Fizz-Buzz' as any player making a mistake must drink one dimple or 'windows' level of beer.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: artbrooks
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 03:27 PM

The standard mode of beer drinking in the States, unless you are drinking draught beer (which may be pronounced anywhere from draw-t to draft) is from the bottle (or, bletch, aluminum can). This is especially prevelant in places where the male customers don't take their hats off indoors. A request for a glass (of ANY kind) is viewed with a certain amount of suspicion.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Bert
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:09 PM

Harryoldham, I thought that I was the only one here that had ever heard of Fizz-Buzz. I tried to explain it once and everyone thought I was crazy. Now that may well be true but it doesn't have anything to do wioth Fizz-Buzz.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:38 PM

Dimples make the glass easier to hold when wet. Because it is wider, it's not so easy to get a firm grip. If you drop a jar or 'sleeve' as they were known in Dorset, you have to buy another pint. It's a lot harder to drop something with a handle.

They are on the decline for storage reasons. A bad staff member can stack upward of 20 glasses (bad because the pressure cracks the bottom ones of the pile and Health and Safety would scream and faint if they saw you doing it... all that glass you could trip and fall with....), but jugs can only be held in groups of 5-10. They don't stack, so have to have lots of shelf space. They are a pain to put through the sloshy hedgehogs and the handles collect dirt. The only advantage to the bar staff is that they don't break so easily, so you can't get glassed by one.

LTS - who always used a jug until moving up north to London. Can't get them for love nor money now.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 06:46 PM

The Govenor at the Royal Oak - Ystrad Mynach - has 3 left. One is marked for my use. One is in reserve.

I like them 'cos thier easy to hold, and easy to mark i a crowded bar - but when their gorn, now Ravenhead have stopped making them what will a poor drinker do ????

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 07:09 PM

I always prefer a handle cos you can hit some one with the glass several times before it breaks and then you've still got the handle to defend yourself with.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 07:26 PM

<..."They don't stack, so have to have lots of shelf space.

Imagination running riot, Liz?

I have spent more time than I care to admit in more pubs than I care to recollect, but I have never seen pint glasses "stacked" on shelves in any pub that I have visited.

Waitpersons in the lesser class of establishment may well carry them stacked while transporting them from table to glasswash, but as for storing them stacked ?? Never !

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 07:37 PM

Traditionally Pots hang from hook above the bar.

Leadfingers I totally agree with you about the use of a dimple mug as a "Knuckkle Duster" but then this is a peaceful forun !!!!

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: John Routledge
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 07:43 PM

In Geordieland all the less salubrious pubs used to have thin glasses.
The more up market establishments had pots.
It was not the done thing to ask for a thin glass in a pot pub!!

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 02:58 AM

Murray, my imagination is not running riot - I too, have been a waitperson in a pub, and the sleeves were stacked 4 high on the top shelf... mainly because it was a proper southern pub and had jugs under the bar and hanging along the top of it. They had to have some under the bar because I was too short to reach the hanging ones.

If you would like to come to London one day, I will take you to a couple of pubs where sleeves are still stacked. Admittedly the design of the sleeves has changed to where they are a bit more robust (again, can't be glassed with them) so stacking isn't too much of a problem.

Trouble with stacking is, if they were hot and wet when stacked, they formed a vacuum when dry and cold, so it was hell's own job to prise them apart - another good reason for having jugs!

(and I'm sure Spaw would like to make some remark about that last comment....)

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 03:09 AM

Leadfingers - I am not going to be drinking in the same places as you!

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Jeanie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 03:31 AM

Bert and Harroldham - you are certainly not alone in knowing the delights of FizzBuzz! Whatabout the even more sophisticated one where you pass beermats around with crossed hands, balanced on top of the glasses, singing highly dubious words to "Hi ho, hi ho" ?

Cheers,
-jeanie (educated in her youth in all matters highly dubious by extremely suspect medics and engineers)

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: IanC
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 06:23 AM

Err ... Artbrooks ...

How do you get draught beer into the bottles?

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: IanC
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 06:23 AM

Sorry -read your post wrong!

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: GUEST,Mr Red who ain't never heard of Fizz Buzz
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 09:30 AM

I detect a genuine piece of folk tradition going on here and we ain't got the details.

What is Fizz Buzz??? start a thread to explain it and you will get the Fizz Buzzards crawling out the woodwork. And we promise not to think you crazy (for a whole month).

Discuss.......

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 09:45 AM

I have several dimpled jugs in my cabinet at home though I usually use a tankard at home myself. In a pub I also usually get a straight glass these days and as I never actually use the handle on a jug I don't mind. Come to think of it,who cares: old jam jars, pewter, steel, silver,china, whatever. - as long as it's full!(Especially if you're buying)
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Jeanie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 12:19 PM

Mr. Red : I don't suppose you've ever played "Zip ! Zap ! Boing !
" either, then ? And how about: "The Sacred Dido" ? (yes, I have spelt it right).

I think I'll leave it to the others to explain FizzBuzz (with forfeits) - it's all just a pleasant blurr...

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Jeanie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 12:29 PM

Just had an idea : who's up for a game of FizzBuzz in Mudchat???

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 12:46 PM

I used to play fuzz buzz too in my youth. I know HarryO is from Manchester, Iam too originally, allthough living in Canada now. Is this a regional thing only known locally ?
To play the game, basically everyone sits around the table. With a pint in a dimpled glass. One person starts to count, starting with the number (shouted) "ONE" the numbering goes around in a Clockwise direction, the next person shouting "TWO" this continues. The thing which you have to remember is that the number 5, anything divisible by 5 or any number with a 5 in it is a "FUZZ" not the number. Similarly anything with a 7 or divisible by 7 is a "BUZZ". Numbers like 35, or 57 (if it gets that high) generally become something like "FUZZ BUZZ" Any mistakes result in the perpetrator having to drink a "Window" (one level of dimples) of beer from the dimpled pot. Hence the alternate name for the game of "windows".
We soemtimes added variants on other numbers, like a certain number ie 9 reversed the direction of counting, therfore 99 would reverse twice and continue in the same direction. A 2 would miss the next person.
OK basically it is a divertion used to get people as pissed as possible in the minimum ammount of time. You really have to have played it to understand it, or Not.
"ONE" JohnB

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Jeanie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 04:45 PM

Well explained, JohnB ! I played it in Birmingham, but it may well be from further north: most of the others were from Yorkshire (but *not* 9Hull9).

"Sacred Dido" is a trying-desperately-to-keep-a-straight-face game. One person is the "Most Honoured and Beautiful President" and must always be addressed as such. All kinds of bowing and acts of reverence can be added to the routine, as directed by the Honoured President. The others sit cross-legged, backs and faces straight, and are named 'Brother 1', 'Sister 1', 'Brother 2' etc. The court sits in silence. If anyone sees any of their fellow brothers or sisters not abiding by the rules of Silence, Stillness and Solemnity they complain to the President and punishments/forfeits are suggested and given out. As the game goes on, it becomes a competition of landing your mates in it more than they have to you.

This game was originally intended to train actors not to "corpse" - and, believe me, it is just plain hilarious. As JohnB says about FizzBuzz - you have to be there, really, to understand it. Or not.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 04:57 PM

Cheers, JohnB. for explaining the delights of FizzBuzz...I've played it far too many times to be capable of explaining it to anybody!!

All the best................Harry. :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Tig
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 05:46 PM

I prefer handle pots but because I only usually drink in halfs the chances of being offered one are rare.

i carry my own for festivals etc. You can pick up oversize (to the line) at car boot sales and charity shops around our neck of the woods for about 50p.

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 09:47 PM

This is going back a fair bit for me, as it's been a long, long, time since I had a pint in a brit boozer of any kind, but I remember (vaguely) the old straight fluted mug with parallel handle (we called it the "graveyard glass) which was vanishing in favour of the dimple pot in our area around the early 70's. The dimple pot was competing with the slightly tapered straight plain thin glass, which shared the bar with the bulged glass. As I recall, the "graveyarder" was much sought after, and the straight glass the next favourite. Mind you, I avoided the kind of place where you needed a defence system.

On the subject of games, for sheer alcoholic suicidal lunacy, I give you Drinking By Colours - A pint of lager with a shot of the first sticky brightly coloured liqueur at the left hand end of the shelf, then a second pint with a shot from the next bottle along and so on and on and on and throw that one over me thanks.........

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 06:42 AM

Of course there's always the game of 'Spoof' to earn a few free pints (for the good player)!

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Dimpled pint pots
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 07:47 PM

Thanks for explanations - I will digest them off line.