The beer barrel you’re referring to is called a butt. I know, it might sound a bit funny, but that’s actually the name for it. A butt of beer is equivalent to half a tun, two hogsheads, three tierce, or a whopping 108 imperial gallons (or 129.7 US gallons, if you prefer).
Now, let me tell you, encountering a butt of beer is quite a sight to behold. I remember attending a beer festival a few years back, and there was this massive wooden barrel proudly labeled as a butt. It was like a beer lover’s dream come true.
The size of a butt is truly impressive. Just imagine, it’s double the size of a tun, which is already a substantial amount of beer. When you see a butt, you can’t help but be in awe of the sheer volume of liquid it can hold. It’s like a small swimming pool, but filled with beer instead of water (though I wouldn’t recommend diving in, for obvious reasons).
The term “butt” may sound a bit odd, but it has an interesting history. It actually comes from the Medieval Latin word “buttis,” which means cask or barrel. So, you can see that the name has been around for quite some time.
In terms of its usage, the butt measurement is primarily used in the context of traditional English beer production. It’s not a commonly used term nowadays, as most beer is sold in smaller containers like kegs or bottles. But in the past, when beer was produced on a larger scale, the butt was a standard unit of measurement.
To give you some perspective, a butt of beer would be equivalent to around 491 liters or 130 gallons. That’s a whole lot of beer! Just think about all the pints you could pour from a butt. It’s enough to keep a large gathering of beer enthusiasts happily hydrated for quite some time.
So, if you ever come across the term “butt” when discussing beer quantities, you now know that it refers to a beer barrel that contains a whopping 108 gallons. It’s a fascinating piece of beer trivia, and it’s always fun to impress your friends with your knowledge of obscure beer measurements. Cheers!