What I Learnt Today

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When is a Schooner not a Schooner?

When it is a midi.

On a recent trip to South Australia (Happy Birthday Rosi), I was reminded that you have to do your homework before ordering a beer in different Australian states if you don’t want to look like a knob.

For example, don’t ask for a midi in Melbourne – that will identify you immediately as being from across the border. . Ask for a pot, instead. And they’ll also look at you askance if you ask for a schooner in either Melbourne or Perth.

And in Adelaide, if you want a midi, ask for a  schooner. If you want a schooner, ask for a pint. If you want a pint, ask for an Imperial Pint. Good grief.

Ever mindful of our community service obligations, we present this handy table.

 

Names of beer glasses in various Australian cities
Capacity	Sydney	Canberra	Darwin	Brisbane	Adelaide	Hobart	Melbourne	Perth
115 ml (4 fl oz)	–	–	–	–	–	small beer	foursie	shetland
140 ml (5 fl oz)	pony	–	–	pony	pony	–	horse/pony	pony
170 ml (6 fl oz)	–	–	–	–	–	six (ounce)	small glass	bobbie/six
200 ml (7 fl oz)	seven	–	seven	seven (ounce)	butcher	seven (ounce)	glass	glass
285 ml (10 fl oz)	middy	half pint / middy	handle	pot	schooner	ten (ounce)/pot	pot	middy/half pint
350 ml (12 fl oz)	schmiddy	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
425 ml (15 fl oz)	schooner	schooner	schooner	schooner	pint	fifteen / schooner	schooner	schooner
570 ml (20 fl oz)	pint	pint	pint	pint	imperial pint	pint	pint	pint
Notes: Entries in bold are common. Entries in italics are old-fashioned or rare.

(hat tip to Wikipedia)

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