English brewery cask units

Capacities of brewery casks were formerly measured and standardised according to a specific system of English units, which was originally based on the ale gallon of exactly 282 cubic inches (4.621152048 L) (or exactly ⁠1+17/77⁠ US gallons).

With the adoption of the imperial system in the United Kingdom and its colonies in 1824, these units were redefined in terms of the slightly smaller imperial gallon (of exactly 4.54609 L; 1.20095 US gal): the older units continued in use in the United States.

Historically, the terms beer and ale referred to distinct brews. From the mid-15th century until 1803 in Britain, "ale" casks and "beer" casks differed in the number of gallons they contained.

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