British Pub Q? - "Pint a Bitters" or "Pint of Bitter"..
 

"Please"

Last night on Coronation Street one Street guy asked at the Rovers for "a pint a bitters" and I was taken back

because for eons i have been waddling up to the bar and asking for "a pint a bitter, please"

Have I been a clueless Yank for years without realizing it is correct to say "bitters' rather than "bitter'?

In my mind (OK suspect) I swear I've always heard "a pint of bitter, please"

So please is it "bitters" or "bitter" or both - perhaps "bitters" is like whisk(e)y - a blend of whisk(e)ys sometimes rather than one ale made from one "bitter"?

thanks in advance.

just asked my british colleague and he said 'bitter'

You were right to reel, I am.

"Bitters" to me means Angostura bitters (even if you can't get it any more) - because it's a noun. The beer is "bitter" (singular), because it's an adjective - why would it be plural? "Mild" and "brown" never were, once detached from their nouns.

Were the Corrie scriptwriters trying to suggest that the character was American (I've never heard anyone else use the word that way)?

Bitters are something that used to be added to gin to make Pink Gin, sometimes known as gin and bitters. It's the word we all use to describe a branded concoction called Angostura Bitters.

Never heard it used any other way. The character might have been making a pun on bitter lemon, or some other odd attempt at humour (Mankies don't do humour: all the great comics came - and still come - from west of what's now the M6).

But working-class argot has its quirks. Paint thinner, for example, is always called "thinners" by professional housepainters. Maybe there's a street in SE Mankland where they call bitter 'bitters'.

But no-one else does. Proper beer in England, unless it's mild, is always called bitter. Broon, of course, in Newcastle, and heavy in Scotland play a similar role to our bitter.

But NEVER bitters. I suspect you heard wrong

I recommend you spend more time there to observe and report.

Meanwhile, I'm not changing my name.

Just order lager. No problems.

Were the Corrie scriptwriters trying to suggest that the character was American (I've never heard anyone else use the word that way)?>

well he was the half-black guy who owns Street Cars with Steve - pretty sure it was 'bitters' but will see again on Sunday when the replay the show on CBC.

Sod what is said what I want to know is why are you wasting your time watching THAT programme for?

Flanneruk - Les Dawson.
Nuff said.

<<< Just order lager. No problems. >>>

Apart from when you start to drink it and think someone has changed it for gnat's urine.

Anyhow in Yorkshire they know better - it isn't "bitter" or "bitters" it's "a pint of Landlord"

Alan, are you aware of the best selling beer in Britain?

"Alan, are you aware of the best selling beer in Britain?"

It may be but only because the brain dead with no taste buds see it advertised on the goggle box and must drink it because it's cool and on the telly.

Hooameye, on my last trip I was in a pub in York. I noticed a group of young men drinking "Bud". I asked one why they were drinking it rather than an ale, stout or other British drinks. His rely "that's what my dad drinks".

<<< Alan, are you aware of the best selling beer in Britain? >>>

Didn't say gnats urine wasn't popular.

And I do drink Bud from time to time - but it's the proper Budvar, not the gnat's urine that is passed for beer

Flanner, my husband and I will be in Woodstock this weekend - arriving Saturday evening and leaving Monday - for the Brompton World Championships. If memory serves, you're located nearby? We'd love to meet up and buy you a glass if we could work out the logistics. We'll be staying at the McDonald Bear.

noe:
I'm now away from the area and/or entertaining till late Sunday. Drop me a note at [email protected]

"Angostura bitters (even if you can't get it any more)"

When did this happen - did they go bust? You can even buy soft drinks with bitters added here in Australia; it's still pretty common here, or so I thought.

Lavandula

Relying on my elderly memory - I thought I'd read somewhere that the original makers had stopped for some reason, but obviously I was wrong.

Certainly is, Lavandula - had a soda & bitters in Sydney today.

PatrickLondon, you probably did hear production had stopped - according to this article there were incorrect rumours about the production in 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angostura_bitters

Lavandula

(nice to know I can keep ordering lemon, lime and bitters)

Bokhara2 on Oct 2, 10 at 12:22pm
" had a soda & bitters in Sydney today."
Nice one Bokhara. And I had several pints of bitter here in Cardiff. :-)

"a pint a bitters"
Never heard that one, although they may have said something like...

"can I have 2 Bitters"

Meaning 2 pints of bitter.

Don't watch that rubbish so can't confirm ;-)

Just poor diction/slack speech, I guess, Mucky.

"of" seems to morph into "a" - coupla, pint a, etc.

Other theories: (1) They were so thirsty, they were gasping & the words got stuck (2) They'd already had more than enough & were slurring.

I don't watch it either - didn't realize it was still showing. It must be 40+ years old, surely. Couldn't stand it then & I'm sure it won't have improved with re-running.

It's not exactly bitter here today; but it's a jolly poor showing for the first day of daylight saving! Rain & mist - can't see beyond the trees across the road ... all the ocean, cliffs etc shrouded in "liquid sunshine".

Angostura Bitters are essential in the Old-Fashioned, the Manhattan, the Champagne Cocktail, etc. There was a bottleneck (no pun intended) last year, but it seems to be happily resolved.

Rachel Maddow covered this important issue:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_540219.html

Note that there are other kinds of bitters as well, including Peychaud's (essential in a Sazerac), and orange bitters (very good in a Martini). Angostura makes a good version of orange bitters in addition to their better-known aromatic bitters.

On replay it is clear that it was 'a pint of bitter' - the confusion came as the subtitles - which i at times need to understand that regional dialect - always said - there were several requests for 'a pint of bitter' - bitters on the screen so it appeared even that the person saying it said it.

So that is cleared up and i thank all for setting me straight.

Tonic water with some Angostura bitters also helps settle a queasy stomach.