Firkins

A firkin is a small cask and, in historic British and Irish trade, a unit of liquid measurement primarily used for beer and ale. In traditional imperial units, a firkin holds 9 imperial gallons, which is about 40.9 liters. This size makes it one quarter of a standard beer barrel, and it translates to 72 imperial pints.

Relationship to other measures in brewing: 1 barrel equals 36 imperial gallons; 4 firkins equal 1 barrel; 2 firkins equal 1 kilderkin (18 gallons); 6 firkins equal 1 hogshead (54 gallons). These conversions helped brewers and tavern keepers manage stock and distribution before modern kegging and bulk packaging.

Usage and history: Firkins were widely used for transporting, storing, and selling beer and ale from brewers to pubs. They functioned as portable, sealable containers for cask-conditioned beverages, which could be served directly from the cask. Over time, formal use of firkins as a standard unit declined in favor of larger kegs and standardized packaging, but the term persists in some brewing communities and in references to small-cask serving formats.

Origin and name: The word firkin is attested in English from the Middle Ages and denotes a small cask. The precise linguistic origin is unclear, but it is associated with the tradition of small casks used in the brewing and tavern trades.

See also: Barrel, Kilderkin, Hogshead, Barrique.