By the end of the eighteenth century various systems of volume measurement were in use throughout the British Empire. Wine was measured with units based on the Queen Anne's gallon of 231 cubic inches (3.785 L). Beer was measured with units based on an ale gallon of 282 cubic inches (4.621 L). Grain was measured with the Winchester measure with a gallon of approximately 268.8 cubic inches (one eighth of a Winchester bushel or 4.405 L). In 1824 these were replaced with a single system based on the imperial gallon. Originally defined as the volume of of distilled water (under certain conditions), then redefined by the Weights and Measures Act 1985 to be exactly (277.4 cu in), the imperial gallon is close in size to the old ale gallon.