In a message dated 4/15/01 9:43:39 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

One possible exception to this is the ale of
>>medieval
>>>England, which could have been quite weak in comparison to modern beer
>>and
>>>beer from the seventeenth century. The main reason why I think that the
>>>brew was not piss weak is the widespread reports of drunkenness.
>>>
>>>

Ok all!,
       this is what I know about beer in the middle ages. There is two or
more types of basic beer. There was beer that was brewed on a daily basis for
consumption with in a day or two. This is where we get the term 'Alewife"
these were woman that did the brewing. Ale like this would have a very low
alcohol content. It was the drink of choice for all members of the family.
just enough alcohol to kill the bad stuff in the local water.
      The second would have brewed for longer and had been mostly for the
rich or made by merchants as they had space to waste on the barrels. I would
suggest that this would have a much higher alcohol content.
Beer than was more like food. The grains would/might have been free floating
and a high calorie drink. I have seen period glass wear with tangs in the
glass to stir the grain in the beer.
   As to Romans drinking. There was the general social view that to drink
straight wine was uncouth. it was diluted 10 to one for a proper drink.
However remember it was often of a very poor quality compared to modern wine.
That did not mean it prevented anyone from abuseing it.

Aminah

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