The Beerstein

In medieval England, huge festivals were held in celebration of various important events. At that time, these festivals were called ‘ales’. Of course, the term has evolved over the years to now define a type of beer. Many of these medieval parties still exist today, and some regrettably do not. Here is a list of some of the ales of old:

Bachelor Ale: This was the precursor to the bachelor parties of today. The primary purpose of the bachelor ale was to raise money for the new couple. Donations were given for each tankard of ale consumed. If a few people happened to have a great time in the process, it was a bonus.

Bride Ale: The obvious way to get double your money and gifts when you got married was to have one party for the boys, and one for the girls. The bride ale was analogous to the modern bachelorette party. As with the bachelor ale, each tankard of ale was exchanged for a gift or money. The term bride ale was shortened eventually to the term used today, ‘bridal’.

Weddyn Ale: On the special day, the mother of the bride brewed ale that was to be served at the weddyn ale, or what we now refer to as the reception party. As with most ales, the purpose was to exchange beer for money and gifts. A guest would make sure to bring enough money or gifts to the wedding to afford the amount they wanted to drink.

Groaning Ale: At childbirth, a celebration was held for the new addition to the family. I doubt that the new mother was too enthused about this festivity, or its name.

Give Ale: If a first son were born, the parents would celebrate the arrival of the legacy by having a huge party with free beer for all.

Cuckoo Ale or Lamb Ale: A celebration of springtime. Cuckoo refers to the singing of the birds, and lamb refers to lambing season, when the baby lambs are born. You would think that in our frigid country we too would place more emphasis on celebrating the end of a cold winter.

Harvest Ale: A celebration of Autumn, when the harvest was done. Farmers could now afford to celebrate, and plenty of grain was available for brewing.

Tithe Ale: Churches held festivals serving beer to bring the people of the community in and persuade them to pay their tithes.

It’s interesting how the traditions have changed. Can you imagine a couple trying to make a profit by selling beer at their wedding today? Perhaps, just for the sake of tradition, some of you may decide to hold a harvest ale this autumn.