The Curiosities of Ale & Beer: An Entertaining History: Illustrated with over Fifty Quaint Cuts

John Bickerdyke

SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & Co. - 336 pages

That the history and curiosities of Ale and Beer should fill a bulky volume, may be a sub­ject for surprise to the un­think­ing read­er; and that sur­prise will probably be intens­i­fied, on his learning that great dif­fi­cul­ty has been ex­perienced in keep­ing this book within reason­able limits, and at the same time doing any­thing like jus­tice to the subject. Since the dawn of our history Barley-wine has been the “naturall drinke” for an “Englysshe man,” and has had no un­im­por­tant in­flu­ence on English life and man­ners. It is, there­fore, somewhat curious that up to the present, among the thousands of books published annually, no comp­re­hen­sive work on the antiquities of ale and beer has found place.

Some years ago this strange neglect of so excellent a theme was observed by the late John Greville Fennell, best known as a contributor to The Field, and who, like “John of the Dale,” was a “lover of ale.” With him probably originated the idea of filling this void in our literature. As occasion offered he made extracts from works bearing on the subject, and in time amassed a considerable amount of material, which was, however, devoid of arrangement. Old age overtaking him before he was able to commence writing his proposed book, he asked me to undertake that which from failing health he was unable to accomplish. To this I assented, and at the end of some months had prepared a complete scheme of the book, with the materials for each chapter carefully grouped. That arrangement, for which I am responsible, has, with a few slight modifications, been carefully adhered to. The work did not then proceed further, as to carry out my scheme a large amount of additional matter, from sources not then available, was required. A few months later my friend was taken seriously ill, and, finding his end approaching, directed that on his decease all papers connected with the book should be placed at my disposal. His death seems to render a statement of our respective shares in the book desirable.

When able to resume work on the book, with the object of hastening its publication, I obtained the assistance of my friend, Mr. J. M. D——. By the collection of fresh matter, in amplification of that already arranged, and the addition of several new features, we have considerably increased the scope of the work, and, it is to be hoped, added to its attractiveness. To my friend’s researches in the City of London and other Records is due the bringing to light of many curious facts, so far as I am aware, never before noticed. He has also rendered me great assistance in those portions of the book in which the antiquities of the subject are specially treated.

The illustrations have been in most part taken from rare old works. As any smoothing away of defects in such relics of the past would be deemed by many an offence against the antiquarian code of morality, they have been reproduced in exact fac-simile, and will no doubt appeal to those interested in the art of the early engraver, and amuse many with their quaintness.

As aptly terminating the chapter devoted to an account of the medicinal qualities of ale and beer, I have ventured to enter upon a short consideration of the leading teetotal arguments. In extending their denunciations to ale and beer drinkers, the total abstainers are, in my opinion, working a very grievous injury on the labouring classes, who for centuries have found the greatest benefit from the use of malt liquors. Barley-broth should be looked upon as the temperance drink of the people or, in other words, the drink of the temperate.

Contents

• Suppression of Beershops in Egypt 2000 в с Brewing in a Teapot Ale Songs Distinctions between: 5
• Origin and Antiquity of Ale and Beer: 27
• Homebrewed Ales Old Receipts Historical Facts Dean Swift on Homebrew Christopher Norths: 46
• Their Introduction and History Hopgrowers Troubles Medicinal: 69
• Ancient and Curious Laws relating to the manufacture and sale of Ale and Beer: 96
• Brewing and Malting in Early Times The Alewives The Brewers of Old London and the Brewers: 133
• Various Kinds of Ales and Beers Some Foreign Beers Receipts Songs Anecdotes: 155
• Their Origin Hospitality in Mediĉval Times Old London Inns and Taverns Anecdotes: 183
• Ancient Merrymakings Feasts and Ceremonies peculiar to certain Seasons at which Ale was the principal: 234
• The Ales Ale at Breakfast Bequests of Ale Drinking Customs A Sermon on Malt Excesses of: 267
• Old Ballads Songs and Verses relating to Ale and Beer 294: 296
• Brewing in the Present Day Anecdotal and Biographical Account of some representative London Dublin: 332
• Porter and Stout Circumstances which led to their Introduction Value to the Working Classes: 362
• Beverages compounded of Ale or Beer with a number of Receipts Ancient Drinking Vessels Various: 387

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Curiosities of Ale & Beer: An Entertaining History: Illustrated with over Fifty Quaint Cuts
• Author: John Bickerdyke
• Publisher: SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & Co.
• Length: 336 pages