How Much Booze Did Medieval People Really Drink?

History Hit・2 minutes read

Medieval people drank ale, wine, mead, and cider primarily due to personal preference, not just because of polluted water sources, with pubs, taverns, and inns being the main establishments for drinking. Beer in medieval times was a staple part of life, with different strengths and qualities, serving various social, religious, and hospitality purposes throughout different echelons of society.

Insights

  • Medieval people drank ale, wine, mead, and cider due to personal preference, not just because of water quality, with pubs, taverns, and inns serving as primary drinking establishments in medieval Europe.
  • Alcohol consumption in medieval times served various purposes, including showcasing financial status, religious sacraments, communal bonding, and hospitality, with brewing ale seen as a form of prayer by monks and nuns, and royal households consuming vast quantities of wine to display wealth and status.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What were popular drinks in medieval Europe?

    Ale, wine, mead, and cider.

  • Where did people drink in medieval times?

    Pubs, taverns, and inns.

  • What was the iconic pint measurement established in?

    Magna Carta in 1215.

  • What was the role of alehouses in medieval society?

    Brewing and selling ale.

  • How did alcohol consumption serve various purposes in medieval times?

    Proving financial status, religious sacraments, communal bonding.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Medieval Drinking Culture: Ale, Wine, Pubs

  • Medieval people drank a lot due to personal preference, not just because of polluted water sources.
  • Popular drinks in medieval Europe included ale, wine, and occasionally mead or cider.
  • Harder forms of alcohol, like gin, were not common in England until the 17th century.
  • Pubs, taverns, and inns were the main establishments for drinking in medieval times.
  • Pubs were not called pubs until the 17th or 18th century; earlier, there were taverns, inns, and alehouses.
  • Alehouses were where people brewed and sold ale, often using signs to indicate when a fresh batch was ready.
  • Beer was a crucial part of life in towns and cities where water sources were polluted.
  • Brewing in the medieval period involved different ingredients and processes compared to modern brewing.
  • Medieval beer was darker in color, less bitter, and often brewed with herbs instead of hops.
  • The iconic pint measurement was established in Magna Carta in 1215, ensuring a standard measure for ale throughout the kingdom.

14:17

Medieval Alehouses: Hub of Culture and Games

  • The Canterbury Tales are foundational to English literature, starting in a pub called the Tabard Inn, a congregation point for the pilgrimage to Canterbury.
  • The medieval Pub experience is recreated through homemade medieval Brew, with a multi-sweet, full-bodied taste, hint of tartness, and maltiness, typically around 5% alcohol.
  • Beer in medieval times varied in strength based on the brewing process, with the first runnings being stronger and more expensive, while the last runnings were weaker and lower in alcohol content.
  • Medieval ale had minimal carbonation due to traditional conditioning methods, with recipes varying based on locally available herbs and flavors, changing seasonally.
  • Alehouses were not just for drinking but also for games like shuffleboard and fighting, with cockfighting and bear baiting being popular pastimes.
  • Alehouses, taverns, and inns were communal hubs in medieval life, offering culture, information, and games, while feasts and banquets showcased status through wine and ale offerings.
  • Alcohol consumption in medieval times served various purposes, including proving financial status, religious sacraments like communion, and communal bonding.
  • Clergy members required significant amounts of wine for religious practices like communion, with monks and nuns also enjoying ale daily as part of their routine.
  • Brewing ale for the community was seen as a form of prayer for monks and nuns, with the process considered a way to glorify God through providing a staple drink.
  • Hospitality and generosity were essential traits in the Middle Ages, with even the highest echelons of society expected to provide for travelers and guests, showcasing wealth through offerings like strong beer for Queen Elizabeth.

28:31

Medieval Monarchs' Wine Consumption and Displays

  • Medieval people provided direct support for monarchs by understanding their temperament, health, and mood to modify their food and drink accordingly, showcasing the skill of the sellers department.
  • A royal household could expect to go through hundreds of thousands of gallons of wine in a month, with courtiers receiving a daily allowance of two to three gallons, which must be consumed once the cask is opened.
  • Wine and ale were provided daily to court members regardless of rank, with no significant differentiation in wine quality, emphasizing the display of wealth and status by the monarch.
  • Large displays of wine fountains, like those seen at the 1521 Field of the Cloth of Gold meeting, were reserved for specific occasions, with the mechanics of these fountains likely involving a siphon system for continuous flow, showcasing opulence and excess.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.