What was Colonial "Ale" - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What was Colonial "Ale"

Posted: 6/11/2022 12:34:23 AM EDT

As you can tell by my post, I'm not a drinker.

Let's say I hope in a Time Machine and go back to this date in 1776. The men there welcome someone from the future and take me to the Tavern and offer me an "Ale." What would I be drinking? Was it beer? Is there any beer now that we know is very similar to it?

Posted: 6/11/2022 12:45:58 AM EDT

[#1]

Yes, it was beer. English style ale from a cask. Served cellar temp more than likely.

Think of an English ESB or a brown ale. To my understanding, they are good representations of the majority of brews back then.

Posted: 6/11/2022 12:55:41 AM EDT

[#2]

I heard somewhere they drank a lot of hard cider and little water. Johnny Appleseed and all.

Posted: 6/11/2022 11:20:39 AM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
I heard somewhere they drank a lot of hard cider and little water. Johnny Appleseed and all.

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And hundred of orchards attributable to Johnny (mostly crab apples) were destroyed during prohibition, sad.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/real-johnny-appleseed-brought-applesand-booze-american-frontier-180953263/

Posted: 6/11/2022 11:26:19 AM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
I heard somewhere they drank a lot of hard cider and little water. Johnny Appleseed and all.

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Correct. They planted apple trees so colonialists would have a source of fermentable sugar. They would press it and make cider. Then make it alcoholic with yeast.

Then the cool part, freeze jacking. Basically leave the open barrel out on a cold night, and in the morning scrape the ice (water) off the top. The alcohol didn’t freeze but the way did. Do this a few cycles and you are effectively distilling it into liquor.

Posted: 6/11/2022 11:41:39 AM EDT

[#5]

I was surprised to read something about rum being more popular than whiskey back then. 3.7 gallons per man per year according to mountvernon.org.

Posted: 6/11/2022 11:46:02 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
I was surprised to read something about rum being more popular than whiskey back then. 3.7 gallons per man per year according to mountvernon.org.

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Rum at the time was mostly made with moleasses from the Caribbean, and was much more common. Took increasing the tax on its import to start the War.

Also Kentucky was wild territory at the time, took a while to get there

Posted: 7/2/2022 12:54:32 AM EDT

[#7]

Colonial ale was probably porter.

Posted: 8/10/2022 8:29:37 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yes, it was beer. English style ale from a cask. Served cellar temp more than likely.

Think of an English ESB or a brown ale. To my understanding, they are good representations of the majority of brews back then.

View Quote

An authentic ESB is such a nice beer, such an underrated style.

Posted: 8/10/2022 9:27:05 PM EDT

[#9]

Ales of the revolution

Posted: 8/10/2022 9:30:43 PM EDT

[#10]

Ale and Lager are types of beer.

The major differences are yeast type and fermentation temperature

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What was Colonial "Ale"

General » Home Brewing

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