Hola!

Here's a short bit on faire and beer. More to follow.

Most of us love to have a good ale at faire. We love that little bit of "liquid thespian" that it gives us. But back in Elizabethan times, ale had a much more practical purpose.

During the time we portray, you either drank ale or wine. DON'T DRINK THE WATER!!!!! The water was full of deadly bacteria. What we're doing when we portray the time is make it look authentic. So grab an ale, and follow along with this. Here's a bit about what beer is.

During that time, sanitation simply didn't exist. Water supplies were horriffic at best. The body needs liquid (water) to remain healthy. So the practice was to make ale and have that to drink. It certainly tasted better than the water!

Grain was plentiful in England, so they made ales. Ale is fermented grain sugar. Grains are steeped, much like tea, and the starches are converted to sugars. The remaining "tea" is called wort (pronounced "wert"). This wort is then boiled for an hour or more as hops are added. (Little did the people know that the boiling was killing off bacteria, and making the water drinkable.)

Hops are the buds of the hop plant, and they serve several purposes. They are a natural preservative, helping to keep ale fresh longer. They add to the flavor and aroma of ales, and give them the proper amount of bitterness. They also provide a mild euphoric feeling...remember that one when you order your next ale!

Hops are added to the wort, and then the wort is cooled, and yeast is added. Here's a bit of chemistry, so bear with me...the ending is good! Yeast eats sugar, and converts it into alchohol and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is allowed to escape, and the remaining liquid is slowly converted into ale. (I won't go into ales vs. lagers just yet...maybe next time.)

So, be authentic and drink ale!

(wait...we're Spanish! I'll write another article about common wines.)

-Rob Neidel
Craven Blackheart
Philipe II
'berto
Constable Backwash