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

The volume surveys the history and practical culture of ale and beer, tracing origins and antiquities, traditional home-brewing techniques, the arrival and role of hops, and legal and commercial developments. It describes ale-houses, inns, seasonal and communal drinking customs, and includes songs, ballads, recipes, and quaint illustrations. Discussions address medical views and debates between temperance and total abstinence, the social importance of malt liquors for labouring classes, and the rise of porter, stout, and modern breweries. Anecdotes, epitaphs, archival finds, and an appendix on scientific fermentation round out the entertaining, documentary treatment.