Why did medieval people drink so much beer?

Why did medieval people drink so much beer?

Water in the Middle Ages was polluted, full of bacteria and, frankly, not fit to drink. This forced everyone — from commoners to royalty — to hydrate by way of beer. Except that they didn’t. The idea that people primarily drank beer throughout the Middle Ages is widespread — and also wrong.

How did medieval beer taste?

It would taste like a low-alcohol or non-alcoholic beer. It had a sweet taste but an extremely low alcohol content, we are talking 0.5 to 3 \%. Now we are talking 8th to 13th century. From the 14th century onward, more spices became available they were sometimes added to the more expensive beers to improve the taste.

Did medieval people get hangovers?

Even babies and children drank wine to protect them from the dangers of waterborne illnesses. Of course, wine and ale were also incredibly popular during the medieval period, and people did get hangovers from overindulging. In fact, 12th-century doctors recommended treating a hangover by drinking water.

What was alcohol called in medieval times?

Among the nobility and royals, wine was the preferred beverage while the Medieval drinks of the common people were mainly beer or ale.

Did medieval people drink beer instead of water?

Medieval people weren’t stupid; they didn’t drink water that looked or smelled bad, and tradesmen that used water — such as tanning — faced hefty fines if they polluted the town’s drinking supply [source: O’Neill ]. Beer may not have been a replacement for water, but it was viewed as a more nutritious alternative than water.

How long did alcohol exist in the Middle Ages?

Alcohol in the Middle Ages spanned hundreds of years. The Middle Ages are also the Dark Ages or the Medieval Period. The Middle Ages was a period of almost one thousand years. It’s between the fall of Rome (476) and the beginning of the Renaissance (1300).

Was the idea of abstinence from alcohol heretical in medieval England?

However, the idea of abstinence from alcohol was heretical. 38 William, Duke of Normandy, captured England at the Battle of Hastings. As a result, English-French wine trade expanded rapidly. 39 Alewives in England brewed at least two strengths of beer and monks brewed three.

How did people drink water in the 14th century?

Sometimes water was mixed with wine or sweeteners like honey, and a 14th century monk once listed water as a beverage preferred over beer. Water, it seems, was on everyone’s lips [source: Chevallier ]. Water also was free and clean. Whether from a well or fresh stream, it was the centerpiece of villages.