Ale to the selling of beer labeled "strong beer" that had actually been diluted with small beer. In medieval times, ale may have been safer to drink than most water (the germ theory of disease was unheard of, and the sterilizing properties of boiling unknown); however, there is no period evidence that people were aware of this nor that they chose to drink ale for this reason. The alcohol, hops, and some ingredients in gruit used to preserve some ales may have contributed to their lower load of pathogens, when compared to water. However, ale was largely safer due to the
Rail ale trail featured a rail ale trail in 2007 The North TransPennine Ale Trail from Stalybridge to Batley features 9 Real Ale pubs, all of which located within short walking distance from the stations. This trail was featured on the BBC2 programme, Oz and James Drink to Britain. Wokingham Council provide a "Real Ale by Rail in Henley" guide to several pubs along the Henley Branch Line (the "Regatta Line") from Twyford, Berkshire, to Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. A trail has been created for the Derwent Valley Line between Derby and Matlock. A scheme called "Ale Track" operates on the Wherry Lines from to