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
Ale conner Ale conner An ale-conner (sometimes aleconner or ale-kenner) is an officer appointed yearly at the court-leet of ancient English communities to ensure the goodness and wholesomeness of bread, ale, and beer. There were many different names for this position which varied from place to place: "ale-tasters", "gustatores cervisiae," "ale-founders", and "ale-conners". Ale-conners were also often trusted to ensure that the beer was sold at a fair price. Four ale-conners are still chosen annually by the Common-Hall of the City of London. Ale-conners were sworn "to examine and assay the beer and ale, and to take care that they were good