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 pub to pub clad in sturdy leather britches. Beer was poured on a wooden bench and the Conner sat in it. Depending on how sticky they felt it to be when they stood up, they were able to assess its alcoholic strength and impose the appropriate duty. Since 2007, Dr Christine Rigden, past Sheriff of London, has been one of the four Ale Conners and is the first female Ale Conner in the City of London in the role's 700-year history. Ale conner An ale-conner (sometimes aleconner or ale-kenner) is an officer appointed yearly at the court-leet of ancient English