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
Hail to the Ale, Wolverhampton Hail to the Ale, Wolverhampton Hail to the Ale is a micropub at Claregate, Wolverhampton, WV6 9JN. The pub is owned by Gary and Angela Morton of Morton Brewery, based in nearby Essington, Staffordshire. The pub was the first micropub to open in the West Midlands, opening on 5 September 2013 in a building that was previously occupied by the former Claregate Post Office and an antiques shop. Hail to the Ale won the Campaign for Real Ale's Wolverhampton City Pub of the Year 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 as well as the Campaign for Real Ale's West Midlands Regional