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Ale

is the Scandinavian öl, called ealo in our island. Beer, written bere, even in the reign of James I., is the Anglo-Saxon beor, from bere (barley). A beverage made from barley is mentioned by Tacitus and even Herodotus. Hops were introduced from Holland and used for brewing in 1524, but their use was prohibited by Act of Parliament in 1528—a prohibition which soon fell into disuse. Ale is made from pale malt, whence its light colour; porter and stout from malt more highly dried. Beer is the general word, and in many parts of England includes ale, porter, and stout. The word ale was introduced by the Danes, and the word beer by the Teutons. Among London brewers beer means the dark form, called also stout or porter.

Called ale among men; but by the gods called beer.”—The Alvismát.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Aldebaran
Alderman
Alderman (An)
Alderman (An)
Aldgate Pump
Aldibo-ronte-phosco-phornio
Aldiger (in Orlando Furioso)
Aldine
Aldine Editions
Aldingar (Sir)
Ale
Aleberry
Ale-dagger (An)
Ale-draper
Ale Knight (An)
Ale-silver
Ale-stake
Ale-wife
Alecto
Alectorian Stone (An)
Alectromancy

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Beer