Medieval ale-tasting tradition returns to town

An ale-tasting tradition dating back to the 1300s has made a comeback in a town after a few years off.

The mayor, town crier, town beadle and mace bearers of Marlborough, Wiltshire, visited seven pubs to taste their ales, reflecting on a time when it was safer to drink beer than water.

Town crier Emma Kimber gave the pubs certificates to say they were happy with the quality of the ale.

"We thought it was a really good tradition we would reinstate," she said. "I'm really privileged to be part of the mayoral party involved in it this time round."

Kimber added there were "some really, really good ales" – and that the group, all from Marlborough Town Council, did not have a pint at all of the pubs, just "a taste".

The town mayor, councillor Emily Trow, said the tasting brought "history back into the town" – but that there was one element of the tradition that was not replicated.

"Apparently, they used to pour the beer onto a bench and the ale taster would sit on it, in the puddle in their leather breeches," she said.

"When they got up, if the bench was stuck to their leather breeches, it was deemed unsuitable. It was possible the landlord or brewer could be dragged away."

The pubs visited were The Roebuck, The Lamb Inn, The Bear, The Green Dragon, The Castle & Ball, The Royal Oak and The Tap.

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