The price of beer: how the Assize of Ale worked
According to a newspaper report the cost of a routine pint in central London is now £9. Quite possibly although its quite possible to find good cask beer for a bit under a fiver a pint in the same area and craft keg beer for £6-7. Even so that is still a lot in a cost of living crisis. CAMRA has rightly called for Government intervention to address a market that is out of line with what consumers can in many cases afford
In pre-market society where as we know supply and demand determine price..there were attempts to regulate the price of essential foodstuffs. Bread was the key focus but beer, often safer than water to drink, was also involved.
The aim of an Assize was to look at various beer types and qualities and determine how much the cost of raw material- malt and hops would be. Stronger beers of good quality would cost more to brew and attracted a higher price. Every day beers would be less strong but still of an acceptable quality, that is unadulterated.
Out of all this came the concept of a fair profit. The brewer needed to cover costs of brewing and selling. They also needed premises to brew and live in and the ability to look after their family. They did not need to amass large savings or capital sums anymore than those who drank their beer did or could.
Hence the Assize was about price and quality and ensuring fairness for both drinkers and brewers
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