Kmflett's Blog

Christmas Ales during the Commonwealth 1649-1660

Strong ale and more recently beer at Christmas has a very long history.

The end of the calendar year is a time of festivity and celebration for many whether religious or otherwise.

Specially brewed ales and beers are part of that. Ive enjoyed a Mince Pie Barley Wine (Elusive) and a Christmas Cake Imperial Stout (Vocation) in recent years.

What however happened to such brews during the period of the Commonwealth from 1649-1660? Anti-Royalist forces had a Parliamentary majority from at least 1647 and after the King was executed on 30^th January 1649, the first Parliamentary Democracy was briefly in place.

Christmas festivities and the marking of the day as a holiday was officially banned, although enforcing it was a more a complex matter.

Royalist propaganda of the time was clear on the impact on Christmas Ales

In December 1652 one such propagandist (Taylor) had Father Christmas visit London and complain about the weakness of the beer on offer that ‘warmed a man’s heart like pangs of death in a frosty morning’.

He was told, ‘Alas, Father Christmas, our high and mighty ale that would formerly knock down Hercules and trip up the heels of a giant is lately stuck in a deep consumption, the strength of it being quite gone with a blow from Westminster, and there is a Tetter and Ringworm called Excise doth make it look thinner than it would do’

How true this really was and how much enforced is of course another matter.

It might be reflected however that with new Government Duty bandings introduced in August 2023 most stronger festive beers are now under 8.5% or, where they are stronger, are even more expensive than they previously were.