[Sca-cooks] Reference to 'stale' ale.

[Decker, Terry D.]

I think it may show up in To The King's Taste, but I'm far away from my
copy.

However, in Middle English, "stale" can mean settled or clear, probably from
the Germanic "estal" meaning stand or standing place.  So a "stale ale" is
probably one which has been left standing to let the particles settle out.

Bear

> My group is having a small cooking session this weekend and
> we're going for onion soup (orig. recipe from Harleian MS
> 4016) among other things.  The recipe calls for stale ale.
> I remember reading that 'stale' often referred to old, mature
> ale and not 'flat' as in modern english.  (the ale would
> probably have been flat anyway).  However, I can't remember
> where I read this and I've checked Heiatt's 'Curuye on
> Inglysch' (sp?), Hagen's 'Anglo-Saxon Food...' and Renfrow's
> 'A Sip Through Time' but not found it anywhere.
>
> Anyone out there who can provide a ref.?
> /Angus MacIomhair, out of lurking once more.