The Brewing Shed

Cock ale?

Wine Making Book Cover

We love looking to the past for inspiration and are always on the hunt for heirloom veg to grow and recipes from a bygone era to try. One gem of a book my sister unearthed in a crusty Oxford book shop is Mary Aylett’s Encyclopedia of Home Made Wines. First published in 1957, Mary’s aim was to collect ancient brews from around the world and the book’s list of concoctions includes such treats as metheglin, rumfustian and Sir Walter Raleigh’s recipe for sack posset.

However, one brew we won’t be sampling is cock ale. Made with ale and sherry, instructions include taking a cock, “the older the better”, boiling, skinning and pounding it “until all its bones are broken up”.

If any Thirsty Gardeners out there have any more sensible recipes for us to try then please get in touch.

2 Comments

  • I have a friend who made this! He said it tasted sort of like fried chicken and beer, all in one, and mostly in a good way. I’d be curious to taste it. 🙂

    • Thanks for getting in touch. We’re very impressed to hear that it has been attempted.
      Tell your friend that next time he makes some to send us a bottle – we’re too frightened to make it ourselves.

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