Ale Brewer

ale brewer. (eiyl' broo'-wer)

    One who brew ales. In fifteenth-century England, when hops were beginning to be accepted for beermaking, there was a clear distinction between ale brewers, who brewed unhopped spiced ales, and beer brewers, who brewed hopped beers. Beer brewers were persecuted at every opportunity, but luckily for them their brew was considered by many as superior to ale. In 1436 the king issued a writ to the sheriffs of London, ordering them to protect the beer brewers. Syn: ale maker.