Why did people drink ale for breakfast?

It's a misconception that people in the past routinely drank ale for breakfast. While ale was a popular beverage in medieval and pre-modern times, it wasn't the standard breakfast drink.

Here's why:

* Water quality: The primary reason people drank ale was that water was often unsafe to drink. Ale, through fermentation, was safer than water, as the process killed harmful bacteria.

* Nutritional value: Ale provided some calories and nutrients, especially when compared to water.

* Availability: Ale was readily available, even for the poorer classes, while other beverages like wine or milk were more expensive or limited.

However, it's important to remember:

* Ale was often weak: The ale of the past was not the potent, hoppy beer we're used to today. It was often quite weak and considered more of a daily beverage than a "strong drink."

* Breakfast choices varied: What people ate and drank for breakfast depended on their social class, time of year, and location.

* Porridge, bread, and dairy products were common breakfast staples, not ale.

In short, while ale was a popular and safe beverage, it wasn't necessarily a standard breakfast drink. People drank it throughout the day, including meals, but they didn't necessarily drink it every morning.