15 - Raise your spirits at Ale and Hearty

Archived news release from 2007

The Ale and Hearty exhibition will prove to visitors that there’s a lot more to the humble pint glass than meets the eye. The exhibition looks at beer glasses through the ages, from an Anglo-Saxon claw beaker, to leather and pewter tankards, to finely engraved glasses, right up to the modern pub glass.

The range of vessels on display reflects the drinking habits of our forebears. In days gone by ale and beer were enjoyed by all levels of society, but only the middle and upper classes could afford to use glass.   

Ale in the 18^th century was a strong drink, so it was served in small glasses that are closer to today’s wine glass than the traditional pint shape we’re used to today.  The stemmed tall ale glasses were often decorated with delicate images of hops and barley engraved into the glass while the ‘dwarf ales’ had rudimentary stems and moulded bowls and were cheaper make.

Beer was weaker than ale and was widely consumed as it was often safer to drink than water.  The exhibition features pottery and pewter tankards as well as glass, and these include novelty items such as mugs with frogs inside, which give the drinker a surprise when the mug is drained.

The exhibition also includes more traditional pressed glass pint mugs, with etched or badged decoration as well as bottles of ale from local breweries.

There are also pub games including bar skittles, shove halfpenny and dominoes to get visitors in the spirit.

“Ale and Hearty is an interesting and fun exhibition. The range of glasses on display is quite amazing and the pub games should entertain children and adults alike”.

Ale and Hearty runs at Broadfield House Glass Museum, on Compton Drive, Kingswinford, until 2 March 2008.  It is sponsored by local brewery, Bathams, brewers of genuine beer since 1877.