The Sheriff's Assize of Ale is a charity event that takes place in the English cities of York and Gloucester, led by the sheriff in each city.
In mediaeval times, the kings were concerned that ale should be of a suitable quality for the people. A law was put in place, demanding that each the sheriffs should summon together his sergeants to test the quality of the ale. Any sergeant who failed to answer the summons was guilty of an offence and liable to fines or the pillory. [1]
In York, the event takes place in August each year. The sheriff follows a route around the city's participating pubs. The group is accompanied by The City Waites (a civic mediaeval musical band) and other citizens. Members of the public can enjoy and take part in fundraising activities. In participating public houses there are treasure maps, and people taking part can win prizes. [2]
The custom of the Assize was revived in York in 1990 after a gap of 150 years by the then-sheriff. [1]
In Gloucester, the custom takes place in a rather different way, usually during October each year. The sheriff has an “Ale Conner”, whose job it is to sit on a wooden stool, on which a small amount of ale has been poured, wearing a pair of leather breeches. If, after three minutes, the trousers stick to the stool, the ale does not pass the test. Conversely, if the Ale Conner can move freely at the end of the three minutes, it passes. The tradition was reintroduced in Gloucester in 2003 by the then sheriff of Gloucester. [3]
Gloucester sheriff tests ale in quirky medieval tradition. BBC
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