ale stake
English
Noun
ale stake (plural ale stakes)
- Alternative form of alestake
- 1900 March 17, Janette Hill Knox, “Some Anglo-Saxon Drinking Customs”, in The Epworth Herald, volume 10, number 42, page 3:
- The old English proverb, “Good wine needs no brush,” grew out of this custom of hanging a bush to the ale stake.
- 1994, Peter Haydon, The English pub: a history, page 23:
- It was the custom for brewsters and brewers to display an ale stake in front of their premises when there was ale for sale.
- 1995, Roger Protz, The Ale Trail, page 20:
- When a new brew was ready they would place an 'ale stake', a long pole covered in evergreens, through a window to attract customers.