Beer, Hogshead

Weak sour small-beer; cheap garrison drink, prevents tainted water sickness.

A hogshead of small-beer—sour, weak, and cheap. This is the drink of garrisons and laboring crews where strong ale is too costly; kept in a covered barrel in the barracks storeroom or tavern cellar, it serves as both staple and source of relief from tainted water. Taste improves little with age.