Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1880 — Beer-Manufacture and Beer-Testing. [ARTICLE]

Beer-Manufacture and Beer-Testing.

Theoretically, these beverages are produced from barley, malt, hops and pure water, and nothing 'else. From two to three bu3hels of mult and as many pounds of hope are allowed to a barrel, and the liquor should have five to eight per cent, of alcohol, according to age.... In point of fact however, very • little such malt liquor is to be had. There are chemical manufacturers in this country whose principal business consists in supplying artificial substitutes for the genuine components of these drinks, and also means of correcting, adnlterating, coloring and remarking, as it were, spoiled and fraudulent artiTt M well known that the principal use of glycerine In now by, the breweries. It is added to Impart smoothness to the fluid, to give it,** fluth froth-or “bead” when drawn, and to conceal the taste of certain adulterants. , Instead of hops, what is known,to the trade as “hop substitues” is used, which, as a bitter vegetable back, finely chopped, and often combined with .aloes. To giva'a-crisp, dry flavor,esteemed by Bpm<vUimate of sodium if added; to impart a bp gat brown hue, preparations laifrtb 'be tfreae from burnt sugar are sold; liquid isinglass, to add the esteemed so on. Tbert there are varjpps materials to bring up * spoiled ire wing to-Vb? proper marketable character—bisul mite or sodium, “ale finings,” “poretiue," el©., the results of applied chemistry? in this questional department ofjMMfad> HHii Whether, the consumption of suchstufl Is likely to benefit the drinker, especially when taken .in largo quantities for a length of time, is open to Berious doubt. It has been said by European observers jthatxhtpajq alcoholism from, beerfis one of the most hopeless, forma;, that the tofenftn faculties are, debilitated and the teattioifefthe syfcteih Aight. It would bo well for surgeons In bar large municinal hospitals ta>, examine into- the .relative power qt beer drinkers and others. We have seen ffo , analysis of American -beers; they hate been exempt from such inquiries.’We add, therefore, the'plan pursued by Dr.Endera, a German chain Ist. He mixes one liter of beer, in an evaporating. dish, with ten grams of fine granola* animal charcoal, evaporates the mixture tofiryness on ay ate r bath stirring occasionally, treats the residue, after coming, with cold water, until the filtrate passes colorless, and tbfn extracts the charcoal wiih hot alcohol, which dissolves all bitter principles and alkaloids; these may afterwards be readily determined by their n spective tests, a The charcoal contains,, besides, jbe bitter, principle*, only a

little fcoloring matter. , . ~ j,, ] One thing is clear, that physicians who roeotrimencf bedfbfaieio patients. should make themselves aura that they are not thereby leading them to> the consumption of staff more perilous than the diseases the stimulant is intended to com bait. — ** ...T.B. merchant Articles of incorporation have been filed with the secretary of state of Illinois for the Burlington, Peoria £ Toledo railroad company. The company propose to build a railroad from Peoria to Toledo.