1888 Harry Johnson's new and improved bartender's manual (1888)

-18- 11. HOW LAGER BEER SHOULD BE DRAWN .AND SERVED. ~The proper way to draw lager beer, is directly • from the keg, not using the first one or two glasses drawn, until the beer runs freely; then the vent must be knocked into the bung. If lager beer i::; drawn through :pipes, these must be made of the very best material, which in this case wou~d be English block tin, and be kept p erfectly clean and in good order. It is customar_y to hiwe an air or water pressure constantly actmg upon the beer, when it is drawn through pipes, to prevent ·it from getting fl.at or stale, and impart a fresh and pleas– ant taste to the b eer . But proper attention must be given to keeping the boiler containing the air in a very clean condition, a.ucl if the boiler should stand in a place where the air is impm·e, it is ad– visable to connect the boiler and pump by means of a pipe with a place where perfectly pure and fresh air is obtainable, as foul air would give the beer a bad taste and is liable to sicken the people drinking it. The beer remaining in the pipes over night should not be used. Attention must be given, that the pressure on the beer is not too high, as this would prevent it from running freely through the pipeR, and by turning it into froth or cream, make it unhandy for the bartender to draw; there is also d~nger of a:n e~plosion, if the pressure gets very high, and this rmght destroy the beer kegs, pipes or the rubber hose connections with the boiler· an ex– plosion is more lilcely to occur at night than' duTing the day. Before drawing lager beer the bartender must se': to it, that the glasses are perfectly clean; af:ter iillfng the glasses, r~move _the superfluous froth with a little ruler; , by domg this you will prevent a great deal of moistu!'e from spreading over the counter and floor, besides the foam in the glass will remain firm longer, and so prevent the b eer from