1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

233

if it remains long in the cask. It is manufactured to the highest degree of excellence in Osacca, and thence exported to other countries. The beer's name is said to be derived from that of this city, being the genitive case of the word, with the initial letter omitted. It is wholesome and pleasant, but should be drunk moder- ately warm.^ There are many varieties of sakiy dis- tinguished by different names. Russia. Quass, or Kvas, a word signifying sour, an ancient Scythian beverage, is the ordinary household beer of Russia. A variety of it called Kisslyschtschy is variably described as exceedingly pleasant, and as an abominable small beer, something like sweet wort or treacle beer, almost as vile as the Vodki or Russian These matters of course depend on individual The Russian /?z/(?, also in common use, is said to resemble German beer, but German beers are many and diverse. gin. taste.

Sweden.

made at Stockholm. Spruce beer This drink is said to have originated

Swedish beer is

much in use.

is

from a decoction of the tops of the spruce fir. In Norway and Denmark as well as in Sweden this liquor is made from boiling the leaves, rind and branches of pines. But the Spruce beer of Great Britain and Ireland — either white or brown, according as sugar or molasses is employed in the making — is

^ When cold, it is said to produce scrki, a species of fatal colic