1892 The flowing bowl when and what to drink (1892, c1891)

BEER.

6l

Seer.

BEER

or to call it by the name that is at present

more en vogue, Lager

consists, or at least ought to

consist, of a fermented extract of malt and hops. While in the first quarter of this century this healthy and agreeable beverage used to be prepared often enough from a mixture containing many violent poisons, as Indian hemp, opium, sulphuric acid, sulphate of iron, etc. nay, the addition of strychnia, even, was suspected the principal adulterations of it, at the present time, consist of water, to increase the bulk of the fluid, and burnt sugar and salt, to restore in a measure its color and flavor. The addition of water does not render beer injurious, but it cheats people out of their money. Burnt sugar, or treacle, was extensively employed, with the view of increasing the dark color of porter, stout, or other heavy beers; the ingredient known as essentia bina, formerly used in the manufacture of beer, con- sisted of moist sugar boiled in an iron vessel until it had become syrupy, perfectly black, and extremely bitter. The acidity in beer is very desirable; it depends, probably, on the presence of malic and lactic acid. In many cases, however, acetic acid, or vinegar, is formed in beer from a decomposition of excessive fermentation of its sugar; the beverage is then very sour, and unfit