The Beer Historian
Shhhhhhhh - quiet in The Reading Room
Many thanks again to Hank Hinton.
Fancy a bit of history reading?
Well, sure you are, me too. There is a lot of legend and lore floating around out there about our favorite subject. Below are some reprints of original sources books, from various libraries around the world. See how they relate to what everybody is saying today.
Find another book, drop us a line. Cheers!
The Derbyshire Instruction Book, How to Brew Splendid Ale
(Fisher and Son, London, 1847)
The author or authors of this book, who are not named, state: “There are no beverages so wholesome and invigorating as Ale and Porter, nor any so generally palatable; it may, indeed, be justly considered our national drink.” I whole heartedly agree.
As the opening chapter of this book points out: “It has been justly observed by some of the best practical brewers in the hour of social conversation, that the art of brewing (so called) is, in reality, no art at all, but merely the dictates of common sense.” So, what is this common sense? Click HERE to read the story.
This short little pamphlet contains a wealth of brewing history, lore and knowledge. There are many does and don’t for making a good batch of ale of porter. For Example: Do use the best water - from a good clear river, a spring or a running brook. Don’t toss in the India berry (Cocculus Indicus) in your batch, as was common amongst some public brewers, since it was known as a strong narcotic, and thus detrimental to one’s health. Likewise, opium added to one’s batch is to be avoided. Good advice, there.
Belgium: A Country Without Paupers
Beer Drinking Belgians Are The Thriftiest People in the World
(Worker's World, 1908)
It's a simple concept: Save Money, Live Well, Drink Beer. Here's an interesting article from a publication called "World's Work" published in 1908. The main gist of the article is that the Belgians are some of the most money aware people in the world. They live within their means, save for the future and don't chase the all mighty dollar - or for them it was the franc back in those days. At the conclusion of the article the author, identified simply as "M," also relates that the Belgians are some of the most prolific beers drinkers in the western world. Although he doesn't really expound on it too much, "M" posits there may be a relation to saving money, living well and drinking beer. Sounds like a good life to me.
Click here for a copy of the article.
The Trial of a Gallant Knight
Sir John Barleycorn
Illustration from the book “Drinks of the World,” by James Mew, 1892'.
Many have tried to blame their woes on Sir John, but it was determined in a Court of Law that it was the excesses of the consumer, and not any malice of our Gallant Knight, that was the root of the problem. Although this is, of course, a bit of fiction many of the arguments presented in this case can be applied to our live today.
There have been many version of the tale published down through the years - this version is from the old book “Curiosities of Ale and Beer,” by John Bickerdyke, published in 1889.
Click HERE for a full account of the proceedings. Cheers!
Belgium, Its Institutions, Industries and Commerce
by Em. Rossel, Editor
(Brussels, 1904)
In 1902, there were 3,279 breweries in Belgium, producing some 14 million hectoliters of beer - now that's a lot of hectoliters. It is also interesting to note that in previous years there were only two basic systems for brewing beer: 1. High fermentation beer and 2. Spontaneous fermentation beer. Later, around the time that this book was published, Belgian brewers were also brewing low fermentation beers of "the Austrian and German type," as well as strong English-type ales and stouts.
The is a chapter from a book on Belgian industries. It's a short, but interesting, snippet of Belgian brewing history. You can download this chapter here.
(The) Brewers' Almanack
and Wine & Spirit Trade Annual, 1915
- Directory of Wholesale Brewers in the
United Kingdom
(The Brewers' Society, 1915)
When you download this chapter of The Brewer's Almanack - for the year 1915 - please scroll to the last page, and note the tally of brewers in various parts of the world. In 1913, in the United Kingdom alone, there were some 3,846 brewers. Wow, that's a lot of people making a lot of beer. The UK ranked third in the world, just behind the United States and Germany. Then, with that in mind you can peruse the rest of the chapter, and contemplate such important things as: "Whatever happened to the Greenslade Brothers Brewery, in Torquay," or perhaps "Is The Fyson & Sons Brewery at Warboys still in existence?" In all seriousness, it would be a fun academic pursuit to find out whatever happened to all these breweries. Yes, a few of the listed breweries are still around, but the majority, I would venture a guess, are long gone.
Click here to download this chapter.
And, if you can enlighten us on the fate of any of these breweries, please drop us a line. We will gladly post your information. By the way, just for fun, I did an internet search for both Fyson & Sons and the Greenslade Brothers breweries - nothing. Cheers.
English Industries of the Middle Ages
by
L. F. Salzmann
(Constable and Company, 1913)
Ale, Beer and Cider - In the Middle Ages.
Click here to read Chapter X of this book. A good read.
It's a couple of megs, so give it a chance to load.
One of these fortunes was made by William Bass, fortunately for us.
Fortunes Made In Business
by
Various Writers
(Volume II, 1884)
Some interesting history on William Bass, the Bass Brewery and the various Burton breweries, in general.
One of a series of books about an assortment of industries and famous people within them, including a chapter on William Bass
Click here to download the chapter.
I love a couple of the lines from this book. One is about the worldwide renown of Bass Ale, which goes: "It has refreshed the Mighty Hunter camping out in Wyoming, Montana and Dakotah (sic)." And another that predicts: "When the North Pole is discovered (remember, this book was printed in 1884), Bass will be found there, cool and delicious."
Another passages presents the warning that: "To rob a working man of his beer (presumably Bass Ale) is, in the eyes of the English artisan, an act of deepest turpitude." True that, true that indeed.
One more line notes that the vermillion triangle that acts as Bass Pale Ale's trademark is: "as familiar to the eye as Her Majesty's visage on the postage stamp." And then there is the challenge: "It would, indeed, be a difficult task to say in what part of the earth that the vivd triangle does not gladden the heart of a man." Makes me glad, for sure.
Guinness’s Brewery
by
Arth, Guiness Son & Co. Limited
(Dublin 1919)
A Guide Book to the Guinness St James Gate Brewery.
Did you know that the site of the Guinness Brewery - the same site used today - was at first the site of a brewery owned by a Mr. Rainsford? Neither did I. Of this certain Mr. Rainsford I have found no further information. According to this book, members of the Guinness family bought out Mr. Rainsford brewery in 1759, and founded Arthur Guinness, Son & Company. In 1919, the company published a their Guide Book for the St. James Gate Brewery.
This book, although it is barely over twenty pages long, is a very comprehensive guide to the entire brewery, its buildings and all the processes that go on within its walls. It even goes in to such subjects as the shipping of the final product, and such esoteric topics as cooperage - the making and maintenance of oak barrels. By the way, a properly maintained wooden barrel should last around fifteen years.
I visited the St James Gate Brewery for the first time a few yours back, and I really wished I had had a copy of this book in hand while the tour wound through the brewery. It would have been interesting to see what had changed, and what hadn’t.
To read “Guinness’s Brewery,” please click HERE.
(The) Guinness Cask System
in the book
Brewer's Accounts
by
William Harris
(London 1899)
From the Esoteric Files - a review of the system used by Guinness to keep track of their beer casks. An odd topic, to be sure, but when one realizes the sheer numbers of casks used by the brewery, and the costs involved, some sort of accounting system was certainly called for. Not only was there a system to track which cask went where, there was also a system in place to track repairs that were made on individual casks.
If you have ever bought beer by the keg, you will understand that keeping track of and returning the keg is important, especially when deposits are placed for the kegs safe return. Now imagine the number - tens of thousands - of wooden casks used by Guinness at the turn of the century (the last century). Even a few casks astray could amount to a bunch of money.
Click here for the document.
(The) Lady's Complete Guide
by
Mrs. Mary Cole
(London 1788)
Fortunately for the beer historian the author had added an additional chapter. As noted on the title page: "In order to render it [her book] as complete and perfect as possible, THE COMPLETE BREWER; containing Familiar Instructions for brewing all Sorts of Beer and Ale; including the proper Management of the Vault or Cellar." Click here to download this chapter.
In the olden days the brewing of beer was often household affair., usually done by women rather than men. Yes, there were commercial breweries, both large and small, in existence, but in many kitchens the brewing of beer was seen as the same as baking bread, putting up preserves, or canning vegetables. It was just something that was done naturally. Mrs. Cole's "Lady's Complete Guide" is basically a great big cookbook - well over 500 pages - and after recording hundreds of recipes, she includes a chapter on brewing beer. She notes: "Having given ample instructions for the preparations of wines, &c. malt liquors should not be passed over unnoticed, as the house-keeper cannot be said to be complete in her business, without a competent knowledge of the Art of Brewing." She gives instructions and advice on all aspects of the Art, for example:
Of Water proper for Brewing. To speak in general terms, the best water for brewing is river water; such as is soft, and has partook of the air and the sun; for this easily insinuates itself into the malt and extracts it virtues."
Some great stuff here - enjoy - and you may just glean a few tips for your next batch of homebrew. Cheers!
Tennents - A Couple of Articles on the Tennent Wellpark Brewery and Tennent Ales, Porters and Lager Beers
Trappist Monks - A Couple of Texts...
Ok, so we all know the basic story of the Trappist monks, but if you want to learn a lot more, here are a couple of old texts. This is deep stuff, so you had better get a goblet of your favorite Trappist ale, and settle in for a read.
Click HERE for the Cistercian entry in the 1913 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia.
and
Click HERE for an article from a 1903 issue of Lippincott's Magazine