The New York herald., 1870-06-20
SAD NEWS FOR THE GERMANS.
Scarcity of Good Lager Beer Apprehended-
The Cause of 1t.

A Scarcity of Good Lager Beer Apprehended-
The Cause Of 1t.
II will be sad news to the whole German portion
OF the population, and to large number Of other
people also, that scarcity Of good lager beer is
apprenended during the present summer. But a
week or so ago the HERALD published an elaborate
statement on the subject OF lager beer, and the
quantity of this beverage brewed and consumed
annually in this city and vicinity, and it was to be
AIKEN for granted considering the authentic figures
given in the article referred to, that there
would be rather o superabundance than q
deartn, a scarcity, Of the article for the supply
Of thirsty humanity whether of Allemannc or Anglo
Saxon Gau Gaelic extraction. STILL If the state
ments be true which are now made by persons
whose opportunity to know whereof they speak en-
titles their revelations to belief, then there is cer
tain degree of danger impending that palatabe and
wholesome lager will indeed be scarce in the city
during the present summer, at least from homo
breweries. The reasons given for this fear may be
summarized as follows:-
which is sold In the summer, Is brewed during the
hogsheads each containing from thirty to forty bar
rels. These are kept in subterranean vaults at
very low temperature, Tor rpenlng" as 1t IS SAID.
In order 10 keep the temperature in these vaults as
uniform as possible they are subdivided into com.
partments by temporary brick partition walls, which
are torn down one after the other has
to be opened to remove the beer 1t Is needed for
sale. Tne temperature of the vaults most suitable
for the "rpenlng' Of lager is between four and five
degrees Reaurnur. When the warmer days
OF spring set in many brewers have re-
course to the use Of ice to cool the air
in the vaults and keep 1t down TO the required
low degree Of temperature. If this rises beyond six
degrees, and should go up to seven, eight or even
nine the beer Is Immediately affected becomes fat
to certain extent and loses that peculiar, refresh
ing taste which makes 1t popular with the Masses
The subsequent reduction OF the temperature TO o
lower degree by OF ice dDes not restore to the
beer its former quality. sIt Is upon these facts that
such as pretend to know base their fears OF the prob
able scarcity of lager referred to. They say that
owing to the unusually warm winter there was but
very little frost IN the EARTH which. In other seasons
has kept
THE AIR IN THB BEER VAULTS
down to low degree. That, again, with the un-
usually early warm weather OF spring the tempera-
ture the vaults rose to seven and eight degrees
Reaumur thus, according to the theory stated above,
Affecting the quality OF the beer stored 1t is further
argued by those from whom this Information was
obtained that most OF the brewers are not men OF
scence-not trained in those branches Of scientific
education which are closely connected with the
manufacture Of beer. They are generally practical
brewers only, brought up in the trade empyrically,
their whole stock OF knowledge being their own ex-
perience. They were therefore, too late TO find out
the injury done by the early warm spring ana the
lack OF severe cold In the winter, and when they