The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-17

THE SHRINE OF GAMBRINUS.

FORTY BREWERS SUBMITTING SAMPLES TO THE
TASTE OF NEW YoRKrRs-AN INTERESTING
SCENE AT coNconpIA HALL.
King Gambrnus is installed for the first three days
of the present week tho Concordia Assembly
Rooms Nos. % and 80 avenue A. custom, old in
Europe but new in this country, is that Of deciding
the respective merits OF the various brewiDgs OF beer
by means OF tho ballot box, and more than score Of
American brewers submitting their manufactures
to such test Concorda Hail. Some time since the
Gambrinus yerein--a society comprising from ono
hundred and 1fty to two hundred brewers Of this
cityconceved the idea of holding beer testing fcs
tival and TO that end sent invitations to tho more
prominent brewers throughout tho country to
send six kegs each, MS specimens OF their
best brewing The invit,ton was generally accepted.
ana it Is supposed that at least forty brewers from
New York. Newark Milwaukee, Cincinnati ana other
cities distinguished for their enormous production OF
beer will submit to the proposed test.
Yesterday afternoon, Mt two O'Clock, tho festival
began At the appointed hour the doors wore thrown
open King Gumbrinus, attired In gorgeous cos
tune, and bearing immense goblet IN his right band
and in his left cleaning sword, marched into the
hail. attended by two brightly dressed pages and tol-
lowed by tho members of the Gambrinus verein walk
ing TWO and Alter proceeding three times about
the procession halted, aud the King, mount
ing convenient STAND, delivered an address
tho object OF tho 1estIVu ana the ma
ture OF its operations. The object he said was
to the importation OF lager beer by showing
the superiority OF that OF American make. The result
OF the festival Will be determine which OF the Amer
can brewers produces the best beer and the modus
operandi Is follows-Every brewer sends SIX Kegs
two OF which are put on zap each day so carefully
wrapped to conceal the name OF the
maker. The secret is known only to Il committee OF
three, who sworn not 10 dvulge H. The Kegs are
distinguished by numbers and ranged IN double row
down the contre OF the room. Tho admission fee IL
twenty five cents which entities the purchaser to six
glasses OF lager and IA ticket bearlng The words III
German, taste, condition. COLOR" Having drunk his
glasses OF beer the voter writes on his ticket tho
number OF the keg which he prefers, tho printed
telling the qualities IN which II cxcels
BY covering each keg in canvas tho make OF the beer
is successfully concealed and connoisscurs do their
best distinguish the various brands by tasting tho
frequently fail recognize their own make II is u
brewer who knows his own beer. The FESTIVAL Is
chiefly interesting persons engaged IN the
manufacture and sale OF lager and tho attendance IS
confined almost exclusively to brewers and saloon
Keepers. Various means, however, have been con-
trived secure miscellaneous asseLblagc. A band
pieces makes the Assembly Rooms ring, aud the
hall and galleries have been gayly dcckcd with flags
and banners OF all kinds aud colors.
Fully 200 persons were present yesterday afternoon
and only three OF them were OF the gentlcr SEX
In the evening the attendance Of both men and women
considerably larger. Tho palates which were dry
early IN the afternoon were hardly IN con-
m idnght TO pass upon tho merits OF the
rious kegs The festival will be continued to day and
close the OF tho brewer whose beer has received
most votes will be made known. Mayor Ely and the
Board OF Police Commissioners are invited 10 be pres
ent this afternoon.