The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-09-20
Facts About Root Beer.

\ few weeks ago the writer bought a
package of so called ROOT Beer which
is not s-Ioot beer bnt ilavoring material
which helps to disguise the alcohol in the
manufactured drink. On the paper cover
we read: 's5 gallons for % cents" which is
no. true, as the Price of the package is %
cents. Then to make the beer we need
lbs. of sugar, costing 40 cents, yeast 2
cents, total 81 instead of % cents as adver-
tised.
Again, It is advertised as ''the most ap-
petising and wholesome temperance drink
in the world. = Now, while the prepare
ton sold in the package may not contain
alcohol yeast is used in making the beer
and, wherever yeast fermentation takes
place, alcohol is produced. The amount
will depend on the length to which fermen-
tation is allowed to go. Much more alco-
hol will be produced in given time in
hot than in cold weather. The alcohol can
be got rid of by boiling the beer just be-
fore drinking 1t. In making bread by the
yeast process alcohol is produced but is
driven off by heat in baking.
The writer made gallon of beer as per
directions, using extract, sugar and yeast
in proportion. This when thoroughly
mixed was put into4 one quart Mason glass
jars and, the covers being screwed Oh, they
were put in the coolest place in the cellar,
the temperature there being about 60
degrees Fahrenheit. At the end of 3 days
the test for alcohol showed 2 per cent, in
days per cent, in days per cent, in
IA days per cent. and in II days per
cent. of absolute alcohol. Lager beer sub
jeeted to the same test showed about per
cent of alcohol. These tests were made
" it'll the 81. S. Custom House IIydrometer
for spirits" The percentage is per
''Tralle's" scale. TO make the test take
say half pint of the beer or other liquid
to be tested: distil over one half to two
thirds; add to this distilled water to origin
al amount; then test Nth alcoholometer.
In ) gallons of root beer, containing 3
per cent. Of alcohol, we have / quart of
pure spirit. Still it is named temper
ance drink. Root beer made by the yeast
fermenting process is positively an alco-
bolic beverage, in some cases containing
as much alcohol as lager beer, ale or light
wine. This being the ease person max
ing or selling root beer in Prohibition
States should be liable to the same penal
ties as one making or selling ale, wine or
beer.
would say TO Temperance people who
wish their children to grow up and remain
tenperate--teaeh them to shun and hate
all drinks in the preparation Of which
yeast is used, in fact, to shun all fermented
drinks. The yeast cell will get from the
atmosphere into fruit juices and there set
up yinoas fermentation and produce alco-
hol. For temperance and religious papers
to advertise root beer as temperance
drink is one of the meanest aud most con-
temptible frauds ever perpetrated on loyal
unthinking, temperance intending people.
1t is the Devils plan to induce people TO
drink alcoholic drinks without knowing it.
Liquor men could not themselves devise a
better plan for propagating the insidious
liquor habit. Temperance papers adyer-
Using root Deer should adopt as motto or
headline for their paper ''No saloon in the
nation but brewery in every home. -
G. AinshaN.