IMPROVING WATER FOR THE PURPOSES OF BREWING, AND BEER PRODUCED THEREFROM
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Blake, of the Castle Brewery, Newport, Mon-
mouthshire, for the Invention of "IMPROVING WATER FOR THE PURPOSES OF
BREWING, AND BEER PRODUCED THEREFROM."
Sealed the 3rd January 1865, and dated the 8th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Blake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
July 1864.
I, ALFRED BLAKE, of the Castle Brewery, Newport, Monmouthshire, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVING WATER
FOR THE PURPOSES OF BREWING, AND BEER PRODUCED THEREFROM," to be as
follows:-
I propose to add to the water before it is used for brewing (in quantities
varying with the character of the said water and the salts held by it. in
solution) either pure or diluted sulphuric acid, afterwards mixing a quantity
of carbonate of lime or other salts of lime in any well-known form with the
said water, so that the acid is neutralised, or the said water may be allowed
to filter through a body of small pieces of the said carbonate of lime or chalk,
or limestone; by this method pure sulphate of lime may be formed more
readily than by ordinary solution, I would remark that although I would
recommend the process to be carried out as above stated, I believe the
formation of the sulphate of lime as above described may be made to take

page_text: place, and be attended with advantageous results at an after stage of the
process of brewing; I do not therefore intend to restrict myself to the employ-
ment of the above system to any one period only, either in the brewing or the
fermentation of the beer, and although I recommend sulphuric acid either
pure or dilute to be employed, sulphurous acid or any of its compounds may
be employed to produce a like effect.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Blake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
BLAKE, of the Castle Brewery, Newport, Monmouthshire, send greeting.
°
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Blake, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Blake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred
Blake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVING WATER FOR THE
PURPOSES OF BREWING, AND BEER PRODUCED THEREFROM," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Blake, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Blake, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
I propose to add to the water before it is used for brewing (in quantities
varying with character of the said water, and the salts held by it in solution)

page_text: either pure or diluted sulphuric acid, afterwards mixing a quantity of
carbonate of lime or other salts of lime in any well-known form with the said
water, so that the acid is neutralized, or the said water, already impregnated,
may be allowed to filter through a body of small pieces of the said carbonate
of lime or chalk, or limestone; by this method pure sulphate of lime may be
formed more readily than by ordinary solution; I would remark that although
I would recommend the process to be carried out as above stated, I believe
the formation of the sulphate of lime as above described may be made to take
place, and be attended with advantageous results at an after stage of the
process of brewing; I do not therefore intend to restrict myself to the employ-
ment of the above system to any one period only either in the brewing or the
fermentation of the beer, and although I recommend sulphuric acid either
pure or dilute to be employed, sulphurous acid or any of its compounds may
be employed to produce a like effect.
And in order to explain more completely the nature of my said Invention,
I now proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, as follows:-
I first mix the acid with a small quantity of the water, then proceed to add
thereto the lime, or by preference, prepared chalk in sufficient quantity to
neutralize the acid, and thus form an artificial sulphate of lime, which will be
readily dissolved when placed in the water which is to be used for brewing.
In some cases it may be desirable to use with the chalk a small quantity of
either potass, magnesia, or soda, so that the sulphates of these may be formed,
taking care that the sulphate of lime be considerably in excess.
By the above means water employed for brewing may be impregnated
quickly with artificial sulphates to any extent required by adding same either
before or it may be during heating for mashing or spurging, and I believe
that the said solution of the sulphates has the effect of tending to improve the
formation of sugar in the mash-tun, and consequently improving the character
of the beer produced from water treated as above described.
But whereas all the above mentioned artificial sulphates are now manu-
factured soluble and of pure quality by several chemical manufacturers, it
may be more convenient to the brewer to procure same from said
manufacturers.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention for "Improving Water for the Purposes of Brewing and Beer produced
therefrom," together with the best means I am acquainted with for effecting
same, I would remark in conclusion that I hereby declare my Invention to
consist in and I claim improving waters for brewing by impregnating same

page_text: solely with artificial sulphates, obtained either as above stated or in a pure
state from the manufacturers of artificial sulphates or otherwise.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Blake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
ALFRED BLAKE. (L.S.)