IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF BEER IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND REMOVE ACIDITY
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bethell, of Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Brewer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF BEER IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND REMOVE ACIDITY.”
Sealed the 4th April 1873, and dated the 18th October 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bethell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th October 1872.
L, HENRY BETHELL, of Victoria Strect, in the City of Westminster,
Brewer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF BEER IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND REMOVE ACIDITY,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the combined use of carbonates of potash
and carbonates of ammonia in the treatment of beer, in order to preserve
it or prevent it becoming acid, and also to remove acidity from sour
beer.
In carrying out my Invention I add carbonate of potash to water
in about the proportion of 2 lbs. to a gallon, and dissolve the same by

page_text: To preserve mild beer I add about a pint of this solution of potash
and ammonia to the barrel of 36 gallons. The quantity of the solution
used for rectifying sour beer will vary according to its acidity.
The proportions above given for preparing the solution are what I
believe will answer best, but I do not limit myself thereto.
The carbonates I employ are by preference the mono-carbonates.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bethell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th April 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BETHELL, of Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, Brewer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Bethell, Her special licence
that I, the said Henry Bethell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Henry Bethell, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thercafter 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF BEER
IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND REMOVE ACIDITY," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Bethell, 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,

page_text: 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 Henry Bethell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in the combined use of carbonates of potash
and carbonates of ammonia in the treatment of beer, in order to preserve
it or prevent it becoming acid, and also to remove acidity from sour
beer.
i
In carrying out my Invention I add carbonate of potash to water in
about the proportion of 2/2 lbs. to a gallon, and dissolve the same by
boiling. I then add to the solution about 2 ounces of carbonate of
ammonia.
To preserve mild beer I add about a pint of this solution of potash
and ammonia to the barrel of 36 gallons. The quantity of the solution
used for rectifying sour beer will vary according to its acidity.
The proportions above given for preparing the solution are what I
believe will answer best, but I do not limit myself thereto.
The carbonates I employ are by preference the mono-carbonates.
The carbonates of soda or of lithia may be substituted for the car-
bonates of potash, but will not give so good a result.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bethell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of April One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three.