MALT LIQUORS. 



279 



The maximum and minimum content of alcohol, extract, and ash in 

 the same samples is as follows : 



These analyses show great lack of uniformity of composition in the dif- 

 ferent varieties of malt liquor, but it should be remembered that the 

 samples were collected with a view to ascertaining the extent of adulter- 

 ation, and many samples were found to be sophisticated in one way or 

 another. Especially in the case of the content of ash the average of 

 these samples does not give the average composition of American beers, 

 for many of these ashes were found to consist principally of salt. 



Following is the average of nineteen analyses made by the same 

 chemist for the New York Board of Health in 1882 : 



Specific gravity 



Alcohol by weight 



Extractive matter 



Sugar 



Free acid calculated as lactic 



Ash 



Phosphoric acid 



1. 0162 

 2.78 

 G. 047 

 1.521 

 .189 

 .305 

 .105 



Tbe following analyses of four samples of beer sold in Indianapolis, 

 Ind., were made by Mr. J. N. Hurty : l 



The analyst does not state whether the percentage of alcohol is by 

 weight or volume, but on account of its being so high, presumably it is 

 the latter. 



1 Analyst, Vol. 7, p. 22. 



