PURE BEER 



phase, and they had to take up arms in a much more 

 difficult struggle than any in which they had hitherto been 

 engaged in the hope of obtaining even a qualified measure of 

 justice. 



There may be two opinions as to whether the demand of 

 agriculturists for " pure beer" has any worthy justification ; 

 whether beer brewed from one set of ingredients has any 

 more claim to be considered " pure " than a liquor brewed 

 from another set ; whether there is any legal definition of 

 what " beer " is ; and whether the brewer is not justified in 

 selling whatever he likes as " beer," so long as the consumer 

 is not absolutely killed by poison. In order to make the 

 position clear, a brief history of the question must be given. 



There are certain premises, however, which must not be 

 forgotten. If an industry be built up under conditions, legal 

 or otherwise, which prevail during the earlier years of its 

 existence ; if a commodity acquire a reputation on its 

 merits ; if it obtain a hold on the taste and habits of a 

 people under one name, and under these conditions then 

 any arbitrary change of those conditions must bring about 

 results which will react hardly on some parties. No such 

 arbitrary change is justified unless very strong reasons in 

 support can be given. 



Brewing of beer is a very ancient industry in Britain. 

 " William of Malmesbury asserts that as far back as Henry II. 

 many monasteries were celebrated for their pure and strong 

 ales brewed from malt with skill and care. The monks of 

 Wetmore discovered the brewing qualities of the Burton 

 water in the thirteenth century."* In 1315 (9 Edward II.) 

 Stow says the City of London forbade malt to be made of 

 wheat, and fixed the price of a gallon of better ale at three 

 half -pence and small ale at a penny. 



17 Richard II., c. 4, 1394, placed restrictions on the sale 

 of malt from some country places to London unless " duly 

 cleaned from all dust and combs." This law was repealed 

 by 19 & 20 Vic. c. 24. 



* Slopes Malting. 1885. 



