346 MALT AND BEER IN SPANISH AMERICA. 



hops, which are so essential in the preparation of the beers of commerce. 

 In the valleys of the province of Rioja, where the temperature is almost 

 subtropical, there is found a native variety of hops, which has lately at- 

 tracted some attention ; and it is thought that good hops could be cul- 

 tivated in this part of the Argentine Kepublic, since great heat, at 

 least iii the United States and Europe, is not essential to their proper 

 development. If this should prove to be the case, there would be 

 nothing lacking in the country to make the brewing of beers and ales 

 an industry which would give most satisfactory results. As it is at 

 present, however, all the hops used in the manufacture are imported 

 from Europe, and the demand, of course, is every year increasing. The 

 amount imported in 1889 was 70.000 kilograms the greater part of 

 which was raised in Bavaria and about three-quarters of which came 

 through the house of L. Aischmann & Co., of this city. The duty on 

 barley is 30 per cent., and on malt and hops 25 per cent. 



NUMBER AND CAPACITY OF ARGENTINE BREWERIES. 



With these drawbacks, however, brewing on scientific principles is 

 making very commendable progress in the Argentine Republic. At 

 the present time there are in the city of Buenos Ayres no less than 

 eight well appointed brewing establishments, with a total capacity of 

 128,000 liters daily ; in the city of Rosario there are four breweries with 

 a capacity of about 25,000 liters daily ; and in all the other important 

 towns of the Republic one or two breweries are now to be found, most 

 of them, of course, with small plants, though that on the Rio Segundo, 

 near the city of Cordoba, called the " Anglo-Argentine Brewery " (Cer- 

 veceria Anglo- Argentina) is famous not only for its perfect equipments, 

 but for the excellence of its product. 



ESTABLISHMENTS IN BUENOS AYRES. 



Here in Buenos Ayres the breweries are all in the hands of persons 

 who have learned the business in Europe ; and in respect to their beers, 

 while all will quite favorably compare with the ordinary lager of the 

 United States, some brands are noted for their excellence. Among 

 these breweries there is one establishment which, for its size, for the 

 extent and solidity of its cellars and buildings, for the amoutit and 

 completeness of its machinery, for the quantity and quality of its prod- 

 ucts and for its internal organization, does exceedingly great credit to 

 the Argentine Republic, and compares favorably with the largest and 

 best appointed in the United States. It is called " Beickert's Brewery " 

 (Cerveceria de Beickert), that being the name of the founder, a German, 

 who has devoted his whole life to the business. Last year it was pur- 

 chased for account of an English syndicate for $5,000,000, but without 

 any change in the name. 



