The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

For in the room of this one Barrel of Juice, there must have been stowed 8 Barrels, and yet that sometimes turns sour too, and is spoiled, the which never betides these Juices. Now such Ale prepared of the Juices by means of Hops and Water are much wholsomer than the common Ales are, because that the Fire hath consumed all the Crudities; in the boiling of the Juices or hath corrected them, and this every one will readily believe or assent unto.

Nay more, these Juices may (and that with very great profit too) be sent into those places wherein (by reason of the abundance of People there) Corn and Ale is much esteemed, as in Holland, and the bordering Countries. If the Ale-brewers could but once get such Juices, without doubt they would not be at the costs to brew it out of the Corn, for they would not need so much time to brew in, nor such Coppers, nor so many Mens help, all which they must necessarily have in the common way of brewing. In these Juices, there is much sparing of Fuel, (the which makes the common way of brewing Ale, more costly,) and of Men’s labour which doth likewise prove chargable. Nor are we silently to pass over that great benefit which they have hereby, for that good Ale and such as will not sour may be made without any danger even in the midst of the Dog-days. Every one knows what it is to brew Ale (then,) and that the brewing is at other times sufficiently troublesome, viz. so to order it as to prevent the danger of souring. But now this brewing (that I mention) is void of all this kind of fear of souring; whereas the usual kind of brewings do for the most part (in the Summer season) become sour either in the straining it through the Grains, or by standing in the Coolers: but these labours are in our brewing already dispatched, and that in those places where the charges of Labourers, Wood, and Room fit for boiling it in, are not so great.

This work therefore is of mighty profit both to the buyer and seller: For the seller can afford his Corn at a reasonable rate. And the buyer need not be at any other charges in brewing good and wholsome Ale at any time of the Year save only the hire of one man that may prepare or sit the Juices, and Hops, and Water for the boiling, and set it a-working or fermenting and pour it into the Vessels. Whereas on the contrary in the common brewing of Ale there needs many mens help, huge Coppers, and wooden Flats and a great deal of room to brew in, and store of Fire which is sufficiently dear in some Countries; all which are avoided in the brewing with the Juices. Do but consider I pray what a notable and profitable thing this would be in great Cities, and especially in those places where Houses, Fuel, and Mens labour are very dear, if such kinds of Juices were set to sale; that so every Master of a Family might buy up some Barrels of this Juice, and dissolve them at his own home with Water and Hops, in a small Copper according to his pleasure, and make the said Juices into Ale, as fat or as lean or small; and as bitter or as sweet as he listeth; and then put it up in his own purified and well cleansed Vessels, and he and his, drink thereof all the whole year; and if need be, might make either Physick-drink or Spiced-ale. And would it not be much better than the buying such Ales of the Brewers, which are sometimes either too new or too stale, and oft-times acid, impure, not well boiled, and stinking, and instead of Hops have Aloes, Xanthium or Burr, Henbane and such like Herbs put in them. For in some places, the Brewers use such kinds of Herbs and the like hurtful things, instead of Hops, to make their Ale bitter, and to save a few charges in the making their drink. Therefore all such as use to drink of such kind of Beer are never wont to be in compleat health; and especially in watery and moist places they are for the most part afflicted with the Scurvy, Melancholly, &c. which is the usual fruits of such kind of Drinks, for they obstruct the internal parts of the body and the principal members, and stir up such Diseases. But our Ales that are made of the Juices and good Hops do not only not stir up such Distempers, but do even (by their purity and clearness) resist them, and preserve men from them; but especially if such Juices be made of such Malt as has not a smatch of the smoke of Wood, but is dried in the Air, and which are so handled in the fermentation or working of them as that all the defilements settle to the bottom; for then will you have such Ale, as doth both in wholesomness and sweetness exceed such Wines as are infected with, or have a tang of, Sulphur, or that grow in a soil abounding with Chalk. They dull not the head, they do not cause windiness, they puff not up the body after the manner of other Ale; they do not stop the Urine but provoke it, and keep the Belly soluble: They are Medicinal without the addition of Physical Herbs, are sweet and wholsome, and of an excellent tast, and such as the like of them cannot be made without this medium or way.

Such Ales deserve a peculiar praise, and many would there be who would drink of Ales often, could they but get such: and would leave off the drinking troubled, unwholsome, and sulphured Wines. For my own part I will make use of such kind of Ale, and Wine, in my own house for the sustaining of mine own Family.

I could mention much more concerning such Ales if the time would permit me, but I have spoken enough already. And as for what remains unwritten here, may be gotten out of, (or understood by) the things here described. I question not but that good (or provident) Masters of Families will set about this business of preparing these Juices, and of sending them into such places where they may be sold to Ships that are bound for far Countries, and so mightily enrich those Countries with store of Money that abound with Corn.

Besides, the Brewers of Ale or Beer that are in great Cities will not disdain such an excellent Art, but will themselves buy such Juices at a considerable rate.

Princes, Nobles, and great Cities, will also provide (or buy up) great quantities of such Juices, and lay them up in their Forts and Castles, and in their Store houses as a good Treasure, that so they may have it to use in time of necessity. Nor will good (or provident) Housholders neglect to furnish themselves therewith, that so they may have wherewithal to sustain them and theirs in a time of scarcity.

In the time of Wars, eminent Captains and other Military chieftains will take care to have them, and carry them into their strong holds, and there loosen them (or put a proportionable quantity of Water to them) and turn them into good Ale; as for Water, there’s to be found (enough) of that every where, and so need not store up that, and as for Hops that is easie enough to be bought.

So then, there will be a notable benefit by this Artifice to strong Holds and Castles, and such fenced Places as fear a Siege. Briefly, Words cannot express the benefit and profit which will redound to all places, by these Juices, in times both of Peace and War.

Therefore every Magistrate who has a care of his Subjects health and preservation, will worthily and with his utmost diligence carefully provide for the having such prepared Juices, that so in times of necessity they may be at hand for use.