In this place _Farnner_ again shews his Asses ears, when he writes,
That he can strengthen Beers, that they shall not be inferiour to
Rhenish wine. Here every wise man may discern how great and stupendious
this man’s folly is.
Behold, he attributeth the goodness of Rhenish Wine to its strength,
which indeed is a great errour; for the goodness of Rhenish-wines
consists not in their strength, but sweetness. French Wines are far
more fragrant than Rhenish, yet in sweetness and soundness it comes not
near it. So likewise _Hungarian_, _Greek_, _Italian_, and _Spanish_
Wines, _&c._ are much stronger, but for sweetness, as well as goodness
and wholsomeness, Rhenish wine, far better, although the other excell
it in strength. And so this is a great absurdity: Indeed Beer may be
strengthen’d, by adding a burning spirit to it in fermentation, whereby
it may endure the longer; which thing I can’t deny, and it ought to
be done: but that a Vinegar may be drawn from them like Wine-Vinegar,
is a pure story; for though it may happen that Beer may give a strong
Vinegar, yet it never yields Wine-Vinegar, for a great difference may
be discern’d between Wine and Beer-Vinegar, though they have both
the same strength, if you make trial of both: Whence it appears,
that _Farnner_ is ignorant what Vinegar is, because he knows not the
difference of it.
Strong and right Wine-Vinegar is known by these Trials. First, if it be
shaked in a Glass, it by and by receives its clearness, and leaves no
scum, dreggs, or bubbles, on the top, as Beer-Vinegar does: for let it
be never so strong, it retains its own nature, and causes a scum, if
it be shook just as the Beer it is made of: but Wine-Vinegar leaves no
scum. Secondly, the longer Wine-Vinegar is boiled, the stronger it is;
the reason is this, There is naturally in it an innate sharpness, which
is not volatile; but the sharpness of Beer-Vinegar consists in its
volatility, which in boiling is abated; so that the longer it boils,
the weaker it is. And these are the two chief and most certain trials
of Vinegars, which _Farnner_’s Vinegar will never bear, and therefore
will still be Beer-Vinegar, and does not deserve that it’s Preparation
should yield Fifty R. Dollers.
_Acid or Sower Beers._
What belongs to this, requires nothing of Art, neither is it worthy to
be taught at a price when every Country man can do it, by projecting
and well stirring in a vessel of acid beer, two or three handfuls of
beech ashes well sifted, made wet with a little beer, and leting them
lie in it about eight days, for then the ashes by reason of the Salt
which is in ’em takes away the sowreness of the beer, and make it
drinkable.
NB. If the beer be not too sowre, a handful of sifted ashes may be
sewed up in a linen bagg, and put into the Beer through the bung, and
there left for this way the Beer may be preserv’d from sowreing and
need not be stirred nor troubled. Also some handfuls of wheat put into
the beer, draws its sowerness from it, the same also is done by egg
shells, Crabs eyes, Tortoise shells, Sea shells, calx _viva_, and such
like things which attract the sharpness, and turn it into sweetness.
But whence is it that _Farnner_ now so abounds in the knowledge of
wines and beers, when yet but two years since, when he prepar’d and
sold brandy wine and beer, that he complain’d to me, that he had
sustained much damage in handling them, so that he shou’d perish
unless he learn’d how to take away and remedy the burning of Corn in
the Still, the ill smell of his brandy wine and the sowreness of Beer.
Why cou’d not he then help himself, and beware of those Losses? he
will object that at that time a certain light shone upon him, by whose
benefit he knew Nature. However true his objection be, it will never
induce me to believe that this light cou’d in so great a measure so
suddenly help him, which is a great absurdity: for so much knowledge
is given to no man in a nights sleep, it is a false story. But that my
faithful instruction, with which I instructed him, has enlighten’d him,
and like a guiding star led him in the right way, is most true, tho he
is unworthy of those precious Pearls which like a wild boar he treads
in the dirt under his feet.