POTATO BEER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 60, 20 December 1943, Page 4

POTATO BEER.

BRITAIN LIKES NEW DRINK.

“SECRET” BREWS ON SALE

• LONDON.

We are drinking more beer in Britain than at any time in the past 30 years. And some of it is “potato beer.” Since there is not enough malting barley to provide the gigantic quantity of beer demanded by a thirsty public brewers have been compelled to fall back on substitutes. The nature of the substitutes has not been revealed, but an expert told a “Daily Mail” reporter that several large brews have been made from “potato flakes” and have passed the test of taste.

“I have tried the potato beer,” he said, "and I cannot tell the difference from beer made with barley. “The public is drinking it, and apparently liking it. At any rate there have been no complaints.” Ordinary beer, lie explained, is dependent for its flavour and aroma on hops, and not on the base from whioh it is made.

Rye and wheat could be used with equal success in making a drink as palatable and nourishing as ordinary beer. .

Higher Wages.

Wartime Britain’s brewing is expected this year to reach astronomical heights. A total of 30,000,000 barrels is forecast.

This represents 8,640,000,000 pints —nearly 200 pints per head of the population. In the March quarter brewing figures reached 6,831,154 barrels, an increase of 126,000 over the same period of last year. The June quarter is expected to show a substantial increase.

"The Trade” has been investigating the situation, and reports show that the biggest increases are in the industrial and agricultural districts where wages have risen. The scarcity of wines and spirits are other factors. And to this must he added the influx of Dominion and American troops, while more women are finding the "local” a pleasant place for a quiet drink and a chat. Since September, 1939, the duty on beer has been raised to 6d per pint; yet, apart from a slight fall in 1940, consumption has steadily increased. It is now nearly 17 per cent, higher than for the last year of peace. The Ministry of Food said: “We have no knowledge of potato beer being sold to the. public.”