GERMAN BREWERS' DILEMMA

Evening Star, Issue 15907, 13 September 1915, Page 7

GERMAN BREWERS' DILEMMA

Beer, so inseparably associated with thelife of the average German, has become a luxury in the Fatherland. An Amsterdam telegram published recently announced that the dearth of barley had forced the German brewery associations to reduce the output of beer to a minimum of 40 per cent, below the usual production. This adds materially to the liquor restrictions imposed in foreign countries since the beginning of the war. An expert, in conversation with a 'Daily Telegraph ' representative pointed out that the German Empire normallv grows sufficient barley to provide most of the malt required, but the bread supply of the country is now the first consideration. A certain amount of barley is imported from Russia and America in the ordinaryway, but those sources are, of course now closed. The price of malfe in Germainmust bq very high at present, and it is difficult to see how the brewers can obtain any relief by tho use of other cereals as substitutes, as they cannot be imported, no the depression settling over the German beer halls can be ofilv partially removed by the coming harvest—if then. The war has, of. course, had a laarkeu effect on the sale of-"lager" be«? in this country. In the first place, the German colonies in London and other large centres have practically vanished. Again, the patriotism of many people with a palate for much beer makes them suspicious of the word "lager," though all the foreign beer goid in England now comes from Holland—chiefly—and a few other countries Pilsener " oud " Munich " having lone since vanished. o &