METAL BEER BARRELS

Evening Star, Issue 21879, 16 November 1934, Page 7

METAL BEER BARRELS

NEW INVENTION The phrase “ Straight from the Wood,” now displayed m village inns, may soon become an anachronism as the result of developments now taking place at Trafford Park, Manchester. Experiments have been made by Messrs Metropolitan Vickers to devise a metal contained for the nut-brown ale of England which would be superior to the wood casks and barrels hitherto used.

As a result a number of breweries are now using metal barrels for the storage and conveyance of light beers, and a new industry has come into being. Already a big trade is being done in these new containers, and employment is being provided for a considerable number of people. So .satisfactory is the idea proving, that it is confidently predicted that the old wooden barrel! will soon become entirely obsolete. An official of the company stated that the experiments behind the new enterprise had been going on for a number of years. There were several objections, he _said, to the wooden bar- .• Wood quickly became impregnated with its contents, and proved extremely difficult to clean. On hygienic ground alone, therefore, there was a strong case for the metal container. Another objection to the wooden barrel was that its life was comparatively short, whereas the metal barrel now being produced was good for a lifetime’s wear.

. Ordinary metals,” he said, .“proved quite unsuitable for use. The liquot ate the metal away, and the taste of the contents was affected. We experimented to find a suitable alloy, of aluminium strengthened with steel, and tins has proved entirely satisfactory. The interior of the barrel keeps "a shining cleanliness, and beer under these conditions has superior keeping qualities. So far, their use has mainly been in the storage of lighter beers and lagers, hut, in co-operation with a number of brewers, we have found them hist _as satisfactory when used for heavier beers. they cost slightly more than an ordinary barrel, hut considering their very long life and the, ease of. cleaning them, they will prove,, in the long run, very much cheaper.!’.