OYSTER STOUT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23806, 12 May 1939, Page 5

OYSTER STOUT

PIONEERED IN DUNEDIN PROPOSED BRITISH MANUFACTURE LOCAL FORMULA TO BE USED The proposed manufacture of oyster stout by British brewers, using a concentrated extract prepared by Thyrodone Development, Ltd., a Southland concern, does not signify anything new to, the Dunedin Brewery Company, which over a year ago placed an oyster stout on the New Zealand market after 18 months spent in experiment. That stout, which also contains the concentrate made in Southland, is still on the market, and it was the first oyster stout made in the world. Moreover, the formula which will be user’ by the British brewers when the product is brewed in England will be that used by the Dunedin Brewery Company for the past year. Shipment Sent Home Just 12 months ago the Dunedin Brewery sent to London a shipment of oyster stout to the order of Thyrodone Development. Ltd. and it was pronounced a success by British experts But it was only after many months of experiment at the local brewery and many failures that a stout was brewed which was even drinkable. Using the oyster concentrate first in powdered form, and later as a liquid, the company did not immediately meet with success, and it was almost by accident that the stoul a? it is to-day was discovered. The idea ot brewing an oyster stout originated with the factory manager of Thyrodone, Ltd (Mr E. Barnes), who carried out experiments and eventually produced a concentrate of oysters in powdered form. The amalgamation of that concentrate with ordinary stout, however, was carried out by Dunedin Brewery, and 18 months later an oyster stout was made that was good enough to put on the market. The failure of the first experiments, caused by lack of knowledge when to amalgamate the concentrate with the stout led the company to abandon its attemnts. but about six months later the last brew was tasted, almost out of curiosity, and it was then found to have matured beautifully Reference to the company’s records was necessary to as-, certain the quantities used in that particular brew, and as a result a marketable product was evolved. It was the co-operation between the Dunedin Brewery and Thyrodone. Ltd., which led to the manufacture of oyster, stout, and a shipment was sent to London to the order of the latter company, and later on British brewers were supplied with the formula used for its manufacture Now. according to a report yesterday from Invercargill, it is intended to brew oyster stout in Britain, using a supply of the concentrate manufactured in Southland to the Dunedin Brewery’s formula.

A representative of the Daily Times who visited the Dunedin Brewery yesterday was shown the labels used on the first bottles of oyster stout brewed in the world, and also sampled some of a brew about 18 months old, being told that each pint bottle contained concentrate equivalent to one oyster British Journal’s Comment The stout, as made by the Dunedin Brewery Company, was favourably reported on in the December Issue of the Brewing Trade Review, the official organ of the Brewers’ Society, which devoted space to an article on oyster stout. “ For some years,” the article states, “experiments were made to manufacture an oyster extract, and these have now attained success; an oyster concentrated extract has been made which has been found to have valuable therapeutic properties apart from its food value, and this latter cannot be negligible since it takes 70 dozen to make a gallon of concentrate It is finding a wide market for its tonic and medicinal qualities; but this is by the way. The chief interest for brewers is that a New Zealand brewery has tried it as a priming for bottled stout, and the resulting oyster stout as manufactured by them was found to be an extraordinarily pleasant beverage, of full round palate, with a characteristic flavour and not the least trace of fishiness. . The pro-

prietors of the concentrate are, we understand, wishful to introduce it into this country for the purpose of making ah oyster stout." and the Excise authorities have passed it for such use. but up to the present they are not in negotiation with any brewer.”