CHAP. XII.


_Of Foxing or Tainting Malt Liquors_.


Foxing is a misfortune, or rather a Disease in Malt Drinks, occasioned by
divers Means, as the Nastiness of the Utensils, putting the Worts too
thick together in the Backs or Cooler, Brewing too often and soon one
after another, and sometimes by bad Malts and Waters, and the Liquors
taken in wrong Heats, being of such pernicious Consequence to the great
Brewer in particular, that he sometimes cannot recover and bring his
Matters into a right Order again under a Week or two, and is so hateful to
him in its very Name, that it is a general Law among them to make all
Servants that Name the word _Fox_ or _Foxing_, in the Brewhouse to pay
Sixpence, which obliges them to call it _Reynards_; for when once the
Drink is Tainted, it may be smelt at some Distance somewhat like a _Fox_;
It chiefly happens in hot weather, and causes the Beer and Ale so Tainted
to acquire a fulsome sickish taste, that will if it is receive'd in a
great degree become Ropy like Treacle, and in some short time turn Sour.
This I have known so to surprize my small Beer Customers, that they have
asked the Drayman what was the matter: He to act in his Master's Interest
tells them a Lye, and says it is the goodness of the Malt that causes that
sweetish mawkish taste, and then would brag at Home how cleverly he came
off. I have had it also in the Country more than once, and that by the
idleness and ignorance of my Servant, who when a Tub has been rinced out
only with fair Water, has set it by for a clean one but this won't do with
a careful Master for I oblige him to clean the Tub with a Hand-brush,