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15
It was still possible that there might have been some tampering
with the beer in the tanks before the samples were taken. In
view of this and the fact and the results of the analysis of the
specimens sent by the Brewery Company, I took samples under
test conditions and personally supervised every step, although it
was practically certain in view of the fact that the Brewery Co.
were co-operating in every way, that everything was straight and
above board.
First, a sample was taken of the beer standing in the tank.
The tank was then thoroughly flushed out with water three times
and a sample of the last flushing taken. A sample of beer was
then taken from the racker, but it was found impossible to put
the beer direct from the racker into the tank, so that two casks
36 and 18 gallons respectively, had to be filled from the racker
and poured into the tank. In order to make certain that there
was no possible contamination, a sample was taken from each
barrel as it was being poured into the tank. The tank having
beeu filled was sealed up in every possible way and left for three
days, and four samples of beer were taken. One from the centre
by dipping in two 1J inch gauge glasses. The idea being, that
if it was possible to obtain an undisturbed sample from the centre
where it had not been in contact with any part of the tank, the
beer would show little, if any, contamination. The tubes were
first put in without corks, but that was found to be fallacious as
the majority of the sample was the upper portion of the beer.
The tubes were removed and sealed by corking and then reinserted
into the centre of the tank and the corks withdrawn.
Unfortunately the withdrawal of the corks produced a strong
upward rush. The tubes were re-corked but it was found on
removing the tubes that the corks did not support a sufficient
volume of beer for analysis so that a second dipping was made.
It would appear that the sudden upward rush had drawn some
of the beer from the lower part of the tank. The cock at the
bottom was then opened and a sample taken from the bottom of
the tank. The tank was then half emptied. Then another sample
was taken and then practically emptied and a sample taken from