In the Petit Journal du Brasseur (1923, 31, 695) there is a proposition dealing with the proposed formation of a brewing association in Belgium and the north of France, which will be of interest to many of our readers owing to the numerous references to our Institute derived from an independent source. The formation of a society on similar lines to those of our Institute is suggested. The only condition necessary for membership of the proposed Institute is technical competence, the purpose of members being to follow technical and industrial progress, to exchange ideas and to communicate the results of their researches or of practical observations. Members are invited to deliver before their colleagues notes and papers on all subjects related to industrial brewing. In addition to the chief centre of the Institute local groups may be formed, thus facilitating the meeting of members and one may imagine in France and Belgium the regional groups holding their meetings at Paris, Brussels, Lille, Nancy, or in other towns well provided with railway communication.
The writer in our contemporary states that it is sufficient to survey the volumes of the Journal published during the last 20 years by the Institute of Brewing to realise that all subjects connected with technical brewing have been dealt with and discussed at the meetings. This collection is a mine of practical information and from this point of view there is probably nothing in the world comparable with it. All the papers read are published in full and the discussions to which they give rise are recorded and revised by the speakers before being published.
The writer is of the opinion that such an organisation would not run the risk of overlapping with the meetings of old students from the various continental brewing schools, but would be advantageous to all groups and the papers would be read before all members in each centre. The assistance rendered would thus be greater because there would be pupils of several schools in each centre in addition to men who have not followed the course of any particular school but whose practical experience would provide valuable instruction and who would be able to take a useful place in an organisation such as that under consideration. Thus, at the Institute of Brewing one sees side by side technical directors and the chemists and bacteriologists of the English brewing world and one can hardly realise the importance of the practical results thus obtained by this collaboration of scientific and practical men. They have standardised analytical methods, determined the conditions necessary for the most satisfactory use of raw materials, secured uniformity of supplies and instituted various researches of value to the brewing industry. On the other hand, it is certain that the Belgian and French brewing schools and their past pupils have already accomplished part of the work carried out by our Institute and the organisation to be founded will avoid double duty and overlapping.
The object at the present time is not to follow a programme but to suggest and develop an idea and where realisable it will be necessary at the preliminary meetings to receive delegates from the principal schools and organisations interested in the proposed idea.
Crescent City Brew Talk 