Thomas Morris brewer's log
Creation: 1820-1827Abstract
Thomas Morris (1774-1841) was a fifth-generation descendant of Anthony Morris, who established Philadelphia's second brewery in the late seventeenth century. The Thomas Morris & Co. brewery operated from 1812 until 1829. In this volume, Morris records the mix of ingredients and measurements, such as the specific gravity of each brew. Every brewmaster would keep such a log, although surviving examples from the early nineteenth century are very rare.
Dates
- Creation: 1820-1827
Creator
- Morris, Thomas, 1774-1841 (Person)
Extent
1 volume(s)
Physical Description
Volume housed in a half-hollinger box.
Biographical Note
Thomas Morris (1774-1841) was a fifth-generation descendant of Anthony Morris, who established Philadelphia's second brewery in the late seventeenth century. Anthony Morris' descendants formed a line of influential brewers, merchants, land speculators, manufacturers, and prominent participants in public affairs. The Thomas Morris & Co. brewery operated from 1812 until 1829. It was located on Second Street above Arch Street, the site of the family’s brewery and malt house since 1745. At the time that Thomas Morris compiled this log, he was making mostly ale and porter.
Scope and Contents
Thomas Morris' brew log records the mix of ingredients and measurements used in brewing, such as the specific gravity of each brew, which Morris refers to as the "weight of worts." Brewing is a process of using liquid to extract sugar from grain, then causing the sugar-liquid mixture--called "wort"--to ferment by adding yeast. Every brewmaster would keep such a log, although surviving examples from the early nineteenth century are very rare. Old brewer's logs permit modern brewers to understand or even duplicate the qualities of historic beers, ales, and porters.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Thomas Morris brewer's log
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2020: Laurie Sather
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
