The first thing to be considered, is, undoubtedly, the being provided with implements proper for the purpose, and of these the copper appears to be the first object.

The position of the copper, and the manner of setting it, must be duly considered, as much depends thereon. The manner proper to be adopted is, to divide the fire by a stop ; and, if the door and draught be in a direct line, the stop should be erected from the middle of each outline of the grating, and parallel with the centre sides of the copper. By this method, the middle of the fire will be directly under the bottom of the copper. The stop is composed of a thin wall, in the centre of the right and left sides of the copper, which is to ascend half the height of the copper. On the top must be left a cavity from four to six inches, for a draught for the half part of the fire which is next the door of the copper; and then the building must close all round to the finishing at the top.

By this mode of erecting the copper, the heat will communicate from the outward part of the fire round the outward half of the copper, through the cavity, as does the furthest part of the flue, which also contracts a conjunction of the whole, and causes the flame gently and equally round the bottom of the copper.

Many are the advantages derived from this manner of proceeding, and the fuel saved thereby is no small object of consideration. It has considerably the pre-eminence of wheel-draughts ; for with them, if there be not particular attendance given to the hops, by stirring them down, they are apt to stick to the sides and scorch; and this will undoubtedly very much hurt the flavour of the liquor. The copper will also, by this method, last many years more than it would by the wheel draught; for that draws with so much violence, that should the liquor be beneath the communication of the fire, the copper will thereby be liable to be damaged: whereas, by the other contrivances, you may boil half a copper full without fear of injury. This must be allowed to be a great advantage, as in all brewing it is impossible to draw it clean off the mash.

In order to give greater expedition to the operation, you may sometimes wish to extend this advantage to a few pails full, which is done without prejudice to the other; for when the whole of the other is clean drawn off, the copper will accomplish the intended purpose next morning, which will prevent interfering with your natural rest; for by running the whole night, it will be ready to boil in the morning, and be fit to add to the working of the other small beer, in time to render the whole complete for tunning. By this method, also, you are not under the necessity of having the copper burned, which is a very troublesome and disagreeable business, to unfix and refix large cocks, which is likewise attended with great expense.

Another inconvenience too frequently found in coppers is, their being made too exact to their intended quantity; in consequence of which, room is not left sufficient to boil the liquor in with any degree of rapidity or safety, which must naturally be supposed to be essential points. To remedy this inconvenience, let your carpenter prepare good seasoned pieces of elm, or other proper wood, and shape it out like the felly of a stage waggon-wheel, but only half its thickness, and then join them round to compose the dimensions of the circle of the copper. The rim of the copper, which generally turns over as a bearing at the top, may be beat up, and that part nailed to the bottom part of the wood-work, brushing between the wood-work and the copper a cement composed of bullock's blood and whiting, mixed only to the thickness of common whitewash. This cement will prevent any leak, and last as long as the copper.

Though the wood-work may be done with great safety all round, yet it will be necessary to take this precaution, never to let the wood-work join nearer than eight inches on each side of the copper flue, or the communication of the heat. If there be any apprehension of its penetrating through in that direction, you must then nail either brass, copper, plate-iron, or sheet-lead, whichever can be most conveniently gotten. If your neighbourhood cannot furnish you with these matters, there will probably be always a sufficient supply in your house of decayed pots, pans, or kettles, which may be beat out to suit your purpose: any smith, tinker, or carpenter, etc. can execute such a piece of work, observing the same cement, which will be as good and as firm as solder in other matters.

This work is of great support and ease to the copper; and by this mode you can also increase its dimensions from three to twelve or more inches in the wood-work, which will add considerably to your guage, especially in large coppers. This method, however, is recommended only where stop-draughts are made use of, in which case the wood may be applied round with great safety; for the fires of those never burn so furiously that the least damage can ensue. For the raising-of other coppers, built on different constructions, brick, stone, or tarris mortar may be used.

The next to be considered are the coolers, and these are things of no small consequence; for, if they are not properly taken care of, the liquor, by a seemingly secret and unaccountable cause, will attract a disagreeable twang. This often proceeds from wet having been infused in the wood, as it is sometimes apt to lodge in the crevices of old coolers, and even infect them to such a degree, that it will not depart, though many washings and scaldings are applied. One cause incidental to this evil is permitting women to wash in a brew-house, which ought by no means to be permitted, where any other convenience is to be had; for nothing can be more hurtful than the slops of soap-suds.

Be careful, in preparing the coolers, never to let the water stand too long in them, as it will soak in, and soon turn putrid, when the stench will enter the wood, and render them almost incurable. To prevent such consequences, as well as to answer good purposes, it has by some been recommended, where all fixed brewhouses are intended, that all the coolers should be leaded. In the first place such are exceedingly cleanly; and, secondly, it expedites the cooling of part of the liquor worts, which is very necessary to forward it for working, as well as afterwards for cooling the whole; lor evaporation causes considerably more waste than proper boiling. Chymists tell us, that the more the steam, the more the strength of any fluid is exhausted; as is further proved by the still, where the steam being confined, the chief strength is kept in ; but, being exposed to the air, it soon evaporates.