Also 3–7 bruer, 4 brywer, 4–5 brewere. [f. BREW v. + -ER1.]
1. One who brews; spec. one whose trade is to make malt liquors.
a. 1300. Wright’s Relig. Songs, vii. 82. Theos false chepmen … Backares and brueres.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 221. Bakers and brywers, bouchers and oþere.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 54. Browstar, or brewere, pandoxator, -trix.
1577. Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), 150. Ale and beere … as it pleaseth the bruer to make them.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, 10 b. Brewers … by retayling filthy Thames water, come in few yeres to be worth fortie or fifty thousand pound.
1671. in Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), II. 713/1. No street car, or Brewer’s dray.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., ii. § 4. You think a drunkard most beneficial to the brewer and the vintner.
1836. Penny Cycl., V. 404/2. The fining or clearing, which is sometimes done by the brewer, sometimes by the publican.
2. A concocter, contriver of.
1563. Homilies, II. xiv. (1640), 191. The author and brewer of sinne, and the ruler of Hell.
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 96/2. James de la Hide was the onlie bruer of this rebellion.
