Let's Brew Wednesday - 1934 Barclay Perkins Ale 4d

It's Meek and Mild Month here at SUABP. At least for today. We're back with one of my favourite lost styles: Ale 4d or just Ale.

This type of low-gravity Mild has its origins in WW I. When government restrictions from 1917 onwards forced brewers to slash gravities. Barclay Perkins discontinued their biggest-selling beer, X Ale, and replaced it with GA (Government Ale). When that name was forbidden (for some reason the government didn't like it), it became Ale 4d. The 4d (four pence) being the controlled price at which it was sold.

GA had a resonable gravity of 1038º. Ale 4d, introduced in April 1918 was considerably weaker - just 1027º and 2.7% ABV. Not really an intoxicating drink. After X Ale was reintroduced in 1919, Barclay Perkins continued to brew Ale 4d. There was clearly still demand for a cheap, low-gravity beer. The price differential was significant: X Ale cost 6d a pint and Bitter 8d.

Most other London brewers had a similar beer.Whitbread's was called MA. And, like Barclay Perkins Ale 4d, it was party-gyled with their standard X Mild. Gravities were in the range 1027º to 1030º. The quantities brewed gradually declined through the 1930's, but these beers only disappeared in the early 1940's when war again caused a fall in gravities. When standard X dropped to a similar gravity, Ale 4d disappeared.

Though it could be argued that post-WW II Milds were more similar, at least in terms of strength, to Ale 4d than they were to the old X Ale.

This particular beer comes from a three-way party-gyle of XX, X and Ale 4d, respectively 1042º, 1035º and 1031º. Though it was even more complicated than that. XX came in light and dark versions and there was a darker version of Ale 4d called Royal Ale. Extra caramel and different priming sugars were used to create them. So there were really 5 beers produced from a single mash. There's efficiency for you.




That's me done, so over to Kristen . . . . .

Barclay Perkins - 1934 - 4d
General info: This is a beautiful prototypical mid-war less than X, mild ale 'thing'. 4d ale is the type of ale that allows you to see what kind of a brewer you really are. Its low enough in gravity that there is nothing to hide behind. Has everything a growing boy needs. Pale malt, toasted malt, crystal malt, some corn and lots of dark sugar. Throw in a good dose of the burnt stuff for color and you have a meal in a glass...however many you need to fill your belly is completely up to you. A really fruity or spicy yeast will make this that much better. Made well, this is a very nice pint!
Beer Specifics			Recipe by percentages
Gravity (OG)	1.028		31.1% English pale malt 1			3.8% Crystal malt
Gravity (FG)	1.007		14.9% English pale malt 2			13.7% Flaked maize
ABV	2.81%		18.7% American 6-row			11.6% Invert No3
Apparent attenuation	75.10%		5.2% Amber malt			1% Caramel colorant
Real attenuation	61.52%
IBU	17.9		Mash	120min@152.25°F		0.93qt/lb
SRM	18			120min@66.8°C		1.94L/kg
EBC	36.1
			Boil	2.5 hours
	Homebrew @ 70%				Craft @ 80%
Grist	5gal		19L		10bbl		10hl
English pale malt 1	1.69	lb	0.767	kg	91.44	lb	35.33	kg
English pale malt 2	0.81	lb	0.368	kg	43.89	lb	16.96	kg
American 6-row	1.01	lb	0.460	kg	54.86	lb	21.20	kg
Amber malt	0.28	lb	0.127	kg	15.15	lb	5.85	kg
Crystal malt	0.21	lb	0.094	kg	11.15	lb	4.31	kg
Flaked maize	0.74	lb	0.338	kg	40.23	lb	15.54	kg
Invert No3	10.07	oz	288.0	g	34.14	lb	13.19	kg
Caramel colorant	0.83	oz	23.9	g	2.83	lb	1.09	kg
					293.69
Hops
Goldings 4.5% 120min	0.56	oz	15.9	g	34.68	oz	0.838	kg
Goldings 4.5% 90min	0.26	oz	7.4	g	16.10	oz	0.389	kg
Fermentation	66°F /18.9°C
Yeast	Nottingham ale yeast
	1968 London ESB Ale Yeast  - WLP002 English Ale Yeast
Tasting Notes: Mmmmm....mildly, mildy. Lots of dark stone fruits, cherries and plums. Some sweet malt and toast with a bit of a corny hint on the end. Rather rich and mouthfilling in the middle but dries out quite well on the end leaving a very fruity finish and a decent little hop bite.