Adnams and the Local Veto Bill

There will be a lot more about Adnams in the weeks to come. I've got a lovely collection of snaps of their brewing records. It would be a shame not to start using them.

But I'll begin with a random newspaper article:

"THE LOCAL VETO BILL, CONFERENCE OF SUFFOLK PUBLICANS.
A meeting of Licensed Victuallers of Lowestoft and neighbourhood was held at the Greet Eastern Hotel, Lowestoft, on Monday, under the auspices of the Lowestoft and East Suffolk Licensed Victallers' Association, of which Mr. B. Riden is the secretary. Captain E. M. U. Adnams, the Brewery, Southwold, occupied the chair, and amongst others present were - Mr. J. J. Dunne (solicitor of the National Trade Defence Association), and about 150 representatives of the trade from all parts of North Suffolk.

The CHAIRMAN said he did not anticipate that the Local Veto Bill wonld pass, but it was impossible to disguise the dangers which confronted them. The temperance reformers for years had been strengthening their forces against the licensing trade, and their undisguised desire was entire suppression, In their own interests, publicans should band themselves together to resist the assault. It was proposed to amalgamate the several Trade Protection Associations in North Suffolk. They had held meetings on the subject at Southwold, Beccles, and elsewhere, and it was to be seen whether the publicans of Lowsetoft were in favour of the proposal. He was entirely in sympathy with it himself, and he believed that if the members of the trade were banded together in the Division of North Suffolk, under one Association, they would be able to offer a very substantial support to any political candidate who would be prepared to champion their cause. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. DUNNE dealt at length with the Local Veto Bill, which he arged, would be mischievous, would lead to mush illicit drinking, and the establishment of ill-conducted clubs. He maintaised that it was not fair that the trade should be harassed by such legislation, and he confidently relied upon the licensed victuallers of the Lowestoft Division of Suffolk offering all the opposition in their power to the Bill, which they intended, not only to "scotch," but to kill entirely. (Hear, bear.) He directed attention to the project of one Defence Association for the Division, and he was confident that if they were thus banded together, seeing that they must either sink or swim together, they could almost command the seat for North Suffolk. (Applause).

Mr. RICHARD RIDEN read a reply from Mr. H. S. Foster, M.P., in which that gentleman intimated his intention of opposing the second reading of Bills which were antagonistic to the trade, and moved, "That this meeting protests against the Liquor Traffic (Local Control) Bill, and pledges itself to prevent the passing of the same."

Mr. H. STEBBINGS seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously. The proposals for the amalgamation of the Association were ultimately adopted."
The Ipswich Journal - Saturday 18 March 1893, page 8.

The Local Veto Bill would have allowed a vote on closing pubs in a district. It was one of temperance campaigners' attempts to set off a rolling prohibition of all alcohol. This bill failed, though the Temperance (Scotland) Act of just after WWI did allow for such votes in Scotland. Some areas did initially go dry, but the hoped for snowball effect never materialised and after a while nowhere new voted for it. Thankfully, they were never daft enough to introduce similar legislation for England.

Here, as promised are some Adnams beers from a little later:

Adnams beers in 1913
Date	Beer	Style	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl
17th Jun	BS	Stout	1055.0	1014.0	5.42	74.55%	5.81	1.12
18th Jun	BLB	Pale Ale	1044.0	1007.0	4.89	84.09%	8.29	1.22
19th Jun	Tally Ho	Old Ale	1081.0	1025.0	7.41	69.14%	8.00	2.25
20th Jun	XX	Mild Ale	1039.0	1008.0	4.10	79.49%	5.12	0.66
21st Jun	X	Mild Ale	1033.0	1005.5	3.64	83.33%	4.86	0.54
23rd Jun	XX	Mild Ale	1039.0	1008.0	4.10	79.49%	5.12	0.65
24th Jun	BS	Stout	1055.0	1014.0	5.42	74.55%	5.81	1.08
25th Jun	XX	Mild Ale	1039.0	1009.0	3.97	76.92%	5.12	0.65
26th Jun	DS	Stout	1060.0	1014.0	6.09	76.67%	6.35	1.34
27th Jun	XX	Mild Ale	1039.0	1007.0	4.23	82.05%	5.12	0.65
28th Jun	Tally Ho	Old Ale	1081.0	1027.0	7.14	66.67%	8.00	2.29
Source:
Adnams brewing records held at the brewery.

The low gravity of the new Mild Ales is striking. I've never seen such weak Milds before WW I. In fact X and XX look more like beers of the 1920's.

The two Stouts are also pretty weak. Neither would have counted as a Stout in London, BS being about the same gravity as Porter there.

BLB, on the other hand, is classic Light Bitter strength, in the mid-1040's, where you'd expect an AK or its like to be.

Then, just to be weird, there's Tally Ho at a fairly decent gravity.

It's all quite different from what I've seen in London. The hopping rates are also low. It's rarae to see anything with less than a pound per barrel at this date in London.

Lots, lots more to come.