Let's Brew Wednesday - 1950 Adnams PA

The 1950’s – what a wonderful decade. I sort of feel at home there, seeing it’s the era when I was born. Odd thought that.

But the usual images – teddy boys, rock and roll, rising living standards – all come from much later in the decade. The early years were much tougher. Rationing and shortages of almost everything were the order of the day.  Beer output was falling and gravities were only just starting to creep back up a little.

Yet this beer from that time is very recognisable. It looks much like the Ordinary Bitters I remember from my youth. OG of 1036, 3.6% ABV. Glancing at the 1977 Good Beer Guide there are dozens of Bitters with similar gravities. Including Adnams. Their Bitter is listed with exactly the same gravity as this version.

It would be difficult to have a much simpler beer than this: pale malt, No. 1 invert and English hops. It looks to me like a classic drinking Bitter. Especially as it has fairly robust hopping. In short, a beer built for a session. The eight pints in two hours kind of session.

It’s so simple, I'm struggling to think of anything more to say. Other than brew this beer. I’m sure you won’t regret it.





Now over to me . . . . .

1950 Adnams PA
pale malt	7.50 lb	93.75%
no. 1 sugar	0.50 lb	6.25%
Fuggles 90 min	0.75 oz
Goldings 60 min	0.75 oz
Goldings 30 min	0.75 oz
OG	1036
FG	1008.9
ABV	3.59
Apparent attenuation	75.28%
IBU	34
SRM	5
Mash at	149º F
Sparge at	170º F
Boil time	120 minutes
pitching temp	61º F
Yeast	WLP025 Southwold