Let's Brew Wednesday - 1947 Boddington XX

One last watery Mild before the end of May. This time, one from the late 1940s. Probably one of the most depressing times to be a beer drinker in Britain.

I can remember Boddie’s Mild quite well. It was one of the semi-dark kind. Though compared to their straw-coloured Bitter, it looked pretty dark. I assume that the version I drank was the direct successor to this beer.

With an OG of just 1028º, it’s not exactly high-gravity. Though thanks to a high degree of attenuation, it is just about 3% ABV. So just about intoxicating.

The grist is fairly simple: pale malt, crystal malt, flaked barley and sugar. Three different types of sugar: DMS, Fla. and invert. I’ve substituted No. 3 invert for them. Hopefully it’s somewhere close to what was in the original.

The hops were English (1945), Styrian (1945), Czech (1945) and 3 lbs hopulon. I’ve bumped up the hops by 21 lbs to account for the latter. The quantity of Styrian hops is so small – 2 lbs out of 105 lbs, I’ve left them out.

What next I wonder, now I'm done with watery Mild? Any suggestions?

1947 Boddington XX
pale malt	4.00 lb	65.31%
crystal malt 80 L	0.50 lb	8.16%
enzymic malt	0.125 lb	2.04%
flaked barley	0.75 lb	12.24%
No. 3 invert sugar	0.75 lb	12.24%
Fuggles 115 mins	0.75 oz
Saaz 30 mins	0.75 oz
OG	1028
FG	1005.5
ABV	2.98
Apparent attenuation	80.36%
IBU	21
SRM	10
Mash at	154º F
Sparge at	162º F
Boil time	115 minutes
pitching temp	62º F
Yeast	Wyeast 1318 London ale III (Boddingtons)