Bottled Scotch Ale before WW II

The First World War had a cleansing effect on Scottish beer, especially amongst the stronger Ales, which were transformed in character.

Before WW I, Scotch Ale mostly consisted of the top-end Shilling Ales. Things like 100/-, 120/-, 140/- and 160/-. These were characterised by a low degree of attenuation and a low level of hopping. Usually, except at William Younger, they were parti-gyled with weaker Shilling Ales. Younger brewed almost exclusively single-gyle.

In the interwar period, most breweries in Scotland heavily rationalised their beer ranges. Shilling Ales mostly disappeared and breweries constructed most of their beers from a Pale Ale parti-gyle. Including Strong Ales, which were just the strongest of the bunch. Much the same way as Golden Pride is the strongest beer from Fullers Pale Ale parti-gyle.

William Younger ploughed a different furrow. Before WW I, they had two parallel ranges of Strong Ales, 120/-, 140/- and 160/- was one, the other the Burton-inspired No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Only the latter survived the war, in the form of No. 1 and No. 3.

They were usually labelled Scotch Ale in England and Strong Ale North of the border. A typically OG was 1080-1090º, though there were stronger examples. The strongest were about as strong as beer could get and had pre-WW I type gravities.

William Younger, who always were a bit different from other Scottish breweries, had two different strength Strong Ales. No. 1 had a similar profile to those from rival breweries. But it also had a weaker version, No. 3, which was also available on draught. In London, it filled the draught Burton Ale slot. Both No. 1 and No. 3 were brewed single-gyle.

Despite being dark in colour, there was no coloured malt in any of these beers. The colour all came from caramel added post-fermentation.

Bottled Scotch Ale before WW II
Year	Brewer	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
1933	Ballingall	Strong Dundee Ale	1083.5	1023	7.89	72.46%
1933	Fowler	Strong Ale	1108	1034	9.68	68.52%
1934	Jeffrey	No. 1 Strong Ale	1059.5	1016.5	5.59	72.27%
1933	McEwan	Strong Ale	1084.5	1027	7.48	68.05%
1933	Usher	Old Scotch Ale	1096	1022	9.72	77.08%
1935	Younger, Wm.	No. 3 Strong Ale	1053.5	1010	5.67	81.31%
1932	Younger, Wm.	No. 1 Strong Ale	1080	1026.5	6.95	66.88%
1933	Younger, Wm.	No. 1 Strong Ale	1082	1023	7.69	71.95%
Source:
Thomas Usher Gravity Book held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document TU/6/11.