Monday 25 May 2020

Watery London IPA during WW II

More WW II-related IPA fun. When will it end?

It will come as no surprise that the strength of IPA brewed in the capital declined considerably during the war. As with other styles, this mostly occurred during the first three years, after which it remained stable. At least until the end of hostilities, after which there was a further drop.

Barclay Perkins IPA seems to have dropped down a class by 1942, being just about the same strength as Whitbread’s version.  XLK (Bottling) appears to have been dropped to give up its slot to IPA.

Averaging around 20, the colour is the same as pre-war. Whitbread’s version continued to be very highly attenuated, with every example bar one over 80%.


Watery London IPA during WW II
Year Brewer Beer OG FG ABV App. Atten-uation colour
1939 Barclay Perkins IPA 1043.9 1014 3.87 68.13% 20
1940 Barclay Perkins IPA 1038.7 1011.5 3.53 70.31% 23
1941 Barclay Perkins IPA 1036.9 1007.5 3.82 79.69% 23
1942 Barclay Perkins IPA 1031.3 1007 3.15 77.64% 21
1943 Barclay Perkins IPA 1031.5 1006 3.31 80.95% 17
1944 Hammerton IPA 1027.6 1004.5 3.00 83.70% 19
1939 Whitbread IPA 1037.1 1008 3.78 78.44% 19
1940 Whitbread PA 1036.6 1006.1 3.97 83.33% 18.5
1941 Whitbread IPA 1034.3 1005.5 3.81 83.97%
1942 Whitbread IPA 1032.4 1005.5 3.56 83.02% 22
1943 Whitbread IPA 1031.2 1005.5 3.40 82.37% 20
1944 Whitbread IPA 1031 1005.6 3.30 81.94% 18
1945 Whitbread IPA 1031.7 1005.0 3.53 84.23% 22
Average 79.82% 20.2
Sources:
Barclay Perkins brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/01/623.
Barclay Perkins brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/01/624.
Barclay Perkins brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/01/625.
Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/01/107.
Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/01/108.
Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/01/109.
Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/01/110.
Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/01/112.
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001.

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