Monday 1 June 2020

Scottish Strong IPA before WW II

Yet more WW II-themed IPA fun. Remaining in Scotland, but with a rather stronger set of beers.

The stronger type of Scottish IPA looks very much like those from Burton, with a gravity of around 1055º.

The William Younger beer is an odd one. They brewed a couple of different versions of their No. 3 Scotch Ale. One of these, No. 3 Pale, they also called IPA. It’s all a bit odd. The hopping was heavier than in the other versions. But, being Scottish, it still wasn’t exactly overflowing with bitterness.

Though the McEwan’s beer has “export” in its name, I don’t believe it was principally sent overseas. It’s just being used as a strength indicator. Also, the analysis comes from a rival Edinburgh brewer, who presumably bought it locally.


Scottish Strong IPA before WW II
Year Brewer Beer OG FG ABV App. Atten-uation
1938 Wm Younger IPA 1055 1017 5.03 69.09%
1928 McEwan Export IPA 1055.1 1009.5 5.95 82.76%
1929 McEwan Export IPA 1055.3 1011.8 5.67 78.73%
1929 McEwan Export IPA 1054.5 1012 5.53 77.98%
Average 1055.0 1012.6 5.55 77.14%
Sources:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001.
Younger, Wm. & Co Gravity Book document WY/6/1/1/19 held at the Scottish Brewing Archive
Thomas Usher Gravity Book document TU/6/11 held at the Scottish Brewing Archive.

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