Brewing in Germany in WW II

I'm back to bother you with more tables from the wonderful book on brewing in Berlin. Aren't you lucky?

I'm mostly going to let the numbers speak for themselves.We'll kick off with the quantity of beer brewed in Berlin. I've included the pre-war numbers, too, so that you can see the long-term trends.

On the face of it, beer production held up well, even as late as early 1944. There are a couple of reasons this was possible. 

First, having learnt from Germany's experiences during WW I, when war broke out in September 1939, there was enough grain stockpiled to last three years.* I'm guessing that they didn't count on the war lasting longer than that. Considering this, beer output looks much less impressive.

Because the second way beer output was boosted was by a reduction in gravity. Which started pretty much simultaneously with hostilities. Already in late 1939, nothing above 10º Plato could be brewed.** But it would get much worse. By late 1941, the maximum gravity was reduced to just 8.5º Plato. Though stronger beer was brewed for German armed forces.

Time for some tables:

Berlin beer output 1930 - 1944
Fiscal year April/March	output (hl)
1930/31	5,104,770
1931/32	3,829,163
1932/33	3,466,521
1933/34	3,348,422
1934/35	3,569,403
1935/36	3,729,845
1936/37	3,746,010
1937/38	4,070,553
1938/39	4,430,542
1939/40	4,586,631
1940/41	4,492,130
1941/42	4,274,308
1942/43	3,699,443
1943/44	3,380,155
Source:
Beiträge zur Geschichte des Berliner Brauwesens und seiner Organisation by Karl Bullemer, Berlin, 1959, page 146.

In 1944 beer production seems to have come to pretty much a total stop.

Now the gravity restrictions:

Gravity bands November 1939
type	OG
Einfachbier	3 - 4º
Schankbier	max 6.5º
Lagerbier	9 - 10.3º
Source:
Beiträge zur Geschichte des Berliner Brauwesens und seiner Organisation by Karl Bullemer, Berlin, 1959, page 149.

In 1941, at least the stronger types were a bit intoxicating. 

Gravity bands August 1941
type	OG
Lagerbier	7.5 - 8.0º
Spezialbier	8.2 - 8.5º
Berliner Weiße, Grätzer	6.5 - 7.0º
Einfachbier	3.0 - 6.0º
Source:
Beiträge zur Geschichte des Berliner Brauwesens und seiner Organisation by Karl Bullemer, Berlin, 1959, page 150.

But in 1943 gravities were reduced to ridiculously low levels. Even the strongest types were under 1020º. Meaning they would have been 2% ABV at the very best. Try getting pissed on that. At the same time in the UK, there was some beer over 5% ABV and even the weakest were 2.7% ABV. While average strength remained over 3$ ABV for the whole war.

Gravity bands November 1943
type	OG
Schankbier	2.7 - 4.1º
Malzbier	4.2 - 4.7º
Einfachbier	1.7 - 2.4º
Source:
Beiträge zur Geschichte des Berliner Brauwesens und seiner Organisation by Karl Bullemer, Berlin, 1959, page 156.

 

 

* Beiträge zur Geschichte des Berliner Brauwesens und seiner Organisation by Karl Bullemer, Berlin, 1959, page 147.

** Beiträge zur Geschichte des Berliner Brauwesens und seiner Organisation by Karl Bullemer, Berlin, 1959, page 148.