This one is from AK’s traditional habitat, the South of England. The Southwest, to be precise, Eldridge Pope being located in the county of Dorset. Though, as you can see from the advertisement below, it wasn’t marketed under that name, but “Crystal” instead. No idea why that was, as the other two beers in the advert, Pale Ale and KK, were called the same in the brewhouse.
Light Dinner Ale it’s described as, a moniker quite often applied to AK. The “strongly recommended for table and family use” means that it was aimed at the off trade. In the 19th century it was still common for people to buy casks of beer to drink at home. The fact that it was available in bottles as well demonstrates the rise of beer in this form. One which would eventually see cask beer disappear from homes.
The recipe is about what you’d expect: base malt, adjunct and quite a lot of sugar. I’ve guessed No. 2 invert, which is the most likely candidate. No. 1 is another possibility. Or it could be something else entirely. The brewing record just says “sacc.”.
Three types of hops, all English, of unspecified vintage. I’ve guessed a combination of Fuggles and Goldings.
Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, Wednesday 4th February 1891, page 4.
| 1896 Eldridge Pope AK | ||
| pale malt | 8.25 lb | 78.57% |
| flaked maize | 0.50 lb | 4.76% |
| No. 2 invert sugar | 1.75 lb | 16.67% |
| Fuggles 150 mins | 1.00 oz | |
| Fuggles 60 mins | 1.00 oz | |
| Goldings 30 mins | 1.00 oz | |
| Goldings dry hops | 0.50 oz | |
| OG | 1048.5 | |
| FG | 1011.5 | |
| ABV | 4.89 | |
| Apparent attenuation | 76.29% | |
| IBU | 39 | |
| SRM | 8.5 | |
| Mash at | 151º F | |
| Sparge at | 160º F | |
| Boil time | 150 minutes | |
| pitching temp | 60º F | |
| Yeast | White Labs WLP099 Super High Gravity | |
Posts
8 comments:
1048.5 OG was about the same as EP's Royal Oak which was their strongest draught bitter when I had occasion to drink in a few 'Huntsman' pubs in 1979 or thereabouts. Being from West Yorks I was much impressed with their emblem - more so than with the beer, I would have to say.
WLP099 Super High Gravity? Really?
Aaron Bennett,
yes, because that's the Eldridge Pope yeast.
Always a pleasure to see an AK recipe!
Have you ever written about home casks? If not, it would be interesting to see a post or two (if you ever have the time) about prices, varieties, and the mechanics of distribution.
Anonymous,
of course I have:
https://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2018/03/on-management-of-beer-in-private-houses.html
http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2018/03/on-management-of-beer-in-private-houses_26.html
Thanks, that's interesting. I'm a little surprised modern craft brewers don't seem to do that properly, at least around me.
Crystal seems an apt name. With flaked maize and plenty of sugar in the grist, this beer should have had excellent clarity.
Post a Comment