Bottled Imperial Stout sold in Scotland 1880 - 1889

Here's the second part of my look at Imperial Stout  in the 1880s. But, this time, specifically ones on sale in  Scotland. All details have been taken from advertisements in Scottish newspapers. The British Newspaper Archive is such a useful resource.

This bunch is even more dominated by London brewers. Only one is definitely from elsewhere: Guinness. Plus one whose origin in uncertain, Yule. That being the name of the retailer who was presumably selling a brewer's Imperial Stout under their own name.

I was interested to see Reid popping up as well as their later partners Combe. It looks as if Reid had pulled out of the Scottish market - or at least stopped advertising - by 1900. I wonder why that was.

Based on the prices, there's a variation in strength here, too. The only ones which look too be the full Imperial strength are those selling for 2s 9d and 3s per reputed pint. Which equates to  4.1d and 4.75d per imperial pint. Those costing 2s 2d and 2s 3d (3.25d and 3.375d per Imperial pint couldn't have an OG of 1075º-1080º. Not quite as weak as some of the draught versions, but still well off Imperial Stout strength and more like a Double Stout.

I'm pretty sure that Guinness didn't brew a Stout stronger than Extra Stout or Foreign Extra Stout, both of which had an OG of 1075º. Which fits in neatly with the price of 2.25d per reputed pint. I can't remember seeing Guinness Extra Stout sold as Imperial Stout in England. I wonder why it was in Scotland?

Don't get the impression no-one in Scotland was brewing the style. I just couldn't find any adverts which included prices. For example, Devanha of Aberdeen advertised their own Imperial Stout.

Bottled Imperial Stout sold in Scotland 1880 - 1889
year	Brewery	Place	beer	price (per doz)	size
1880	Reid	London	Imperial Stout	6s	reputed quart
1880	Reid	London	Imperial Stout	3s	reputed pint
1880	Truman	London	XXX or Imperial Stout	6s	reputed quart
1880	Truman	London	XXX or Imperial Stout	3s	reputed pint
1883	Barclay Perkins	London	Imperial London Stout	2s 2d	reputed pint
1883	Combe	London	Imperial London Stout	2s 2d	reputed pint
1885	Barclay Perkins	London	Imperial Stout	2s 9d	reputed pint
1885	Guinness	Dublin	Imperial Stout	2s 3d	reputed pint
1885	Truman	London	Imperial Stout	2s 9d	reputed pint
1885	Unknown	London	Imperial Stout	3s	reputed pint
1886	Combe	London	Imperial or XXX Stout	2s 9d	reputed pint
1886	Unknown	London	Imperial XXX London Stout	2s 6d	reputed pint
1888	Reid	London	Imperial Stout	5s	bottle
1888	Reid	London	Imperial Stout	2s 7d	half bottle
1888	Yule	??	Imperial Stout	2s 2d	reputed pint
1889	A. Gordon & Co.	London	Imperial Stout	4s 6d	pint
Sources:
Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser - Friday 06 February 1880, page 1.
Dundee Weekly News - Saturday 22 December 1883, page 8.
East of Fife Record - Friday 25 September 1885, page 1.
Stirling Observer - Thursday 24 December 1885, page 1.
East of Fife Record - Friday 25 September 1885, page 1.
East of Fife Record - Friday 20 July 1883, page 1.
East of Fife Record - Friday 12 November 1886 page 1.
Dundee Courier - Tuesday 12 January 1886, page 1.
Leith Burghs Pilot - Saturday 01 December 1888, page 1.
Aberdeen Evening Express - Thursday 08 March 1888, page 1.