Friday 7 October 2022

Kirkstall beers in 1885

It’s a sign of the increased popularity of Pale Ales that Kirkstall brewed three. The same as the number 0oof Mild Ales.

The brewery was a decant size, with a maximum brew length of around 150 barrels. Not quite in the same league as London or Burton. A decent size for Yorkshire, though. Where much of the beer was still brewed in pubs.

It’s a decent range, spanning eight beers in total. A Stock Ale and a Stout, in addition to the aforementioned Mild and Pale Ales. Or is that everything? An advert from a couple of years later lists three Stouts.

The Stout in the brewing records looks about the right strength for a an 18d per gallon beer. Were there other Stouts for which I have no brewing records, or did they water down some post-fermentation?

The BA and PA, which I assume were the 16d and 18d India Pale Ales in advert, seem a little overpriced for their gravity. But I guess that’s because their Pale Ales, which were often sold at a premium. While, at about 1050º, AK seems pretty good value at 12d per gallon.
It’s a shame KKK doesn’t show up in the price list. It was probably the same price as the strongest Stout, 18d per gallon.

Interesting that the hopping rate per quarter (336 lbs) of malt is highest in AK, the weakest Pale Ale. 25% more than its two stronger siblings. 

Kirkstall beers in 1885
Beer Style OG FG ABV App. Atten-uation lbs hops/ qtr hops lb/brl Pitch temp
L Mild 1049.6       5.03 1.07 58º
X Mild 1052.6 1013.3 5.20 74.74% 6.50 1.40 57.75º
XXX Mild 1066.2       8.00 2.22 57.5º
AK Pale Ale 1049.9       12.42 2.01 58º
BA Pale Ale 1055.4       10.00 2.33 58º
PA Pale Ale 1060.9       9.87 3.31 58º
KKK Stock Ale 1069.3       10.00 2.97 58º
IS Stout 1071.7       10.35 3.71 58º
Source:
Kirkstall brewing record.

1888 Kirkstall brewery advert
beer price per barrel (s) price per gallon (d)
East India Pale Ale 48 16
East India Pale Ale 54 18
AK Light Bitter Ale 36 12
Fine Mild Ale 36 12
Fine Mild Ale 42 14
Fine Mild Ale 48 16
Stout 42 14
Stout 48 16
Stout 54 18
Source:
Yorkshire Gazette - Saturday 30 June 1888, page 3


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you have any idea how the marketing on a wholesale level worked in this context? Did the brewers just publish a newspaper ad and wait for orders to roll in?

Or were the ads just one piece of a larger marketing effort, like sending out salesmen with samples or mailing out flyers with more detailed promotional info and gloss?

Ron Pattinson said...

Anonymous,

these are retail adverts, aimed at private customers who would have a barrel of beer at home.

Anonymous said...

So three gallon barrels for home, based on the price per barrel vs price per gallon? Were these going to larger households? That seems like a lot to go through in a short time assuming it's not sitting around too long after tapping, unless multiple people are drinking.

Ron Pattinson said...

Anonymous,

one column is shillings, the other pence. People really were buying 36 gallons for home use.