Thursday, 6 August 2026

This is Sixty Shilling part two

Another of my little videos. In this one, I discuss my recipe for 1940 Drybrough P 60/. It's one I recently published on the blog.

 

Museums

I rise at 8:45. I'm such a good boy, me.

I have time to write up yesterday before the kids get up. It starts pissing it down just as Alexei rises.

"I guess that rules out visiting Niagara Falls." Alexei says.

“Correct. I don’t fancy a day of getting wet.” I reply.

“You’re always pretty wet, Dad.” Alexei quips.

“Haha, very funny.”

“At least I’m funnier than you.”

We had two options for today: visit Niagara Falls or go to a couple of museums in Toronto. The latter being our bad weather plan. Looks like we'll be implementing that.

When Andrew finally drags his sorry arse out of bed, the kids go to the supermarket for some food. Not for breakfast. For later. We have other breakfast plans.

I find what looks like a really good diner between here and our first museum stop; the Royal Ontario Museum. We jump in an Uber and get to the Golden Diner at around noon.

It’s really pissing it down. Just as well it’s only a short dash to the stairs down to the door of the diner.

Inside the Golden Diner. Mostly, it's taken up with booths, almost all of which are occupied. To the left is a counter with stools in front of it.

It's quite a bit larger than the other two diners we've visited. With very much a retro feel. Lots of four-person booths. Though it’s a squeeze for just the three of us. It doesn’t look like it’s been remodelled in many decades. Exactly the sort of diner I like.

The menu is larger, too. We're seated in a booth with a flickering light, which is slightly disconcerting. It doesn’t make reading the menu any easier.

“What does that say?” I ask Andrew, pointing at the menu. “I didn’t bring my glasses.”

“Why on earth not? Given how blind you’re getting.”

“Don’t rub it in.”

“I’m turning into your carer. You’ll be asking me to wipe your bottom next. No wonder you invite us along on holiday. What do you do when you travel on your own?”

“I get by OK.”

“And probably remember to always take your glasses with you. Unlike when you’re with us.”

“I remember most of the time.”

“Occasionally is more accurate.”

“Fuck off.”

“Winning the argument with your dazzling wit again, eh, Dad?”

For once, we all order a breakfast. Even Andrew. The breakfasts are very competitively priced, with Andrew's only around $13 Canadian. Andrew gets himself a bottle of Molson. I ask for a gin and tonic. But they have no tonic. I just get a shot of gin and mix it with the orange juice that comes with my breakfast.

Which  includes something called peameal bacon. What the fuck is that? Turns out it’s back bacon with a crust of peameal. It’s pretty tasty. Is that just an Ontario thing?

Golden Diner breakfast: fried eggs, peameal bacon, breakfast potatoes, a slice of melon, coffee, "orange juice" and toast.

The food is pretty good. Even Andrew manages to eat most of his. Me and Alexe gobble down what he can't manage. Alexei always has a healthy appetite.

Another Uber soon has us at the Royal Ontario Museum. Which is pretty busy. We’re wearing coats on account of the rain. But they’re a bit too warm when we’re inside.

The ornate stone facade of the Royal Ontario Museum.

We have a limited amount of time and restrict ourselves to a couple of the rooms. Kicking off with the Chinese and Korean bits. Followed by Africa and the Pacific. Finishing with the first nations. Unfortunately, the latter is a little rushed. Which is a shame as they have some fascinating exhibits.

Yet another Uber takes us to the Toronto Railway Museum. Which is right next to the Rogers Centre where we saw the baseball yesterday.

It's quite a small museum, with most of the rolling stock exhibits outside. The rest is in part of the former roundhouse. They have a pretty good train simulator which Andrew has a go on.

A Canadian National diesel locomotive outside the Toronto Railway Museum with the Rogers Stadium in the background, roof closed.

Once we're done, we drop by the Steam Whistle Brewery, which is also in the roundhouse. It's much busier than yesterday.

The beer range isn’t the most extensive. I have the hazy IPA again. Which is OK, if sludgy. The kids stick with Pilsner. At least for the first round. Andrew then switches to cider. He’s quite keen on cider, as is Alexei. They usually give it a try, when it’s on draught.

They're showing the Blue Jays game, which is taking place just a couple of hundred metres away. Then suddenly it changes and England vs France for World Cup third place is on.

"I'm surprised that they switched off the baseball to show this.” I remark.

“They probably expect the Blue Jays to lose again.” Andrew chimes in.

“That’s probably true.”

England are frustratingly good in the first half. With their second team. 

"Why didn't they play like this against Argentina?" Andrew asks.

“Good question.” I reply.

A glass of Steam Whistle IPA in a Beau's Brewing glass. In the background, two glasses of Pils.

We leave at half time, as I'm recording the game on Ziggo. With England 4-0 up.

It takes us a while to return to our hotel, as we get caught up in the traffic leaving the baseball. We barely move 200 metres in 20 minutes. Once clear, though, we’re back in a jiffy.

Back in the hotel, we rig up my flipflop to the TV and start watching the second half. France is like a different team. Getting the score back to 4-3.

"Why didn't France play like this against Spain?" Andrew asks.

“Another good question.”

“Or in the first half, for that matter?”

“Couldn’t be arsed?”

“That’s a bit stereotypical isn’t it, Dad?”

“I just meant that it didn’t really look like that they were trying. Not that they were typical lazy Frenchies.”

“Daad.”

“What?”

“You can’t say things like that.”

“I told you: I didn’t mean that.”

“But you just said it.”

“To say that I didn’t mean it.”

“I give up.”

A flurry of goals at the end of the second half leaves the score at 6-4 to England. Easily the most entertaining game of the World Cup. And I'm sure way better than tomorrow's final will be.

Game watched, we head off to the Distillery District. Which is just around the corner. Easy to reach on foot. And home to a couple of breweries.

Old Flame Brewery inside: theres a row of tables, mostly unoccupied. To the left is a row of columns, at the rear is the glazed entrance.

We start at Old Flame Brewery. Which claims to have won the most awards for Canadian craft Lager.

“That sounds just down your Strasse, Andrew.”

“It does.”

Andrew likes a good Lager. And he is, indeed, very pleased with his Helles. My Dunkles isn't quite up to the same standard, but still decent. 

Which is more than can be said for some of the karaoke going on just behind us.

“Do you fancy moving on, kids?”

“Can do." Alexei says. "There's another brewpub just down the street.”

Which the Mill Street Brewery indeed is. It only takes a minute or two to get there. Even old slowcoach me.

On entering, a waitress takes us through a couple of rooms to a table towards the rear. It’s pretty full.

A plate of prawns and a plate of gyozas with a pint of PIls in the background.

We order beers and think about ordering some side dishes. Which we do. Kicking off with gyozas and prawns. Both of which are excellent. So good, we order more food. Pierogis and poutine.

"That's easy to remember. They both start with the letter p." Alexi says, helpfully.

The kids order another beer. After more than five minutes, it hasn't arrived. We ask our waiter and he seems to have forgotten.

"I'll bring you free beers." He says, apologetically. Which he does.

The Mill Street brewing kit consisting of five stainless steel vessels.

"I really like this place." Alexei says. "If it was in Amsterdam, I'd come every day.”

Praise indeed. 

“It’s a nice enough place, but I wouldn’t want to come every day. Unlike the Cardigan Arms, where I could happily spend the rest of my life.” I reply.

“So, for another couple of months?” Andrew says, cheekily.

“Fuck off, you twat. I’m good for at least another year.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, the way you’ve been coughing.” Alexei says.

He has a point. Which I prove with a bout of coughing.

“See what I mean?” Alexei exclaims triumphantly.

We don't stay out too late, leaving at around 23:00.

Back in the room, I drink some of the Canadian wine I bought earlier. and the kids get stuck into some beer. While watching “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia”.

I turn in at 00:30. I need my kip. And want to be up early for travelling. Yippee!



Golden Diner
105 Carlton St., 
Toronto, ON M5B 1M1.
https://golden-diner.com/


Steam Whistle Tap Room
255 Bremner Blvd, 
Toronto, ON M5V 3M9.
https://steamwhistle.ca/ 


Old Flame Brewing Company

43 Tank House Lane, 
Toronto, ON M5A 3C4.
https://oldflamebrewingco.ca/pages/contact-us


Mill Street Brewpub Distillery District Toronto
21 Tank House Lane, 
Toronto, ON M5A 3C4.
https://millstreetbrewery.com/en/pubs/toronto-brewpub  

Wednesday, 5 August 2026

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1960 Drybrough 60/-

A Drybrough Strarbright Ale label.
As you can see, we’re still stuck on 60/-. Why? Don’t ask me. I’ve started so I’ll finish. Isn’t that reason enough?

This looks very much like 60 Bob as I knew it in my youth. As watery as a Mild and pretty much the same colour. In this case, not even quite 3% ABV. But what about the colour? The recipe says just 10 SRM. Isn’t that much paler than a Mild? Well, this is a Scottish beer, remember? It would have been coloured up with caramel at racking to various colours. Often to around 20 SRM.

There was another version called Keg Light, which was identical to this beer with one exception: it received no dry hops.

The grist is pretty simple: pale malt, flaked maize and a tiny amount of black malt. The latter presumably purely for colour. In addition, there were quite a few sugars: Colour, invert, Avona and CME. For those, I’ve substituted No. 2 and No. 3 invert.

Three types of English copper hops and one of English dry hops. With no indication of vintage or region. I’ve gone with Goldings and Fuggles. 

1960 Drybrough 60/-
pale malt 5.00 lb 75.36%
black malt 0.01 lb 0.15%
flaked maize 0.75 lb 11.30%
No. 2 invert sugar 0.75 lb 11.30%
No. 3 invert sugar 0.13 lb 1.88%
Fuggles 90 min 0.50 oz
Fuggles 60 min 0.50 oz
Goldings 30 min 0.25 oz
Goldings dry hops 0.50 oz
OG 1031
FG 1010
ABV 2.78
Apparent attenuation 67.74%
IBU 17
SRM 10
Mash at 144 / 159º F
Sparge at 165º F
Boil time 90 minutes
pitching temp 61.5º F
Yeast WLP028 Edinburgh Ale

 

Tuesday, 4 August 2026

Tasting of historic Stouts

A Reid's Russian Stout label featuring a griffin and four words in Russian meaning "Specially brewed for Russia".
I'll be hosting a tasting of four historic Stouts and one Porter at Butcher's Tears on Saturday 8th August at 15:00. It should be lots of fun 

These are the beers we'll be drinking:

  • 1805 Barclay Perkins Brown Stout
  • 1832 Barclay Perkins TT 
  • 1875 Reid's SSS
  • 1900 Cairnes Double Stout
  • 1936 Whitbread Mackeson Stout

All the beers have been brewed by Butcher's Tears. 

It isn't the largest of venues. I suggest either buying tickets in advance or getting there nice and early. You can buy tickets here:

https://butchers-tears.com/product/ron-pattinson-stout-lecture

They cost a very reasonable 25 euros, which includes a glass of all five of the beers. 

 The evnt will take place at the Bucher's Tears shop:

Butcher's Tears shop
Witte de Withstraat 108, 
Amsterdam.
https://butchers-tears.com/ 

 

 

Islands and baseball

I rise at 8:30, brush my teeth and start writing this nonsense. I have an hour or so before Alexei surfaces.

"What's the plan for today, Dad?" Alexei asks.

“A diner breakfast is always a good place to start.”

“And after that?”

“A trip to the islands. And, of course, the baseball tonight.”

A quick search on the internet throws up the George Street Diner.

The George Street Diner a single-storey bricj building painted red.

"It looks like a classic diner." I say to Alexei, showing him some photos.

“Cool.” He replies.

Eventually, Andrew shows his face. He's up for the diner. Though I doubt he'll be eating. He doesn't do breakfast. Often, he doesn’t do lunch, either.

The plan is breakfast, then a ferry to the islands. As we're running a little late, we get an Uber rather than the tram. We roll up at the diner just after noon. We're lucky and can get a booth.

Again, it's licensed. Andrew gets a tin of lager. While Alexei and I plump for coffee. I order a standard breakfast, Alexei a large one. Andrew isn't going to have any food. Until the waitress tells hm that at busy times, everyone has to order food.

"Why not get a single pancake?" She asks.

“OK.”

He manages to eat the pancake without any trouble. It does look quite nice, thick and fluffy.

A breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, baked beans, chips, toast and coffee.

The breakfast is pretty good. So I order a large gin and tonic to go with it. I am on holiday, after all.

It's a little after 13:00 when we leave. Which is cutting it a bit fine for the 13:20 ferry. Even though our Uber comes pretty quickly, we're still a few minutes late. The next ferry isn't until 14:20. We have to hang around.

As it gets closer to the time of the ferry, it starts filling up on the quayside.

"I hope we'll be able to get on." I say pessimistically.

“Always positive, eh, Dad.” Andrew retorts.

“Just realistic.”

“You always say that. You’re so predictable.”

“Consistent is how I’d describe it.”

A crowd waits in front of a gate. An electronic sign says "Cemtre Island Only."

It turns out there was no need to worry. We even get seats. It's not a long journey. Just 10 minutes or so. With wonderful views of the city skyline.

We're headed for a beach on the other side of the islands. Alexei wants to have a dip in the lake. While he changes in the changing rooms, Andrew and I settle into the Beach Bar.

“There are no doors on the changing booths. I had to go into the toilets to change.” Alexei complains. Before heading off for the lake.

It’s a tin of Strongbow for Andrew. Double Jamesons for me. With two ice cubes. It's quite warm in the sun. We switch seats to find some shade.  I wouldn't want to get sunburnt.

Beach Bar: a small hut with a bar counter. Two customers lean onm the bar while a server stands behind it.

We have a couple of rounds while Alexei is away, with Andrew switching to draught Molson. I try to buy a round when Alexei returns. But my fucking credit card won't work again. What the fuck is wrong with it? I get Andrew to pay instead.

We're aiming for the 17:00 ferry back to the city. We get to the dock 15 minutes before departure. And there's quite a queue.

"I hope we can get on." I say.

"Don't start with that stuff again, Dad." Alexie replies.

“What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Stop being so negative.”

We do get on. But have to stand. Not such a problem as it's only 10 minutes or so.

In the foreground flowers and water, in the middle ground trees and in the background the skyline of Toronto.

Back at the hotel, we do a bit of quick shopping at the supermarket. Bread, cheese, milk. That sort of stuff. And some beer. I get a six pack of IPA called Amsterdam Boneshaker.

No time to hang around. We have tickets for the baseball tonight. Another Uber gets us to the ground a little after 19:00.

We need entrance 2. Which involves a lot of climbing. Which isn't really my thing at all. The last part in the stand is really steep.

"This would really freak your Mum out." I remark to the kids. I mean being so high up.
It's even freakier because the roof is closed.

“It freaks me out a bit, too, Dad.” Andrew says.

We missed the first innings of the White Sox. Where nothing much seems to have happened. That’s all about to change, though.

Inside the Rogers Stadium, Far below is the baseball diamond. All around are packed stands.

After a couple of innings, I say: “How about some beer?”

“I suppose that means you want us to fetch it.” Alexei says.

“Well, you wouldn’t want to make your poor old Dad do all that climbing.”

“Always playing the oldie card, eh?”

The kids do go and fetch tins of beer. Large cans of Budweiser for them, IPA for me.

It’s another high-scoring game. The White Sox get five runs in one innings. Then three in another. Then four. The Blue Jays hit several home runs. But with no-one on the bases, they only get a single run.

Inside the Rogers Stadium, showing the massive video screen.

The massive video screens are dead impressive. But are flashing stuff so often, accompanied by booming music, at any little break in play, that it becomes rather distracting. And stops the crowd from getting any proper chants going.


A bloke a few seats along does try to get a chant going a few times. “Let’s go Blue Jays.” He shouts. It’s not the most inspiring of calls. A couple of times he does get others to join in. Until the stadium starts blasting music out again.

With the Blue Jays way behind, the crowd starts thinning out after the seventh innings. We leave during the last innings. Mostly because I wanted to be sure of getting to the Steam Whistle Brewery over the road before it closes.

It’s located in a former roundhouse, right next to the railway museum. The interior has impressively high ceilings. And not that many customers. It is late, though.

Inside the Steam Whistle Brewery. In the foreground are rows of empty tables. Behind them quiye large stainless steel brewing vessels.

We arrive just before last orders. The kids get Pilsners, I go for an IPA. It's not the greatest one I've ever drunk. It's OK. We only have time for the one.

The crowds have dissipated a little when we leave the brewery. Though, as the police have closed off some of the roads, we have to walk a bit before we can get an Uber.

Back in the hotel, we eat a little and watch some What We Do in the Shadows. I turn in at 01:30.



The George Street Diner
129 George St, 
Toronto, ON M5A 2M6.
http://thegeorgestreetdiner.com/



Steam Whistle Tap Room
255 Bremner Blvd, 
Toronto, ON M5V 3M9.
https://steamwhistle.ca/ 


 

Monday, 3 August 2026

A day in Toronto

I rise at 8:30. Obviously, both kids are still sound asleep.

What do I do? Brush my teeth and pour myself an eye-opener. Then start writing this crap. I have to write up stuff on the go, otherwise I forget half of it. That's what happens when you're an old bastard like me.

What's our plan for the day? A diner breakfast to start with. Then a wander around town.

The air isn't quite as bad today. Though still far from clear. It's about a 15-minute walk to White Lily, a compact little diner. Which, fortunately for us, is licensed. I get myself an IPA, Andrew has a cider and Alexei a coffee.

It's exactly the sort of place I want to breakfast. Me and Alexei both go for the standard breakfast with bacon. Andrew orders no food. He isn't really a breakfast person. Unlike me and Alexei.

A breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast.

It's an excellent breakfast, with proper hash browns. Grated raw potato fried up, not one of those horrible triangle lumps.

On the way back, we drop by a supermarket. Where the kids get themselves some beer. While I buy some fruit and cheddar. Oh, and some milk. I need something to mix with the Jamesons.

We laze around for a while back in my room. And watch Cartoon Network.

“What's the Michelob Ultra like?”

"Watery." Andrew replies.

I take a sip.

“Fuck me that's almost completely tasteless.”

“It's not as bad as Bavaria Pils.”

“That's a very low bar.”

He switches to Molson.

“At least this has got some flavour."

Toronto old City Hall with the war memorial in front of it.

At 16:00 we take a tram into the city centre. First, we have a wander to look at the old City Hall. Which is a lovely building. We then carry on to House of McGrath. A brewpub where I'm meeting the brewer, Jeffrey Kurkowski.

He comes to greet us as soon as we get through the door. And soon we have glasses of Kellerbier in our hands. It's very good. I chat away with Jeff, while drinking some of his beers.

I was really looking forward to the Pilsator, brewed to a recipe I sent Jeff. I so love me a Pilsator. And it’s several decades since I last drank one. This one is pretty good, with fairly decent hopping. Jeff has to fetch some from the tank, as it hasn't been packaged yet. 

Next, he gets me a Doppelbock, also straight from the fermenter. It’s also excellent. I have quick tour around the brewhouse, which is quite compact.

Three fermenters with copper tops.

After a few rounds we get an Uber to Granite Brewery, another brewpub. It has quite a pub-like feel. Which is reinforced by the presence of cask beer. I get a Best Bitter, which is rather pleasant. And very easy to drink.

We order some food. Burgers for me and Alexei. Nothing for Andrew again as he isn't hungry. Now there’s a surprise.

The bar counter of the Granite Brewery.

We have a couple of pints, then it's closing time. We take an Uber back to our hotel and have a couple of drinks before it's time for me to go to bed. Though the kids stay up later.

In minutes I'm in the land of slumber.



House of McGrath
75 Victoria St, 
Toronto, ON M5C 2B1.
https://www.mcgraths.com/


Granite Brewery & Tied House
245 Eglinton Ave E, 
Toronto, ON M4P 3B7.
http://www.granitebrewery.ca/ 
 

Sunday, 2 August 2026

Let's Brew - 1940 Drybrough P 60/-

A Drybrough Light beermat featuring the Scottish flag anda man in 18th-century dress holding a glass of beer.
Continuing my look at modern Shilling Ales, here’s a 60/- recipe from the start of WW II.

Being brewed early on in the conflict, the gravity hasn’t been reduced yet from its interwar strength. By the end of the war, the gravity was reduced to not much over 1030º. Or about as weak as beer got. Though a shitty level of attenuation leaves this beer not much over 3% ABV.

You’ve probably heard me bang on about how Scottish beers usually had no coloured malts in them at all. This beer is an exception, as there’s a tiny quantity of black malt. I assume just for colour. Other than that, it’s just base malt and sugar.

There were three types of sugar: Fison, Avona and invert. I’ve substituted No. 1 invert for all three. Perhaps No. 2 invert would be a better choice. I’ll leave that decision up to you.

Just one type of hops: English from the 1938 season. Not all that many of them, either. Leaving the finished beer at a mere 20 IBU.

It’s quite likely that this beer was coloured to several different shades through the addition of caramel at racking time.

1940 Drybrough P 60/-
pale malt 7.00 lb 89.06%
black malt 0.04 lb 0.51%
No. 1 invert sugar 0.75 lb 9.54%
malt extract 0.07 lb 0.89%
Fuggles 135 min 0.50 oz
Fuggles 60 min 0.50 oz
Goldings 30 min 0.50 oz
Goldings dry hops 0.25 oz
OG 1036
FG 1013
ABV 3.04
Apparent attenuation 63.89%
IBU 20
SRM 7
Mash at 151º F
Sparge at 170º F
Boil time 135 minutes
pitching temp 60º F
Yeast WLP028 Edinburgh Ale



 

Saturday, 1 August 2026

Flying to Toronto

It's not an early start. Our flight isn't until 17:50. Leaving us plenty of time for last-minute packing.

Schiphol is much emptier than I feared. Twenty minutes sees us through all the annoying shit. Passport control is the emptiest I've seen it in years.

We drop by the duty free. The malt whisky is all stupid prices. But there's an offer of 2 litres of Jameson for 40 euros. That'll do.

The lounge is reasonably quiet, too. I have to pay for one of the kids.

A plate containing wraps, cheese and a glass of whisky.

“Make sure to eat and drink loads, Lexie. We want to get our money’s worth.”

“You always say that, Dad.”

“Doesn't make it any less valid.”

I know Andrew won't eat fuck all. He never does. Not sure how he survives on the tiny amount he eats.

I'm soon braced by a brace of whiskies. The kids go for boring old Pils.

Alexei gets stuck into the food. Which isn't bad today. I join in the food fun after warming up with a couple of whiskies. Even Andrew eats a couple of wraps. Just to prove me wrong.

We wander down to our gate after the "Go to gate" message comes up on the screen. We're very obedient.

We're further back in the plane than usual. The kids wanted the extra legroom of an emergency exit row. I sit behind them.

It's a relatively short flight. Just 7.5 hours. I've got used to much longer ones. Anything under 10 seems brief.

The food is . . . like KLM food. The main meal is just about edible. But too much rice and not enough chicken.

A KLM meal: rice and chicken, a bread roll sand salad along with a small bottle of wine.

I watch some stuff on the in-board entertainment. Project Hail Mary, Guardians of the Galaxy, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It passes the time. Probably not something I would watch at home. Any of them.

As we approach Toronto, it looks pretty murky outside. Forest fires in Ontario. I hope that I'll be able to breathe.

All the entry formalities are soon achieved and we jump on an UP train into the city.  It’s a pretty decent service, going along at a good old whack. Taking us to Union Station, a very grand, neoclassical stone building.

From where we take a taxi. It’s not that far. But definitely too far to walk with luggage.

“It smells like barbecue here.” Alexei remarks. “That must be from the forest fires.”

The smoke is noticeable. But not choking. We seem to have missed the worst of it. Which now seems to have moved on to the USA.

Once checked into our hotel, the kids venture out to a convenience store for some snacks and soft drinks. While I get my flipflop fired up.

I've recorded the England World Cup semi-final on Ziggo so we can watch the game. We rig it up to play through the TV. So we don't all have to stare at the tiny laptop screen.

Of course, Argentina wins in the most annoying way possible. The bastards. I don't know if I'll bother watching the final, as I find both teams so irritating. Thankfully, there's enough Jamesons to take off the edge of annoyance.

It's around 6:30 Dutch time when I turn in. Almost getting up time back home. The whisky helps my body to work out that it’s sleepy time.
 

 

Friday, 31 July 2026

Scottish Export/80/- boiling and fermentation in the 1950s

A Drybrough Export Ale label featuring nothing.
You won't have to put up with this much longer. I'll be back from my Canada trip in a couple of days. Then you'll be blasted with travel posts for a couple of weeks.

Processes today. Starting with boiling.

Unfortunately, most of the breweries couldn't be arsed to record the boiling time. Which is really annoying. The William Younger's records have a column for the boiling time. They just haven't filled it in.

The two breweries that didt bother don't reveal anything particularly unusual.90 to 120 minutes is pretty typical. The only thing that I find slightly surprising is that there were three boils at Robert Younger. And that all were of the same length. That's about all I have to say on the topic of boiling.

On to fermentation. Lots more details there, thankfully.

There's not too much variation in pitching temperatures: 60º F to 62.5º F. Averaging just under 61º F. Which is pretty normal stuff. I consider 60º F to be the "standard" pitching temperature.

Maximum temperatures are another matter. They're all over the place. From 65.5º F to 74.5º F. Drybrough Export only increased by 4º F, while Bernard's rose 14.5 º F. Quite a difference.

Oddly enough, those two were also the beers with the shortest fermentation times, just five days. I would have expected the fermentation that ran hotter to be quicker. All the other beers took seven days. 

Scottish Export/80/- boiling and fermentation in the 1950s
Year Brewer Beer boil time (hours) Pitch temp max. fermen-tation temp length of fermen-tation (days)
1957 Robert Younger 80/- 2 2 2 60º F 68º F 7
1958 Wm Younger Export       60º F 73.5º F 7
1958 Bernard Pale 1/4 1.75     60.5º F 74.5º F 5
1957 Maclay Export       62.5º F 70º F 7
1956 Drybrough Export       61.5º F 65.5º F 5
  Average         60.9º F 70.3º F 6.20
Sources:
Robert Younger brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number RY/6/1/2.
William Younger brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number WY/6/1/3/112.
T & J Bernard brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number TJB6/1/1/1.
Maclay brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number M/6/1/1/35.
Drybrough brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number D/6/1/1/7.

Here's a short YouTube video I made about Eighty Shilling. 

 

 

Thursday, 30 July 2026

Brewers not for sale 1919 - 1936

Another look at brewers not for sale. It should be lots of fun.

The big surprise here is the massive revival in these licences. At the end of WW I, the number had fallen below 2,000. But by the end of the 1920s, there were more than in 1900, peaking at over 13,000.

It's also fascinating to see a big increase in the licences in Scotland. From nothing, to over 1,000. In 1900, just 127 licences were issued in Scotland. Proportionally way less than in England. Remember that Scotland had about 10% of the population of England. But, by 1936, around 25% of the licences were in Scotland. And continuing to increase, unlike in England.

I suspect that home-brewing might have collapsed at the end of WW I when ingredients became difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. After a couple of years of peace, not-for-sale licences were way above the 1914 level of 4,522. And continued to steadily increase until 1928. After which there was a steady decline. Though still well above the immediate pre-WW I level.

Now not everyone holding a licence was necessarily brewing. On the other hand, there were almost certainly some brewing without bothering with a licence. There probably were 10,000 or so not-for-sale brewers between the wars. 

I'd love to know something about these brewers. What did they brew? What equipment did they have? How much did they brew? I've never seen any information about this group. If you have any, please let me know. It's a beer culture that seems to have been totally forgotten about.

Brewers not for sale 1919 - 1936
Year Eng. Scot. G.B.
1919          1,876 3            1,879
1920          2,998 1            2,999
1921          6,174              6,174
1922          7,069              7,069
1923          8,028 40            8,068
1924          9,423 409            9,832
1925          8,991 476            9,467
1926         10,869 618          11,487
1927         11,427 751          12,178
1928         12,257 842          13,099
1929         11,878               1,044          12,922
1930         11,437               1,076          12,513
1931         11,462               1,088          12,550
1932         10,033               1,106          11,139
1933         10,141               1,135          11,276
1934          9,549               1,197          10,746
1935          8,906               1,264          10,170
1936          8,502               1,265            9,767
Source:
"Drink in Great Britain 1900 - 1979", by Gwylmor Prys Williams and George Thompson Brake, 1980, page 367.

 

 

Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1933 William Younger Export

A William Younger Monk Export Ale label featuring a monk holding a foaming tankard of beer.
Finally, an Eighty Shilling that really is related to modern Scottish Export. Though it wasn’t actually called 80/- by the brewery. It was, at least, called Export.

The gravity clearly plonks it firmly in the 80/- category. With an OG of 1054º, it’s clearly in the 8d per pint class. Which is where 80/- gets its name. 6d per pint beers were called 60/-, 7d beers 70/- and 8d beers 80/-. Simple, isn’t it?

There’s a shitload of grits again. Along with three types of pale malt. All very simple, if not particularly awe-inspiring. There was almost certainly caramel added at racking for colour correction. And, knowing Scotland, it probably came in a few different shades. With some being surprisingly dark.

The hopping is heavier than in the 1913 Shilling Ale type of 80/-. Though it’s still a little under 5 lbs per quarter (336 lbs) of malt. Quite low for a Pale Ale of this strength. Though it still comes out over 50 IBU.

Two types of hops: Pacific from the 1930 harvest and Kent from 1932. 

1933 William Younger Export
pale malt 7.25 lb 58.00%
grits 5.25 lb 42.00%
Cluster 90 min 2.00 oz
Fuggles 30 min 2.00 oz
Goldings dry hops 1.00 oz
OG 1054
FG 1016
ABV 5.03
Apparent attenuation 70.37%
IBU 53
SRM 4
Mash at 156º F
Sparge at 160º F
Boil time 165 minutes
pitching temp 60º F
Yeast WLP028 Edinburgh Ale

This is a YouTube video about this recipe: 

 

And here's a short YouTube video I made about Eighty Shilling.

  

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Scottish Export/80/- hops in the 1950s

A Maclay's Export Ale label featuring a thistle.
Still on my holidays. Unless I've dropped dead from the stress of travel. You never know at my age.

And still pumping out stuff about Eighty Bob. It's a style I drank a reasonable amount of. Mostly in the form of Younger's/McEwans. Which I believe were the same beer. Decent enough stuff, when in cask form. I must have had Maclay's, too. I can't really remember it, though. I'd usually go for their 60/-, if it was an option.

Back to the topic in hand. Hops. Lots of English hops. Which is what you would expect. In the 1950s the UK was about self-sufficient in hops. Meaning not that many were imported.

Most of the beers contain two types of hops. Other than Drybrough Export, which has five. Including two foreign hops, Saaz and Styrian. Interestingly, both from Central Europe.

Not many of the brewing records mention the vitage of the hops. Only William Younger and Bernard bothered. Both were using hops mostly from the most recent season. With just one of William Younger's hops a year older than that.

Scottish Export/80/- hops in the 1950s
Year Brewer Beer hop 1 hop 2 hop 3 hop 4 hop 5
1957 Robert Younger 80/- English English      
1958 Wm Younger Export Kent 1956 Kent 1957      
1958 Bernard Pale 1/4 English 1957 English 1957      
1957 Maclay Export English English English Saaz Styrian
1956 Drybrough Export English English      
Sources:
Robert Younger brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number RY/6/1/2.
William Younger brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number WY/6/1/3/112.
T & J Bernard brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number TJB6/1/1/1.
Maclay brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number M/6/1/1/35.
Drybrough brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number D/6/1/1/7.

Here's a short YouTube video I made about Eighty Shilling.