JW Lees beers 1903 - 1910

Here it is. The first installment of JW Lees beers. From my recent visit to the brewery to look at their brewing records.

I'd wondered how their beers would differ from those of the London breweries I've mostly concentrated on so far. Let's take a look, shall we?

JW Lees beers 1903 - 1910
Date	Year	Beer	Style	OG	FG	ABV	App. Attenuation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl	barrels	lbs hops	qtrs malt	boil time (hours)	Pitch temp	dry hops (oz / barrel)	pale malt	brown malt	black malt	crystal malt	caramel	glucose	other sugar	flaked maize
4th Jan	1903	U	Mild	1032.0	1005.0	3.57	84.38%	3.13	0.41	122.75	50	16	2.5	60º		9						4.5	2.5
29th Jan	1904	K	Mild	1043.0	1010.0	4.37	76.74%	3.54	0.65	131.5	85	24		60º	2	17						4.5	2.5
4th Jan	1904	U	Mild	1030.5	1006.0	3.24	80.33%	2.95	0.37	152	56	19	2.5	60º		12						4.5	2.5
2nd Feb	1903	XXX	Strong Ale	1059.0	1016.0	5.69	72.88%	7.71	1.88	48	90	11.67		61.5º		9						2	0.67
6th Apr	1909	B	Pale Ale	1055.0	1009.0	6.09	83.64%	4.54	1.03	54.5	90	12.33		60º		10						2	0.33
13th Apr	1909	U	Mild	1034.0	1006.0	3.70	82.35%	4.19	0.58	253	148	35.33		60º		26					4		5.33
14th Apr	1909	XXX	Stout	1059.0	1018.0	5.42	69.49%	3.37	0.82	61	50	14.83		62.5º		7	2	1.5	2		2		0.33
29th Dec	1909	XXX	Stout	1060.0	1018.0	5.56	70.00%	0.00	0.00	59		14.5		61.5º		7	2	1.5	2	1		1
19th Apr	1909	U	Mild	1035.0	1006.0	3.84	82.86%	0.00	0.00	123		17.67		61.5º		13						2	2.67
19th Apr	1909	B	Pale Ale	1055.0	1011.0	5.82	80.00%	0.00	0.00	55		12.33	2	62º		10						2	0.33
31st Apr	1909	XXX	Stout	1059.0	1017.0	5.56	71.19%	3.37	0.82	61	50	14.83	2	62º		7	2	1.5	2				0.33
4th May	1910	K	Mild	1043.0	1008.0	4.63	81.40%	4.50	0.80	132	105	23.33		61º		18					3		2.33
5th May	1909	U	Mild	1032.0	1005.0	3.57	84.38%	4.58	0.60	246	148	32.33	1.5	61º		24						3	5.33
19th May	1909	XXX	Stout	1057.0	1017.0	5.29	70.18%	3.49	0.82	61	50	14.33	2	60º		7	2	1.5	2			1.5	0.33
3rd Sep	1909	B	Pale Ale	1054.0	1010.0	5.82	81.48%	6.49	1.44	83.5	120	18.5		61º		16						2.5
Source:
JW Lees brewing records

A couple of points spring right out.

Firstly, the much smaller range of beers being brewed. A Pale Ale, two Milds one Stout and a Strong Ale. And the Strong Ale seems to have been discontinued after 1904.

Secondly, the Milds are much weaker. I was Shocked to see a beer of around 1030 being brewed in this period. X Ale, standard London Mild was 1055 or so.

Thirdly, a much lower hopping rate. Lees B, which seems to stand for Bitter, had just 1.44 pounds of hops per barrel. Whitbread's 2PA, which had a similar gravity, had 2.14 pounds. Whitbread's Porter had 1.25 pounds, the slightly stronger Lees XXX Stout had just 0.82 pounds. I canj't make a comparison for the Milds as there were no London beers of similar gravity.

Fourthly, a higher degree of attenuation. Whitbread's Pale Ales were about 65% apparent attenuation and their Mild around 75%. Lees Bitter and Milds were all above 80%. Only the Stout had a similar level of attenuation as London beers.

So pretty significant differences from London. I can't say that I'm surprised as I hadn't really known what to expect. There will be more reports as I work my way through the records.