Whitbread Pale Ales 1880 - 1889

Just remembered I still owed you a second instalment of Whitbread Pale Ales. It neatly fills the gap between the other two parts and finishes off the 19th century. Neat or what?

I'm not going to pretend that there's something here that isn't. These aren't the most fascinating bunch of beers ever brewed. Pale malt, sugar, hops.

You'd never guess, looking at the table, what a momentous year 1880 was. The year of the Free Mash Tun Act. When brewers were allowed to use any safe ingredient and taxation moved from malt to beer gravity before fermentation.

Whitbread, unlike some other large brewers, didn't take advantage of the new law to use adjuncts like flaked maize or rice. They stuck with the ingredients they'd always used: malt, sugar, hops, water and yeast. But there are some general trends noticeable.

The percentage of sugar used increased after 1887. Though the figure jumps around for individual brews, Between 1880 and 1886, sugar averaged a fraction under 18%. Between 1887 and 1889, it averaged 23%. I think that's a significant increase. As I've pointed out before, in the late 19th century it was expensive beers like Pale Ales that contained the greatest proportion of sugar. Cheap beers like Porter and X Ale generally contained the least.

You may notice that the gravity of PA bobbles around a fair bit. Between a low of 1051.5 and a high of 1065.4. Again, there's a difference between 1880-1886 and 1887-1889. In the first period the average gravity was 1060º, in the second 1057.8º. So a slight downward tendency. Why such fluctuations in gravity? It could be because it was only brewed occasionally.

The gravity of Family also has quite a bit of variation, between 1048.8º and 1057.6º. Though the average gravity is about the same, at about 1053º, both pre- and post-1887. 2PA, introduced in 1888 averages just a tad weaker at 1052.6º. I still can't see what the difference was meant to be between these two beers.

Now to hopping. I'm going to analyse this in terms of pounds per quarter of malt, as that irons out differences in gravity. Again there's a general trend to be seen: decline. Up to 1886, the PA averaged 14.6 lbs per quarter, from 1887 onwards 12.2 lbs. FA fell from an average of 12.9 lbs to 12.1 lbs.

Sorry that wasn't more gripping. Just wait until we hit the 20th century in the next instalments. You'll find change aplenty there.

Whitbread Pale Ales 1880 - 1889
Date	Year	Beer	Style	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl	boil time (hours)	boil time (hours)	Pitch temp	pale malt	PA malt	sugar	total
7th Jan	1880	PA	Pale Ale	1057.1	1016.1	5.42	71.84%	14.01	4.04	1.83		58º	80.80%		19.20%	100.00%
12th Jul	1880	FA	Pale Ale	1052.6	1008.6	5.83	83.68%	13.52	3.58	1.67		58º	60.48%		39.52%	100.00%
9th Aug	1880	PA	Pale Ale	1065.4	1014.4	6.74	77.97%	17.12	4.30	1.83		58º	86.88%		13.12%	100.00%
16th Nov	1881	FA	Pale Ale	1050.7	1006.9	5.79	86.34%	13.27	3.28	2		58º	85.37%		14.63%	100.00%
28th Nov	1881	PA	Pale Ale	1056.5	1015.0	5.50	73.53%	14.46	3.96	1.5	1.75	56.5º	80.25%		19.75%	100.00%
20th Jan	1882	PA	Pale Ale	1062.6	1015.8	6.19	74.78%	15.34	4.59	1.33	1.75	55.5º	78.57%		21.43%	100.00%
8th Nov	1882	PA	Pale Ale	1059.3	1019.9	5.20	66.36%	14.07	3.97	1.33	1.67	56º	76.47%		23.53%	100.00%
22nd Nov	1882	PA	Pale Ale	1057.6	1018.8	5.13	67.31%	14.02	3.60	1.33	1.67	57º	75.00%		25.00%	100.00%
29th Nov	1882	FA	Pale Ale	1048.8	1015.0	4.47	69.32%	13.00	3.06	1.83		º	86.96%		13.04%	100.00%
2nd Feb	1883	FA	Pale Ale	1054.8	1015.8	5.17	71.21%	13.12	3.27	1.83		57º	83.33%		16.67%	100.00%
24th Aug	1883	PA	Pale Ale	1064.8	1019.9	5.94	69.23%	13.74	4.30	1.75		57º	89.66%		10.34%	100.00%
29th Aug	1883	PA	Pale Ale	1063.7	1016.9	6.19	73.48%	13.72	4.08	1.75		57º	89.66%		10.34%	100.00%
30th Jul	1884	PA	Pale Ale	1059.3	1015.0	5.86	74.77%	15.14	4.08	1.83		56.5º	86.96%		13.04%	100.00%
15th Oct	1884	PA	Pale Ale	1061.8	1016.9	5.94	72.65%	13.69	3.96	1.33	1.75	57º	80.49%		19.51%	100.00%
28th Jan	1885	PA	Pale Ale	1059.0				14.22	3.92	1.33	1.75	57º	78.57%		21.43%	100.00%
18th Mar	1885	FA	Pale Ale	1057.6	1017.7	5.28	69.23%	14.02	3.68	1.5	1.75	56º	80.00%		20.00%	100.00%
22nd Jul	1885	PA	Pale Ale	1060.4	1015.0	6.01	75.23%	15.02	4.44	1.75		56º	85.71%		14.29%	100.00%
28th Oct	1885	PA	Pale Ale	1060.1	1015.0	5.97	75.12%	14.03	4.10	1.33	1.75	56º	78.57%		21.43%	100.00%
4th Nov	1885	FA	Pale Ale	1052.1	1010.8	5.46	79.26%	10.47	3.18	1.5	1.75	57º	85.11%		14.89%	100.00%
27th Jan	1886	PA	Pale Ale	1057.6	1011.9	6.05	79.33%	13.00	3.80	1.83	2	58.5º	80.49%		19.51%	100.00%
25th Aug	1886	PA	Pale Ale	1059.0	1015.0	5.83	74.65%	15.96	4.69	1.75		58.5º	87.76%		12.24%	100.00%
8th Sep	1886	PA	Pale Ale	1057.3	1012.7	5.90	77.78%	16.11	4.70	1.75		59º	88.24%		11.76%	100.00%
20th Oct	1886	PA	Pale Ale	1059.3	1012.7	6.16	78.50%	15.21	4.30	1.33	1.75	58º	82.28%		17.72%	100.00%
19th Jan	1887	FA	Pale Ale	1053.2	1013.9	5.20	73.96%	13.02	3.22	1.5	2.75	58º	81.08%		18.92%	100.00%
9th Feb	1887	PA	Pale Ale	1057.1	1016.9	5.31	70.39%	16.08	3.92	1.33	1.75	58º	76.92%		23.08%	100.00%
9th Mar	1887	PA	Pale Ale	1055.7	1017.7	5.02	68.16%	14.92	3.92	1.33	1.83	58º	78.57%		21.43%	100.00%
31st Aug	1887	PA	Pale Ale	1058.4	1015.0	5.75	74.41%	15.05	4.27	1.33	1.75	57º	78.95%		21.05%	100.00%
5th Oct	1887	PA	Pale Ale	1058.7				13.06	3.62	1.33	1.75	57º	78.95%		21.05%	100.00%
16th Nov	1887	FA	Pale Ale	1053.2	1016.9	4.80	68.23%	12.05	2.85	1.33	0.75	58º	78.57%		21.43%	100.00%
7th Dec	1887	PA	Pale Ale	1051.5	1007.8	5.79	84.95%	10.11	2.32	1.33	1.75	59º	75.34%		24.66%	100.00%
14th Mar	1888	FA	Pale Ale	1054.6	1013.9	5.39	74.62%	12.79	3.13		1.75	58º	76.74%		23.26%	100.00%
11th Apr	1888	PA	Pale Ale	1052.1	1011.9	5.31	77.13%	9.01	2.11	1.33	0.75	58º	75.76%		24.24%	100.00%
11th May	1888	PA	Pale Ale	1055.4	1012.7	5.64	77.00%	11.04	2.73	1.33	2.17	58º	75.90%		24.10%	100.00%
11th May	1888	2PA	Pale Ale	1050.1	1011.9	5.06	76.24%	11.04	2.47	1.33	2.17	58º	75.90%		24.10%	100.00%
27th Jul	1888	PA	Pale Ale	1061.2	1018.8	5.61	69.23%	12.43	3.49	1.33	1.75	57º	76.92%		23.08%	100.00%
27th Jul	1888	2PA	Pale Ale	1052.1	1015.0	4.91	71.28%	12.43	2.97	1.33	1.75	57º	76.92%		23.08%	100.00%
25th Aug	1888	PA	Pale Ale	1060.7	1016.9	5.79	72.15%	12.01	3.29	1.33	1.75	57º	76.00%		24.00%	100.00%
25th Aug	1888	2PA	Pale Ale	1052.1	1011.9	5.31	77.13%	12.01	2.83	1.33	1.75	57º	76.00%		24.00%	100.00%
7th Dec	1888	PA	Pale Ale	1060.7	1015.0	6.05	75.34%	12.01	3.41	1.33	1.67	57º	78.31%		21.69%	100.00%
16th Jan	1889	PA	Pale Ale	1061.2	1012.7	6.41	79.19%	11.01	3.22	1.33	1.75	57º	76.92%		23.08%	100.00%
16th Jan	1889	2PA	Pale Ale	1056.0	1012.7	5.72	77.23%	11.01	2.94	1.33	1.75	57º	76.92%		23.08%	100.00%
13th Mar	1889	FA	Pale Ale	1052.1	1011.9	5.31	77.13%	12.40	2.86	1.33	1.67	58º	80.49%		19.51%	100.00%
17th Apr	1889	FA	Pale Ale	1052.6	1011.9	5.39	77.37%	12.35	2.90	1.33	1.67	58º	78.57%		21.43%	100.00%
23rd Oct	1889	PA	Pale Ale	1060.4	1012.0	6.40	80.13%	11.05	3.19	1.33	1.67	57.5º	0.00%	76.74%	23.26%	100.00%
28th Oct	1889	FA	Pale Ale	1052.4	1008.0	5.87	84.72%	10.17	2.65	1.33	1.67	58º	74.41%		25.59%	100.00%
6th Nov	1889	PA	Pale Ale	1058.4	1014.0	5.88	76.05%	11.14	2.98	1.33	1.67	57º	1.22%	74.39%	24.39%	100.00%
Source: Whitbread brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives.  Document numbers: LMA/4453/D/01/045, LMA/4453/D/01/046, LMA/4453/D/01/047, LMA/4453/D/01/048, LMA/4453/D/01/0496, LMA/4453/D/01/050, LMA/4453/D/01/051, LMA/4453/D/01/052, LMA/4453/D/01/053, LMA/4453/D/01/054, LMA/4453/D/01/055