And, yes, the quantity of data to fiddle with put me off, too. At this rate my series on Drybrough's beer will last until judgement day. Or maybe a little longer. We may have devolved back into worms by the time I'm done.
Some general remarks to start with. The recipes for all three beers are generally similar: 80% pale malt, 20% sugar (or sugar and flaked maize). Which is pretty typical for all Pale Ales of the period. It's a point I've made many time before, but I'll repeat it again: crystal malt in Pale Ales was almost unknown before WW I and not common until after WW II.
Note that pale malt (or the closely related PA malt) is the only malt used in any of the beers. Though it's also clear that Drybrough's and Fuller's beers have been darkened with some sort of sugar. I suspect that Whitbread were colour adjusting with caramel at racking time. That's what they did after the war to hit their colour standard.
Which begs the question, when did they stop trying to make Pale Ale as pale as possible and start deliberately darkening it? Looking over my tables, it seems Fuller's started adding caramel to AK in 1902. Barclay Perkins started adding caramel to their Ordinary Bitter, XLK, just before the outbreak of WW I. Interesting, that. I wonder what the reason was? Because it's before the big drop in gravity, which would have been an obvious cause.
Whitbread were the most conservative, or consistent, depending on how you look at. As the "other sugar" is almost certainly No. 1 invert, there's almost no change at all. Except that in 1917 and 1918 the percentage of sugar fell, because it was rationed:
"About this [October 1917] time sugar became rationed and brewers were only allowed to use 25 per cent, of the amount they used in 1915."The effect of sugar rationing is also apparent in the grists of Drybrough and Fuller's. In October 1917 the percentage of sugar in Drybrough's PI grist fell from 9% to 5%. At Fuller's the reduction was even more dramatic, from 10-15% to just over 2%.
Journal of the Institute of Brewing Volume 46, Issue 4, August 1940, page 273.
As a result of the lowering of the amount of sugar used, the malt percentage in the grist went over 90% at all three breweries. Ironic, that a side-effect of the war should be to increase the malt content of beer. Though it is logical. Barley has limited use in feeding humans, whereas the opposite is true of sugar.
British brewers' love of sugar is demonstrated by the fact that when it became available again, the percentage used went back up to pre-war level, or even a little higher.
Drybrough's use of Poperinge hops throughout the war is a bit surprising. Especially as they weren't all from the pre-war crop. In 1918 they were using ones from the 1916 harvest. While Poperinge was in the corner of Belgium unoccupied by the Germans, it was just behind the front lines and subject to shelling and other disruption.
Fuller's used Poperinge hops, too, but only at the start of the war and after its end. The main attraction of this type of hops was their price. They were amongst the cheapest available. For most of the war, like Whitbread, Fuller's used English hops, mostly from Kent. There were plenty to go around. The reduction in demand for hops caused by falling gravities produced a glut of English hops. Only government intervention stopped most farmers going bust.
| Drybrough PI 1914 - 1919 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Year | Beer | OG | FG | ABV | App. Atten-uation | pale malt | no. 1 sugar | no. 2 sugar | no. 3 sugar | no. 4 sugar | caramel | glucose | other sugar | total sugar | flaked maize | flaked rice | hops |
| 29th Dec | 1914 | PI | 1044.0 | 1015.0 | 3.84 | 65.91% | 82.31% | 2.89% | 5.78% | 0.36% | 9.03% | 4.33% | 4.33% | Californian and English | ||||
| 5th Jan | 1915 | PI | 1044.0 | 1014.0 | 3.97 | 68.18% | 82.40% | 4.29% | 5.15% | 0.43% | 9.87% | 7.73% | Californian and English | |||||
| 8th Jan | 1915 | PI | 1044.0 | 1014.0 | 3.97 | 68.18% | 73.93% | 2.84% | 5.69% | 5.69% | 0.47% | 14.69% | 11.37% | Californian and English | ||||
| 14th Jul | 1915 | PI | 1044.0 | 1013.0 | 4.10 | 70.45% | 81.28% | 4.28% | 5.70% | 0.18% | 10.16% | 8.56% | Californian and English | |||||
| 14th Dec | 1915 | PI | 1042.0 | 1013.0 | 3.84 | 69.05% | 82.62% | 2.62% | 6.56% | 0.33% | 9.51% | 7.87% | Poperinge and English | |||||
| 7th Jan | 1916 | PI | 1045.0 | 1014.0 | 4.10 | 68.89% | 81.47% | 3.67% | 5.87% | 0.18% | 9.72% | 8.81% | Poperinge and English | |||||
| 18th Jul | 1916 | PI | 1043.0 | 1013.0 | 3.97 | 69.77% | 82.07% | 3.70% | 5.18% | 0.18% | 9.06% | 8.87% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | |||||
| 4th Aug | 1916 | PI | 1043.0 | 1013.0 | 3.97 | 69.77% | 82.25% | 9.14% | 0.18% | 9.31% | 8.44% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | ||||||
| 18th Oct | 1916 | PI | 1042.0 | 1013.0 | 3.84 | 69.05% | 81.47% | 3.67% | 5.87% | 0.18% | 9.72% | 8.81% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | |||||
| 16th Jan | 1917 | PI | 1041.0 | 1012.0 | 3.84 | 70.73% | 80.61% | 3.84% | 6.14% | 0.19% | 10.17% | 9.21% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | |||||
| 13th Feb | 1917 | PI | 1036.0 | 1012.0 | 3.18 | 66.67% | 80.50% | 3.35% | 5.87% | 0.21% | 9.43% | 10.06% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | |||||
| 14th Aug | 1917 | PI | 1035.0 | 1010.0 | 3.31 | 71.43% | 85.09% | 0.98% | 7.82% | 0.24% | 9.05% | 5.87% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | |||||
| 15th Aug | 1917 | PI | 1034.0 | 1010.0 | 3.18 | 70.59% | 85.51% | 3.80% | 1.90% | 0.24% | 2.85% | 8.79% | 5.70% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | ||||
| 16th Aug | 1917 | PI | 1035.0 | 1010.0 | 3.31 | 71.43% | 80.98% | 4.50% | 8.90% | 0.22% | 13.62% | 5.40% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | |||||
| 17th Aug | 1917 | PI | 1035.0 | 1010.0 | 3.31 | 71.43% | 85.09% | 1.96% | 4.89% | 0.24% | 1.96% | 9.05% | 5.87% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | ||||
| 17th Aug | 1917 | PI | 1029.0 | 1009.0 | 2.65 | 68.97% | 85.09% | 1.96% | 4.89% | 0.24% | 1.96% | 9.05% | 5.87% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | ||||
| 20th Aug | 1917 | PI | 1034.0 | 1010.0 | 3.18 | 70.59% | 82.15% | 0.98% | 5.87% | 0.24% | 1.96% | 9.05% | 8.80% | Poperinge, New Zealand and English | ||||
| 19th Oct | 1917 | PI | 1033.0 | 1010.0 | 3.04 | 69.70% | 90.85% | 1.26% | 3.79% | 0.32% | 5.36% | 3.79% | Poperinge and English | |||||
| 23rd Oct | 1917 | PI | 1037.0 | 1011.0 | 3.44 | 70.27% | 86.65% | 0.88% | 3.50% | 0.22% | 0.88% | 5.47% | 7.88% | Poperinge and English | ||||
| 6th Nov | 1917 | PI | 1038.0 | 1013.0 | 3.31 | 65.79% | 88.68% | 2.77% | 1.85% | 0.23% | 0.92% | 5.77% | 5.54% | Poperinge and English | ||||
| 21st Dec | 1917 | PI | 1037.0 | 1011.0 | 3.44 | 70.27% | 84.92% | 4.92% | 0.31% | 2.46% | 7.69% | 7.38% | Poperinge and English | |||||
| 22nd Jan | 1918 | PI | 1037.0 | 1011.0 | 3.44 | 70.27% | 84.03% | 4.38% | 1.75% | 0.22% | 1.75% | 8.10% | 7.88% | English | ||||
| 27th Jan | 1918 | PI | 1037.0 | 1011.0 | 3.44 | 70.27% | 83.30% | 5.21% | 0.22% | 3.47% | 8.89% | 7.81% | English | |||||
| 19th Feb | 1918 | PI | 1038.0 | 1010.0 | 3.70 | 73.68% | 83.72% | 6.77% | 1.69% | 0.21% | 8.67% | 7.61% | English | |||||
| 26th Feb | 1918 | PI | 1037.0 | 1010.0 | 3.57 | 72.97% | 84.46% | 7.04% | 0.29% | 1.17% | 8.50% | 7.04% | English | |||||
| 5th Mar | 1918 | PI | 1038.0 | 1010.0 | 3.70 | 73.68% | 83.30% | 6.94% | 0.87% | 0.22% | 0.87% | 8.89% | 7.81% | English | ||||
| 8th Mar | 1918 | PI | 1038.0 | 1011.0 | 3.57 | 71.05% | 85.23% | 2.27% | 2.27% | 5.68% | 1.14% | 11.36% | 3.41% | English | ||||
| 23rd Jul | 1918 | PI | 1030.0 | 1009.0 | 2.78 | 70.00% | 91.18% | 2.94% | 3.92% | 1.96% | 8.82% | Poperinge and English | ||||||
| 13th Aug | 1918 | PI | 1030.0 | 1009.0 | 2.78 | 70.00% | 85.40% | 2.92% | 1.46% | 7.30% | 2.92% | 14.60% | Poperinge and English | |||||
| 23rd Oct | 1918 | PI | 1030.0 | 1009.0 | 2.78 | 70.00% | 91.18% | 6.86% | 1.96% | 8.82% | Poperinge and English | |||||||
| 29th Oct | 1918 | PI | 1030.0 | 1010.0 | 2.65 | 66.67% | 85.40% | 5.84% | 7.30% | 1.46% | 14.60% | Poperinge and English | ||||||
| 24th Jan | 1919 | PI | 1030.0 | 1009.0 | 2.78 | 70.00% | 89.61% | 10.39% | 10.39% | Poperinge and English | ||||||||
| 28th Jan | 1919 | PI | 1030.0 | 1010.0 | 2.65 | 66.67% | 87.88% | 8.08% | 4.04% | 12.12% | Poperinge and English | |||||||
| 7th Feb | 1919 | PI | 1030.0 | 1010.0 | 2.65 | 66.67% | 85.71% | 7.14% | 7.14% | 14.29% | Poperinge and English | |||||||
| 2nd Jul | 1919 | PI | 1029.0 | 1010.0 | 2.51 | 65.52% | 100.00% | 0.00% | English | |||||||||
| 3rd Jul | 1919 | PI | 1031.0 | 1010.0 | 2.78 | 67.74% | 91.43% | 8.57% | 8.57% | English | ||||||||
| 8th Jul | 1919 | PI | 1030.0 | 1009.0 | 2.78 | 70.00% | 87.34% | 5.06% | 7.59% | 12.66% | English | |||||||
| Source: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Drybrough brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number D/6/1/1/3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Whitbread FA 1914 - 1919 | |||||||||||
| Date | Year | Beer | OG | FG | ABV | App. Atten-uation | pale malt | PA malt | no. 1 sugar | other sugar | hops |
| 28th May | 1914 | FA | 1047.4 | 1013.0 | 4.55 | 72.55% | 22.28% | 57.92% | 19.80% | EK | |
| 4th Jun | 1914 | FA | 1047.1 | 1013.0 | 4.51 | 72.39% | 22.28% | 57.92% | 19.80% | EK | |
| 22nd Jun | 1914 | FA | 1047.6 | 1014.0 | 4.45 | 70.62% | 22.28% | 57.92% | 19.80% | EK | |
| 8th Oct | 1914 | FA | 1048.5 | 1015.0 | 4.43 | 69.06% | 22.28% | 57.92% | 19.80% | EK | |
| 29th Jan | 1916 | FA | 1045.4 | 1013.0 | 4.29 | 71.38% | 23.94% | 55.85% | 20.21% | EK | |
| 18th May | 1917 | FA | 1045.7 | 1010.0 | 4.72 | 78.12% | 26.16% | 57.56% | 16.28% | EK | |
| 24th Jul | 1917 | FA | 1033.2 | 1005.0 | 3.74 | 84.96% | 22.12% | 61.95% | 15.93% | EK | |
| 11th Oct | 1917 | FA | 1035.2 | 1005.0 | 3.99 | 85.79% | 22.73% | 68.18% | 9.09% | EK | |
| 5th Jun | 1918 | FA | 1032.7 | 1008.0 | 3.27 | 75.52% | 29.22% | 68.18% | 2.60% | EK | |
| 3rd Jul | 1918 | FA | 1032.6 | 1007.0 | 3.38 | 78.51% | 27.86% | 60.37% | 11.76% | EK | |
| 30th Oct | 1918 | FA | 1032.4 | 1005.0 | 3.63 | 84.57% | 21.33% | 59.72% | 18.96% | EK | |
| 5th Feb | 1919 | FA | 1032.1 | 1006.0 | 3.46 | 81.33% | 21.63% | 59.13% | 19.23% | EK | |
| 19th Mar | 1919 | FA | 1032.4 | 1007.0 | 3.36 | 78.40% | 21.95% | 58.54% | 19.51% | EK | |
| Source: | |||||||||||
| Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives document number LMA/4453/D/01/079, LMA/4453/D/01/080, LMA/4453/D/01/081, LMA/4453/D/01/082 and LMA/4453/D/01/084. | |||||||||||
| Fuller's AK 1914 - 1919 | |||||||||||||||
| Date | Year | Beer | OG | FG | ABV | App. Atten-uation | pale malt | no. 2 sugar | glucose | invert sugar | caramel | total sugar | primings | flaked maize | hops |
| 20th Nov | 1914 | AK | 1044.3 | 1009.1 | 4.65 | 79.38% | 78.89% | 5.84% | 5.84% | 0.17% | 15.26% | 3.40% | 5.84% | MK, Poperinge, Cobbs and Oregon | |
| 8th Dec | 1914 | AK | 1044.1 | 1009.4 | 4.58 | 78.63% | 81.38% | 5.56% | 5.56% | 12.36% | 1.23% | 6.26% | MK, Poperinge, Cobbs and Oregon | ||
| 2nd Jul | 1915 | AK | 1044.5 | 1009.7 | 4.61 | 78.22% | 78.96% | 6.68% | 6.68% | 14.77% | 1.40% | 6.27% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 1st Jun | 1916 | AK | 1043.9 | 1009.7 | 4.53 | 77.93% | 79.27% | 6.61% | 6.61% | 15.77% | 2.56% | 4.95% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 3rd Aug | 1916 | AK | 1042.7 | 1008.9 | 4.47 | 79.23% | 82.40% | 4.85% | 4.85% | 12.75% | 3.06% | 4.85% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 26th Oct | 1916 | AK | 1041.0 | 1006.6 | 4.54 | 83.78% | 80.05% | 6.47% | 8.09% | 15.10% | 0.55% | 4.85% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 3rd Nov | 1916 | AK | 1041.7 | 1005.8 | 4.74 | 86.04% | 80.16% | 5.73% | 5.73% | 14.12% | 2.67% | 5.73% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 12th Jan | 1917 | AK | 1041.8 | 1007.8 | 4.50 | 81.44% | 80.82% | 5.26% | 5.26% | 13.27% | 2.76% | 5.91% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 19th Jan | 1917 | AK | 1040.7 | 1007.5 | 4.40 | 81.63% | 82.98% | 5.40% | 5.40% | 10.95% | 0.16% | 6.07% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 13th Apr | 1917 | AK | 1041.5 | 1008.3 | 4.39 | 79.99% | 83.03% | 5.40% | 5.40% | 10.90% | 0.10% | 6.08% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 20th Jun | 1917 | AK | 1038.6 | 1006.4 | 4.27 | 83.51% | 86.64% | 3.85% | 5.78% | 13.36% | 3.74% | MK and Cobbs | |||
| 8th Aug | 1917 | AK | 1035.4 | 1006.4 | 3.84 | 82.00% | 97.77% | 2.23% | 2.23% | MK and Cobbs | |||||
| 1st Nov | 1917 | AK | 1035.9 | 1007.8 | 3.73 | 78.41% | 92.36% | 0.17% | 2.42% | 2.25% | 5.23% | MK and Cobbs | |||
| 14th Nov | 1917 | AK | 1036.1 | 1008.3 | 3.68 | 76.98% | 92.38% | 0.23% | 2.31% | 2.09% | 5.31% | MK and Cobbs | |||
| 2nd Jan | 1918 | AK | 1035.5 | 1007.5 | 3.70 | 78.92% | 92.13% | 5.94% | 0.13% | 7.87% | 1.80% | MK and Cobbs | |||
| 16th Jan | 1918 | AK | 1036.1 | 1011.1 | 3.32 | 69.35% | 91.58% | 3.05% | 3.05% | 0.16% | 8.42% | 2.15% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 11th Apr | 1918 | AK | 1026.1 | 1005.5 | 2.73 | 78.81% | 74.94% | 12.49% | 12.49% | 0.08% | 25.06% | 0.00% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 20th Jun | 1918 | AK | 1026.2 | 1005.5 | 2.73 | 78.84% | 74.65% | 19.14% | 3.83% | 0.09% | 25.35% | 2.29% | MK and Cobbs | ||
| 7th Nov | 1918 | AK | 1025.7 | 1005.0 | 2.74 | 80.60% | 77.55% | 18.35% | 0.18% | 22.45% | 3.92% | MK and EK | |||
| 16th Jan | 1919 | AK | 1026.1 | 1006.1 | 2.64 | 76.62% | 78.14% | 8.14% | 8.14% | 0.17% | 21.86% | 5.41% | MK and EK | ||
| 15th Apr | 1919 | AK | 1026.0 | 1004.4 | 2.86 | 82.98% | 74.21% | 6.06% | 8.08% | 0.26% | 21.25% | 6.85% | 4.54% | MK and WK | |
| 19th Jun | 1919 | AK | 1028.2 | 1004.7 | 3.10 | 83.28% | 77.72% | 6.76% | 6.76% | 0.14% | 15.52% | 1.86% | 6.76% | MK and WK | |
| 25th Jun | 1919 | AK | 1028.0 | 1005.3 | 3.01 | 81.21% | 78.01% | 8.00% | 6.00% | 0.27% | 15.99% | 1.72% | 6.00% | MK and Cobbs | |
| 27th Aug | 1919 | AK | 1030.5 | 1006.9 | 3.12 | 77.31% | 74.03% | 8.80% | 8.80% | 0.16% | 17.91% | 0.16% | 8.06% | English and Poperinge | |
| Source: | |||||||||||||||
| Fuller's brewing records held at the brewery. | |||||||||||||||
I have always found Drybrough’s “faceless man” logo slightly creepy.
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