William Younger's Strong and Scotch Ales 1947 - 1957

I’m going to rattle through these William Younger beers before I forget. And I wouldn’t want to do that, William Younger being such a key brewery.

When paired with their partner in Scottish Brewers, William McEwan, they were easily the biggest player in Scotland. And even when the big English brewers started moving in, they still retained their leading position in the Scottish market

Scottish brewers had been big exporters since the first half of the 19th century, but after WW II most foreign markets evaporated along with the British Empire and all that was left was Belgium. There strong Scotch Ale was a niche market. It still is, though I believe  all current examples are brewed in Belgium.

Speaking of which, Younger’s No. 1 is typical of the Belgian style. 7 or 8% ABV, full-bodied and dark. I’m surprised at the attenuation of some of the examples below because it contained lactose. I know that from the brewing records. Pretty Things brewed a very nice version of 1949 No. Ale. Wish I still had some bottles.

I’ve said this many times before, but it’s worth repeating. No. 1 was marketed as Strong Ale in Scotland and Scotch Ale elsewhere. It’s just the way Scottish brewers rolled.

The draught Scotch Ale must be No. 3, though the gravity in the brewing records from 1949 I have is a little higher at 1044º.

As for Double Century, I know very little. I really should have a hunt through the brewing records for it. I should have an example. . . . . Just done exactly that. Interesting. It does contain some darker malts, crystal and whatever M stands for. There’s also lactose in the grist, just like No. 1.  So basically it looks like a weaker version of No. 1.

William Younger's Strong and Scotch Ales 1947 - 1957
Date	Beer	Price	size	package	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	colour
1947	No. 1 Strong Ale		pint	bottled	1074	1022	6.76	70.27%
1949	Scotch Ale	18d	pint	draught	1041.7	1011	3.98	73.62%	40 + 3.5
1949	Double Century Ale		pint	bottled	1058.5	1017.5	5.32	70.09%
1950	Scotch Ale		half	bottled	1087.6	1017.5	9.21	80.02%	5 + 40
1950	Double Century Ale	1/6d	half	bottled	1058.4	1020.1	4.96	65.58%	40 + 9
1952	Scotch Ale			bottled	1083.5	1021.7	8.07	74.01%	8 + 40
1953	Century Ale	1/6d	half	bottled	1056.4	1021.4	4.52	62.06%	71 B
1953	Strong Ale	1/2.5d	nip	bottled	1071.2	1024.2	6.09	66.01%	9 + 40
1954	Double Century Ale	18d	half	bottled	1056.6	1023.3	4.29	58.83%	80
1955	No. 1 Strong Ale	15d	nip	bottled	1071.4	1024.3	6.11	65.97%	80
1957	Double Century Ale	2/2d	16 oz	bottled	1051.5	1018.6	4.25	63.88%	80
Sources:
Thomas Usher Gravity Book document TU/6/11.
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/002.

Stout next.