A pint of sevens

More about the 1931 price increase

Portsmouth Evening News - Thursday 22 October 1931, page 1.

“OF INTEREST TO YOU!
Below are prices of Peters' & Young’s Famous Brews ON DRAUGHT.

XX (Mild Ale)	5d. per pint
BB (Bitter Ale)	6d per pint
STOUT (Oatmeal or Milk)	7d. per pint
P.A. (Superior Pale Ale)	8d per pint
BBBB (Old Ale)	9d per pint

To those of our Customers who, before the increase in prices, called for “a pint of sevens” we suggest that they do not break an excellent habit. They will find that a half-pint of “sixes” and a half-pint of "eights” will make an ideal bitter.

From all Messrs. PETERS’ & YOUNG’S HOUSES”

XX (Mild Ale)	5d. per pint
BB (Bitter Ale)	6d per pint
STOUT (Oatmeal or Milk)	7d. per pint
P.A. (Superior Pale Ale)	8d per pint
BBBB (Old Ale)	9d per pint

To those of our Customers who, before the increase in prices, called for “a pint of sevens” we suggest that they do not break an excellent habit. They will find that a half-pint of “sixes” and a half-pint of "eights” will make an ideal bitter.

From all Messrs. PETERS’ & YOUNG’S HOUSES”
Portsmouth Evening News - Thursday 22 October 1931, page 1.

Presumably before the 1931 budget, PA had cost 7d per pint. But mixing Ordinary and Best Bitter wasn’t going to give you a beer of the same strength. As you can see in the table below, 6d Bitter was a round 1036º and 8d Bitter around 1046º. Meaning a homemade 7d Bitter would be around 1041º. Or 5 degrees weaker than before the tax increase.

If you’re wondering about the strength of the other beers, XX Mild would be around 1030º, Stout 1040º and Old Ale in the low-1050º’s.

Bitter in 1932
Year	Brewer	Beer	Price	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
1932	Ind Coope	Pale Ale	6d	1035.3
1932	Shepherd Neame	Pale Ale	6d	1037.2
average 6d				1036.3
1932	Courage	PA	7d	1040	1007	4.29	82.50%
1932	Ind Coope	Pale Ale	8d	1043.9
1932	Hoare	PA	8d	1044	1010.2	4.39	76.82%
1932	Taylor Walker	Pale Ale	8d	1044	1011.2	4.26	74.55%
1932	Meux	Pale Ale	8d	1044.2
1932	Barclay Perkins	Pale Ale	8d	1046.2
1932	Whitbread	PA	8d	1046.3	1013.0	4.41	71.92%
1932	Charrington	PA	8d	1047	1010	4.81	78.72%
1932	Truman	PA	8d	1047	1006.2	5.33	86.81%
1932	Watney	Pale Ale	8d	1047	1009.5	4.88	79.79%
1932	Courage	Pale Ale	8d	1048.5
1932	Mann Crossman	PA	8d	1051	1008.8	5.51	82.75%
average 8d				1046.3	1009.8	4.80	78.76%
Sources:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001.
Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/01/098.
Truman Gravity Book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number B/THB/C/252