Northern and Scottish Mild Ale 1950 – 1954

We’re moving further north for our next peek at Mild Ale from the early 1950’s.

I wish I had more analyses. Especially for northern breweries. As that would enable me to spot patterns much better. Though I suspect it might be confusing. Because, unlike London where all Mild was dark, northern breweries had a habit of brewing two Milds, one pale and one dark. At least ones in Yorkshire and Lancashire did.

You can see the practice a little in the table. Through Lees. They had a pale Ordinary Mild and a dark Best Mild. Which in itself is a bit unusual. They were usually the other way around, the stronger Mild being the paler one. No idea why that was different at Lees.

It’s a shame that I don’t have the FG for most examples. Because for those where I do, it’s exceptionally high, leaving a couple of beer over 4% ABV. I’m looking at Vaux in particular. Speaking of Vaux, I can remember their Mild. It was a pretty rare beer in its final days, the Northeast not being a great mild-drinking area. And, unlike the one in the table, was very dark as I recall.

Mild wasn’t very common by this period in Scotland. My suspicion is that these samples were taken south of the border. Probably in London, as they were performed by Truman. Younger had pubs selling their beer in the capital, both free houses and tied houses. These would have needed to have a Mild Ale to satisfy the demands of English drinkers. Which would explain why all the samples are dark in colour.

Northern and Scottish Mild Ale 1950 - 1954
Year	Brewer	Beer	Price per pint d	Acidity	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	colour
1950	Lees	K			1031.0
1950	Lees	Best Mild			1035.0
1951	Groves & Whitnall	Mild Ale	14	0.04	1030.6	1004.1	3.45	86.60%	50
1951	Lees	K			1031.0				28
1951	Mitchell	Mild Ale	15	0.05	1037.2	1004.8	4.22	87.10%	60
1951	Vaux	Mild Ale	15	0.04	1035.6	1002.9	4.27	91.85%	24.5
1951	Wilsons	Mild Ale	14	0.06	1034.8	1005.3	3.84	84.77%	50
1952	Hull Brewery	Mild Ale	16	0.05	1032.1	1005.6	3.44	82.55%	85
1952	Lees	Bot. B			1035.0				35
1952	Lees	K			1031.0				34
1952	Lees	Best Mild			1034.0				100
1952	Tetley	X	13		1031.3				58
1953	Lees	Mild			1030.0
1953	Lees	Bot. B			1035.0
1953	Lees	Best Mild			1033.0				100
1953	Tetley	X	13		1031.4				58
1954	Lees	Bot. B			1035.0				35
1954	Lees	K			1031.0				35
1954	Lees	Best Mild			1035.0				100
	Average		14.3	0.05	1033.1	1004.5	3.8	86.6%	56.8
1951	Wm. Younger	X	13		1030.0				72
1952	Wm. Younger	X	14		1031.2				80
1952	Wm. Younger	X	14		1033.5				92
1953	Wm. Younger	X	14		1033.3				82
	Average		13.8		1032.0				81.5
Sources:
Lees brewing records held at the brewery.
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/002.
Truman Gravity Book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number B/THB/C/252

Where next? The southeast, I think.