1949 William Younger XXX

The beers from just after the war bring so much joy. Of the I’m-really-happy-I-didn’t-live-back-then kind.

Younger, contrary bastards that they were, still brewed Mild after WW II. Unlike most Scottish brewers. Look back and you’ll find an XXX recipe from 1939. When the gravity was a good bit higher, at 1037º. But don’t blame Younger for this version being weaker. Blame Hitler.

This may look puny, but there were weaker ones. This is just about intoxicating. And doesn’t have too much crap in it. No grits, while in 1939 they were 15% of the grist. Though, to be honest, the ingredients they used probably weren’t under the brewer’s full control.

This being a Scottish beer, you can colour to choice. A fun experiment would be to colour this beer a couple of different shades at racking time. Then get people to try them all without saying it’s basically the same beer. I’m sure it would catch me out.

1949 William Younger XXX
pale malt	5.25 lb	72.41%
crystal malt	0.50 lb	6.90%
mild malt	0.50 lb	6.90%
flaked barley	0.50 lb	6.90%
No. 2 invert sugar	0.50 lb	6.90%
Fuggles 90 min	0.25 oz
Fuggles 60 min	0.25 oz
Fuggles 30 min	0.25 oz
OG	1030.5
FG	1008
ABV	2.98
Apparent attenuation	73.77%
IBU	11
SRM	7
Mash at	153º F
Sparge at	160º F
Boil time	75 minutes
pitching temp	62º F
Yeast	WLP028 Edinburgh Ale