Let's Brew Wednesday - 1956 Shepherd Neame MB

It’s a very special beer for a very special day.

For two reasons. Today is my 60th birthday and this beer was brewed on the day that I was born, October 19th 1956. That it’s a Mild just makes it even more appropriate.

In most other respects, it’s not that special a beer. It isn’t particularly strong, though the gravity had increased a tad since 1947. Just about enough to tip it over into intoxicating land. It just manages to scrape in over 3% ABV, usually my bottom limit for bothering.

Shepherd Neame didn’t go for complicated recipes. This one just has a single type of pale malt, a dash of malt extract, No. 3 invert sugar and something called UKCS which must be some type of proprietary sugar. I’ve just bumped up the No. 3 content to allow for this.

At this point Shep’s seem to have only been using hops from their own gardens. At least that’s all that turns up in the photos I have. It makes perfect sense, the brewery being located in Kentish hop country. I am surprised by the modest level of their hopping. I’ve always imagined breweries in Kent being enthusiastic hoppers.

I quite like the fact that it’s such an ordinary beer. One meant for supping by the gallon down the pub with your mates. It seems appropriate for a beer born on the same day as me.

1956 Shepherd Neame MB
pale malt	5.50 lb	84.49%
no. 3 sugar	1.00 lb	15.36%
malt extract	0.01 lb	0.15%
Fuggles 120 mins	0.75 oz
Goldings 30 mins	0.50 oz
OG	1030.2
FG	1007.2
ABV	3.04
Apparent attenuation	76.16%
IBU	19
SRM	9
Mash at	152º F
Sparge at	170º F
Boil time	120 minutes
pitching temp	62.25º F
Yeast	a Southern English Ale yeast