Wednesday 19 October 2016

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

13 comments:

Marquis said...

Just to wish you a great birthday.What will you drink to celebrate?

Nick said...

Happy Birthday!

Would love to find that on at SN pubs instead of the execrable Master Brew.

Ed said...

Happy Birthday Ron!

Ron Pattinson said...

Marquis,

same as always - St. Bernardus Abt.

Anonymous said...

Van harte gefeliciteerd en proost!
Jan

Phil said...

Happy birthday Ron! Keep up the good work.

Lee said...

Happy birthday Abt drinking Ron!

Bacon said...

Happy Birthday!

I'm a homebrewer from Sweden who's been in love with British beer since the first time I tasted a bitter in the early 90s. Combine that with my interest in history and your blog is heaven for me :-)

I was tempted to brew the beer for your birthday party, but other commitments got in the way.

Dan Klingman said...

Happy birthday, and welcome to the 60's club!

The Beer Nut said...

Happy birthday Ron! Hope the family are being nice to you today.

Michael+ said...

Happy birthday! I toasted my own this Monday with a pint of home-brewed Russell's 1911 AK thanks to you.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Thanks for all the lessons you've taught here.

swigging-pig said...

Happy birthday !