1940 Shepherd Neame MB

Now it’s the turn of Shepherd Neame's one Mild ale. Or rather Mild Beer, which is what Shepherd Neame called it.

The grist isn’t that different from their Pale Ales. The only difference is that the Mild contains a second sugar, something called VK. I’ve thrown in No.4 invert as a substitute. No idea how close to the mark that is. It could also have been something paler, like No. 2 invert. But No. 4 gives it something closer to a Dark Mild colour.

There’s also considerably more malt extract in this beer. No idea why that should be.

The high degree of attenuation means that despite the low gravity, it’s still over 3% ABV. It was probably even more than that. The chances are this was primed at racking time with a sugar solution. If Barclay Perkins are typical, that would have bumped up the OG by 1º or 2º and the secondary fermentation it caused would also have bumped up the ABV.

The level of hopping, even for a Mild, is very low. I’m curious as to how it would have tasted. Pretty thin, I would guess, though maybe not so much after the priming. Sweet and fruity, I suppose.

1940 Shepherd Neame MB
pale malt	4.75 lb	77.55%
No. 3 invert sugar	0.75 lb	12.24%
No. 4 invert sugar	0.50 lb	8.16%
malt extract	0.125 lb	2.04%
Fuggles 120 mins	0.25 oz
Goldings 60 mins	0.25 oz
Goldings 30 mins	0.25 oz
OG	1030.6
FG	1006
ABV	3.25
Apparent attenuation	80.39%
IBU	11
SRM	8
Mash at	151º F
Sparge at	170º F
Boil time	120 minutes
pitching temp	62º F
Yeast	a Southern English Ale yeast