UK brewing 1938 - 1949

WW II was a challenging time for British brewers, though, due to a variety of factors, not nearly as difficult as WW I.

The biggest difference was that, unlike in WW I, beer production was maintained at it pre-war level.  Even in terms of standard barrels, which take the OG of the beer out of the equation. In terms of bulk barrels, production actually increased by 25%.

The difference between the two wars was due to a variety of factors. Better preparation, an assumption that the war would last several years, and controlling food supply right from the outset meant that raw materials were never in as short supply. But another important factor was the more sympathetic approach of the government. In WW I the authorities had been positively hostile to the industry.

At first glance it might seem odd that imports held up so well during WW II. In WW I, imports had dwindled to zero. But it’s all about Ireland, which in 1939 was an independent country. But still supplying large quantities of beer to the UK. Imports during the war years were almost exclusively from Ireland. And the vast majority of it a single beer, Guinness Extra Stout.

There was one thing which suffered: the strength of beer, which dropped by almost 20%. Average gravity would never return to its level of 1939, settling down at around 1037º in 1951. Where it remained for the next forty years.  It was one of the most long-lasting effects of the war.

Beer production and consumption, which both fared well during the war, weren’t so lucky during the peace. They fell all through the 1950s and only got back to their 1948 level in 1961.  Falling demand was one of the factors behind the large scale rationalisation in the 1950s.

UK brewing 1938 - 1949
Year	Production (bulk barrels)	Production (standard barrels)	Consumption (bulk barrels)	Exports (bulk barrels)	Imports (bulk barrels)	Average OG
1938	24,205,631	18,055,539	25,087,393	281,284	1,163,046	1041.02
1939	24,674,992	18,364,156	25,229,287	283,974	838,269	1040.93
1940	25,366,782	18,738,619	25,922,694	266,766	822,678	1040.62
1941	26,203,803	18,351,113	26,768,038	225,552	789,787	1038.51
1942	29,860,796	19,294,605	30,813,374	94,796	1,047,374	1035.53
1943	29,296,672	18,293,919	30,027,441	107,019	837,788	1034.34
1944	30,478,289	19,193,773	30,973,081	77,597	572,389	1034.63
1945	31,332,852	19,678,449	31,968,011	130,443	765,602	1034.54
1946	32,650,200	20,612,225	33,391,810	187,418	929,028	1034.72
1947	29,261,398	17,343,690	30,011,879	109,680	860,161	1032.59
1948	30,408,634	18,061,390	31,067,391	205,098	863,855	1032.66
1949	26,990,144	16,409,937	27,611,545	254,147	875,548	1033.43
change 1938 - 1949	11.50%	-9.11%	10.06%	-9.68%	-24.74%	-18.50%
Source:
Brewers' Almanack 1955, pages 50 and 57.