Scottish brewers were responsible for around 15% of UK beer exports in the late 19th century, despite Scotland having only about 10% of the population of England. After WW I that rose to over 50% of exports.
The simple truth is that without exports to both England and abroad the Scottish brewing industry would never have been nearly so large. The local market just wasn’t big enough.
Before WW I their export markets had mostly been parts of the British Empire. Large quantities of beer were shipped both to the West indies and to Australia. But the latter market mostly disappeared when the new nation of Australia introduced import tariffs to encourage local industry. Instead the Scots turned attention to a rather closer market: Belgium.
What they shipped to Belgium was pretty much their West Indies favourite: strong, dark Scotch Ales. Sometimes similar to a Strong Ale sold in Scotland, others a beer specially brewed.
Beer Exported on Drawback and Free of Duty | |||||
England and Wales | Scotland | Ireland | United Kingdom | UK exports | |
1916 | 581,947 | 174,595 | 46,371 | 802,913 | |
1917 | 314,333 | 73,896 | 30,095 | 418,324 | |
1918 | 174,408 | 30,379 | 16,185 | 220,972 | |
1919 | 470,794 | 195,995 | 33,821 | 700,610 | |
1920 | 312,868 | 146,726 | 16,698 | 485,292 | 390,248 |
1921 | 215,719 | 92,193 | 12,648 | 320,560 | |
1922 | 207,882 | 117,978 | 10,239 | 336,099 | 260,914 |
1923 | 176,913 | 108,544 | 2,270 | 287,727 | 257,454 |
1924 | 158,373 | 132,889 | 753 | 292,015 | 264,003 |
1925 | 180,731 | 145,603 | 415 | 326,749 | 290,824 |
1926 | 178,155 | 168,609 | 305 | 347,069 | 283,033 |
1927 | 156,258 | 179,242 | 232 | 338,732 | 287,445 |
1928 | 170,728 | 193,255 | 363,983 | 328,029ww | |
1929 | 176,381 | 223,638 | 400,019 | 352,942 | |
1930 | 173,988 | 204,345 | 378,333 | 328,524 | |
1931 | 159,278 | 147,527 | 306,805 | 289,516 | |
1932 | 136,231 | 133,240 | 269,471 | 244,525 | |
1933 | 117,363 | 126,254 | 243,617 | 217,981 | |
Sources: | |||||
Brewers' Journal 1919, page 65. | |||||
Brewers' Journal 1922, page 71. | |||||
Brewers' Journal 1925, page 83. | |||||
Brewers' Journal 1928, page 87. | |||||
Brewers' Journal 1934, page 162. | |||||
Brewers' Almanack 1928, p. 115 | |||||
Brewers' Almanack 1955, p. 57 |
The above is an extract from the best book ever written on Scottish brewing, my Scotland! vol. 2:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/ronald-pattinson/scotland-vol-2/paperback/product-23090497.htm
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