Adnams XX Mild Ale during WW II

In country districts, where often the only Mild a brewery produced was in the 4d class pre-war, the conflict had only minimal effect of beer strength.  Adnams is a good example.

Over the whole course of the war, Adnams XX lost a mere two gravity points, falling from 1029º to 1027º. There was a good reason why the gravity didn’t fall below 1027º: the way the tax system worked it made no economic sense. The tax equivalent to a beer of 1027º was the minimum charged, whatever the strength of the beer.

Just as with the gravity, there was very little change in the hopping rate of XX during the war. Despite brewers being ordered by the government early in the war to reduce it. Though Adnams’ hopping rate was a good bit lower than at either Whitbread or Lees. It started around 5 lbs per quarter (336 lbs) of malt. While Whitbread’s rate went from over 8 lbs per quarter to around 5.5 lbs. While Lees went from around 7 lbs per quarter to 5.5 lbs.

Adnams Mild Ale during WW II
Date	Year	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl
20th Sep	1939	XX	1029.0	1006.1	3.03	78.99%	4.93	0.57
2nd Sept	1940	XX	1029.0	1006.1	3.03	78.99%	4.90	0.57
13th Mar	1941	XX	1028.0	1006.1	2.90	78.24%	5.33	0.57
14th Jan	1942	XX	1027.0	1005.0	2.91	81.53%	4.63	0.50
1st Jan	1943	XX	1027.0	1005.5	2.84	79.48%	4.63	0.51
17th Feb	1943	XX	1027.0	1005.5	2.84	79.48%	4.63	0.51
9th Apr	1943	XX	1027.0	1005.0	2.91	81.53%	4.63	0.50
2nd Feb	1944	XX	1027.0	1006.1	2.77	77.43%	4.63	0.51
1st Jan	1945	XX	1027.0	1006.1	2.77	77.43%	4.63	0.50
Sources:
Adnams brewing records held at the brewery, Books 26 to 32