Tuesday 10 March 2020

Provincial Mild Ale after WW I

Before WW I, provincial Milds tended to be weaker than those brewed in London, but not always necessarily cheaper. After the war, probably because of the effect of price controls, they continued to be weaker, but were the same price as a Mild of equivalent strength in London.

Breweries choosing to brew a single Mild often chose one in one of the weaker classes:

Provincial Mild Ale after WW I
Year Brewer Beer OG FG ABV App. Atten-uation lbs hops/ qtr hops lb/brl
1923 Boddington XX 1034.0 1010.0 3.18 70.59% 5.92 1.19
1923 Adnams XX 1029.0 1004.2 3.29 85.67% 4.99 0.59
1920 Lees U 1032.0 2.86 0.85
1920 Lees K 1038.0 2.69 0.95
1921 Truman (Burton) XX 1033.8 1006.1 3.66 81.97% 6.74 0.90
1921 Truman (Burton) XXX 1047.4 1009.4 5.02 80.12% 6.74 1.26
Sources:
Boddington brewing record held at Manchester Central Library, document number M693/405/127.
Adnams brewing record Book 9
Lees brewing record held at the brewery
Truman brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number B/THB/C/335.

Only Truman in the above set produced a Mild close to the strength of standard London Mild.

The grists of these beers aren’t very exciting, with almost nothing in the way of coloured malts, even crystal.

Most provincial breweries seem to have chosen the 4d per pint class for their standard Mild. I’m guessing for economic reasons. The 1920s weren’t the happiest of times in Britain’s industrial regions, where Mild was the drink of the working man.


Provincial Mild Ale grists after WW I
Year Brewer Beer OG pale malt high dried malt amber malt crystal malt flaked maize caramel other sugar
1923 Boddington XX 1034.0 67.61% 25.35% 7.04%
1923 Adnams XX 1029.0 77.86% 4.58% 4.58% 0.76% 12.21%
1920 Lees U 1032.0 92.59% 7.41%
1920 Lees K 1038.0 89.19% 10.81%
1921 Truman (Burton) XX 1033.8 79.55% 9.09% 9.09% 2.27%
1921 Truman (Burton) XXX 1047.4 79.55% 9.09% 9.09% 2.27%
Sources:
Boddington brewing record held at Manchester Central Library, document number M693/405/127.
Adnams brewing record Book 9
Lees brewing record held at the brewery
Truman brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number B/THB/C/335.


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