Sunday 26 July 2020

Dark Mild (part five)

I'm still banging my Dark Mild drum. This new advert I've found definitively answers a question on  an earlier post: did Newcastle Dark Mild become Newcastle Brown?

I'd already said no.  But in the advert below you can see that the two beers coexisted. And, from the price, it's obvious that Brown Ale was a much stronger beer.

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Wednesday 01 April 1931, page 12.
He does look more like a Mild drinkerthan the two rather posh blokes in the last advert. The fag hanging out of a corner of the mouth is a nice touch.

This is the advert text:

"EASTER!
Let your holiday drink be BRITAIN'S BEST BEER

However you spend your Easter Holiday this year, you can always be sure of good wholesome refreshment in Newcastle Champion Ales . . . acknowledged by experts as Britain’s Best!
Whether you prefer a strong brown ale, a sparkling bitter, a rich dark mild . . . you will find real satisfaction in any one these famous northern brews.

NEWCASTLE Champion BROWN ALE-
Pint Bottles - 9/- dozen. Half Pints 5/- dozen.
"Splits" 3/- dozen.

NEWCASTLE Prize Medal PALE ALE—
Pint Bottles - 6/6 dozen. 3/4 pints 5/6 dozen.
Half Pints 3/9 dozen.

NEWCASTLE MILD ALE-
Pint Bottles - 6/6 dozen. 3/4 pints 5/6 dozen.
Half Pints 3/9 dozen. "
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Wednesday 01 April 1931, page 12.
That's 9d per pint for Brown Ale and 6.5d for Mild Ale. Quite a big difference. Which is reflected in the price.

And for complete confirmation, here are the details of those beers:


Newcastle Breweries beers in 1931
Beer Style OG FG ABV App. Atten-uation
Newcastle Pale Ale Pale Ale 1040 1009.5 3.96 76.25%
Newcastle Brown Ale Brown Ale 1059.5 1014 5.93 76.47%
Newcastle Mild Ale Mild 1040.5 1013.5 3.49 66.67%
Newcastle Amber Ale Amber Ale 1042 1010.5 4.09 75.00%
Source:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001.

As you can see, Newkie Brown was pretty strong stuff back then at almost 6% ABV. Also, that they left a good amount of residual sugars in the Mild Ale.

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