London Strong Ales after WW II

In addition to Old Ale, Burton Ale and Barley Wine, there were other strong beers that were simply called Strong Ale. These came in a variety of strengths and colours, being as diverse as their name was vague.

Some Strong Ales were much like a London Burton or a Southern draught Old Ale: 1045º-1050º and dark brown. Others more like the stronger Northern type of Old Ale: 1060º-1080º and also dark brown. Odd ones were either weaker or much stronger than those two types. And some are quite pale.

Not really much in common amongst that group. The Ind Coope example isn’t strong at all. Even though most of them are dark, Watney Export Gold is very pale.

Final Selection was later dropped in favour of Gold Label, though for a while Chiswell Street brewed both beers.

London Strong Ales 1953 - 1965
Date	Year	Beer	Price per pint d	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	colour
1953	Fullers	Strong Ale	48	1066.8	1020.3	6.04	69.61%	115
1948	Ind Coope	No. 3 Strong Ale	57	1040.8	1010.8	3.89	73.53%	90
1954	Mann Crossman	Dragon Ale	24	1051.2	1019.1	4.15	62.70%	150
1950	Watney	Strong Ale	36	1061.1	1014.5	6.07	76.27%	105
1964	Watney	Export Gold	57	1078	1012.1	8.67	84.49%	23
1953	Wenlock	Strong Ale	46.5	1065.9	1017.9	6.24	72.84%	105
1965	Whitbread	Final Selection	57	1079.2	1013.5	8.63	82.95%	68
	Average		46.5	1063.3	1015.5	6.2	74.63%	93.7
Source:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/002.

 

This is an excerpt from my book on post-WW II UK brewing, Austerity!

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/austerity/23181344