London Stock Pale Ale 1900 - 1914

Time to look at the situation after the turn of the 20th century.

In the run up to WW I, gravities dipped a little in reaction to tax increases. Falling by a couple of degrees. There was a corresponding small decrease in the alcohol content. It should be borne in mind that, at the time of sale, the ABV would have been higher as the FG given here is the racking gravity, before secondary fermentation.

The drop in hopping was even more pronounces, averaging around 12%. However, if you look at the rates for just before WW I, the difference is even greater. The fall in the Whitbread version between 1895 and 1914 was a full 25%. Such a large change must have had an impact on the character of the beer.

As in the earlier period, the FG at time of sale would have been lower than the racking gravity listed in the brewing records and my table. I would have expected all of the examples to hit at least 80% apparent attenuation.

London Stock Pale Ale 1900 - 1914
Year	Brewer	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl
1900	Barclay Perkins	PA	1060.0	1017.0	5.69	71.67%	11.38	4.00
1908	Barclay Perkins	PA	1060.4	1011.5	6.47	80.96%	12.00	3.00
1902	Fullers	IPA	1054.0	1011.4	5.64	78.97%	10.44	2.36
1910	Fullers	PA	1054.2	1012.2	5.55	77.49%	8.92	2.15
1914	Fullers	PA	1054.2	1012.2	5.56	77.52%	8.14	1.98
1901	Whitbread	PA	1057.6	1016.0	5.51	72.23%	11.01	2.88
1905	Whitbread	PA	1063.2	1021.0	5.58	66.75%	12.02	3.45
1910	Whitbread	PA	1060.6	1022.0	5.11	63.70%	8.87	2.38
1914	Whitbread	PA	1061.0	1021.0	5.29	65.59%	9.00	2.36
	Average		1058.4	1016.0	5.60	72.76%	10.20	2.73
Sources:
Barclay Perkins brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document numbers ACC/2305/1/593, ACC/2305/1/605.
Fullers brewing records held at the brewery.
Whitbread brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document numbers LMA/4453/D/01/066, LMA/4453/D/01/070, LMA/4453/D/01/075, LMA/4453/D/01/079.