Let's Brew - 1885 Kirkstall BA

Next up the Pale Ale ladder is BA. Which probably stands for “Bitter Ale” A bit odd, as that doesn’t seem to be what it was marketed as. A price list from 1888 has AK and two “India Pale Ales”. Make of that what you will. I see it as a sign of the random use of the terms IPA and Pale Ale.

A difference of 5.5º in the gravity is about right for a price difference of 2d per gallon. But BA was 4d per gallon dearer than AK. Implying BA was sold at a premium. That might explain why it’s all-malt. Half from English, half from Californian barley.

No surprise that the hops are also classier than in AK. All were from the most recent season and there was no hop substitute. They were Farnham from the 1884 crop, English from 1884, and Sussex from 1884.

Was this a Stock Pale Ale? I’d say no. More likely a semi-Stock Pale Ale. Which means a relatively short secondary conditioning of, perhaps, three months.
 

1885 Kirkstall BA
pale malt	13.00 lb	100.00%
Fuggles 120 mins	1.75 oz
Goldings 60 mins	1.75 oz
Goldings 30 mins	1.75 oz
Goldings dry hops	0.50 oz
OG	1055.5
FG	1016
ABV	5.23
Apparent attenuation	71.17%
IBU	64
SRM	5
Mash at	150º F
Sparge at	175º F
Boil time	120 minutes
pitching temp	58º F
Yeast	Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale Timothy Taylor