I haven't split them up by region, but rather by type of brewery. One table having the examples from regional brewers, the other ones from national or international brewers. I think ut's a useful and informative method of sorting them.
Let's start with the regional brewers. Whose efforts at Lagers were not always either that authentic or inspiring. They average 17.8p per pint. Which is more than 6p per pint more expensive than Mild. Despite the average gravity only being 2.5º higher. The average ABV looks a little better, on account of a pretty high degree of attenuation.
Worst value by far is Young's Saxon. Probably because they are the only London-based brewer in the set. Best value is Grunhalle, though that still comes out worse than the worst-value Mild.
Other than Carling Black Label, the next set are a feeble bunch. With both Carlsberg and Tuborg coming in under 1030º. Even with Black Label, they average out with a barely higher OG than the Milds. As the average price is the same as regional Lagers, 17.8p, obviously this set is worse value.
Tuborg is notable for being particularly terrible value. Double the price of Mild, but the same strength as some of the weakest Milds. Why did anyone drink the stuff.
Bitters next, I suppose.
| Regional Lager in 1972 | ||||||||
| Brewer | Beer | Price per pint (p) | º gravity per p | % ABV per p | OG | FG | ABV | App. Atten-uation |
| Young | Saxon | 21 | 1.50 | 0.17 | 1031.5 | 1004.6 | 3.50 | 85.40% |
| Hall & Woodhouse | Brock | 18 | 1.83 | 0.19 | 1033 | 1006.8 | 3.40 | 79.39% |
| Vaux | Norseman | 16 | 2.21 | 0.23 | 1035.3 | 1007.6 | 3.60 | 78.47% |
| Greenall Whitley | Grunhalle | 16 | 2.33 | 0.24 | 1037.3 | 1007.3 | 3.90 | 80.43% |
| Average | 17.8 | 1.97 | 0.21 | 1034.3 | 1006.6 | 3.60 | 80.92% | |
| Source: | ||||||||
| Daily Mirror July 10th 1972, page 15. | ||||||||
| National and international Lager in 1972 | ||||||||
| Brewer | Beer | Price per pint (p) | º gravity per p | % ABV per p | OG | FG | ABV | App. Atten-uation |
| Tuborg | Lager | 22 | 1.33 | 0.14 | 1029.3 | 1005.4 | 3.10 | 81.57% |
| Carlsberg | Lager | 18 | 1.64 | 0.17 | 1029.5 | 1005.6 | 3.10 | 81.02% |
| Guinness | Harp | 17 | 1.93 | 0.19 | 1032.8 | 1006.6 | 3.30 | 79.88% |
| Heineken | Lager | 17 | 1.93 | 0.21 | 1032.8 | 1005.9 | 3.50 | 82.01% |
| Carling | Black Label | 18 | 2.17 | 0.24 | 1039.1 | 1006.1 | 4.30 | 84.40% |
| Allied Breweries | Skol | 15 | 2.21 | 0.23 | 1033.2 | 1007 | 3.40 | 78.92% |
| Average | 17.8 | 1.87 | 0.20 | 1032.8 | 1006.1 | 3.45 | 81.30% | |
| Source: | ||||||||
| Daily Mirror July 10th 1972, page 15. | ||||||||
In the mid 70s living in Cardiff, my fiance and I went on a cycling tour down to Cornwall and waiting for the train back from Falmouth, you could take your bikes on in those days for half fare, it was really hot so in a pub across the road I sank quite a few pints of Devenish (Redruth) Viking Gold lager on keg which was atomic.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been about 5% or something because we literally staggered onto the train with a few cans of it as well. As a well seasoned Brains SA drinker it hit me for six.
Sadly the whole Devenish organisation finally folded.
Interesting.
DeleteOsvar