Beer Guide to the 1970s (part fifty-five)

This is so much fun. Well, I'll be having fun as this is published. As I'll be in Brazil. Hopefully, sitting on a beach with a cocktail in my hand.

We've now got as far as Scottish & Newcastle. Who operated the fewest breweries of any of the Big Six. Just four of them. Two of which were in Edinburgh.

I drank a reasonable amount of Younger's 70/- and 80/-, which were both perfectly decent beers, in cask form. Which, unfortunately, wasn't all that common. And I always had a very soft spot for No. 3. A bit of an oddity. But a tasty one.

Other than the occasional bottle of Newcatle Brown, I don't think I ever tried any beer from the Tyne Brewer. Simply because most of the time they produced no cask beer. And why the hell would I bother to drink keg.


William McEwan
Edinburgh,
Scotland.
Founded:    1856
Closed:            2005
Tied houses:    

One half of Scottish Brewers, McEwan had long been one of the largest brewers north of the border.

beer	style	format	OG	description
70/-	Pale Ale	draught	1036.5	smooth and malty
80/-	Pale Ale	draught	1043.3	heavy, full-flavoured
60/-	Pale Ale	tank
70/-	Pale Ale	tank	1036.5
80/-	Pale Ale	tank	1043.3
Harp Lager	Lager	keg	1032.4
McEwans Cavalier	Lager	keg	1030	Superb rich flavour.
McEwan's Special (80/-)	Pale Ale	keg	1039.6	Full-bodied rich flavour
McEwans Scotch (70/-)	Pale Ale	keg	1035.3	good value
Mc Ewans Export	Pale Ale	bottled	1042.2
Mc Ewans Pale	Pale Ale	bottled
Mc Ewans Blue Label	Pale Ale	bottled
Mc Ewans Strong	Strong Ale	bottled

William Younger
Edinburgh,
Scotland.
Founded:    1778
Closed:            1986
Tied houses:    

The other half of Scottish brewers. They ran two breweries, Holyrood and Abbey, close to each other at the bottom of the Royal Mile. In the 1970s only Holyrood was in operation.

beer	style	format	OG	description
IPA	IPA	draught	1043.2	smooth
XXPS or Scotch Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1036.2	well-balanced
No. 3 Ale	Strong Ale	draught	1042
60/- or XXP	Pale Ale	keg
Tartan Keg	Pale Ale	keg	1035.3
Scotch	Pale Ale	keg	1036.2
Best Scotch	Pale Ale	keg	1036.7
IPA	IPA	keg	1043.5
Tartan Special	Pale Ale	keg	1029.6
Tartan Mild	Mild	keg	1029.6
Monk Export Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1046.3
No.3 Scotch Ale	Scotch Ale	bottled	1044.8
Wee Willie L.P.A.	Pale Ale	bottled	1030.9
Sweet Stout	Stout	bottled	1034
Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled
Double Century Ale	Brown Ale	bottled
Harp Lager	Lager	bottled	1032.4

Newcastle Breweries
Newcastle,
Tyne and Wear.
Founded:    1890
Closed:            2005
Tied houses:    

Formed by the merger of six northeast breweries. Brewed no cask beer in the 1970s.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Newcastle Exhibition	Pale Ale	keg	1041.8	crisp, nutty flavour
Newcastle Amber	Pale Ale	keg	1032.1	party beer
Four Star	Pale Ale	keg	1037.6
Scotch Ale	Pale Ale	keg	1032.3
IPA	IPA	keg	1032.2
Starbrite	Pale Ale	keg		light
Newcastle Amber Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1033.4
Newcastle Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled	1045.9

Still plugging away my latest book, "Keg!". If you want me to stop, buy a copy.

Get your copy of "Keg!" now!