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Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1911 Eldridge Pope XXXX

An Eldridge Pope Huntsman brand Strong Old Ale featuring a drawing of a monocled huntsman holding a glass of beer.
Just for a bit of variety, here's a recipe that isn't from William Younger. That must be a relief. And a nice strong beer, too.

Rather surprisingly, XXXX has a higher gravity than in 1897. It’s only by 1º, but it’s better than a decline.

Ther have been a couple of changes to the recipe, too. The flaked maize has been dropped. In its place there comes a small quantity of crystal malt. There’s also be a change in the type of sugar, from No. 2 invert to No. 3. Which leaves the colour of this version far darker. Something which would have been very noticeable, had it happened in one go. Which I doubt is how it went.

There were four types of hops, three English, two from the 1909 harvest and one from 1910. As well as Oregon hops from 1909.

This looks very much like a candidate for ageing, given the reasonably high gravity and the heavy hopping. My guess would be for at least a year. 

1911 Eldridge Pope XXXX
pale malt 14.00 lb 85.50%
crystal malt 60 L 0.75 lb 4.58%
No. 3 invert sugar 1.625 lb 9.92%
Cluster 125 mins 1.75 oz
Fuggles 90 mins 1.75 oz
Fuggles 60 mins 1.75 oz
Fuggles 30 mins 1.75 oz
OG 1076
FG 1024
ABV 6.88
Apparent attenuation 68.42%
IBU 86
SRM 15
Mash at 153º F
Sparge at 170º F
Boil time 125 minutes
pitching temp 60º F
Yeast White Labs WLP099 Super High Gravity

 

 

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous30 July 2025 at 07:28

    I thought X beers were runners for quick consumption and that beers meant for aging would be a K beer, was that not always the case?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1 August 2025 at 17:41

      Good point but it always could have been consumed mild or stale.
      Oscar

      Delete
    2. Ron Pattinson2 August 2025 at 00:05

      That's London, with the Ks. Many breweries had XXXX in both Mid and Old versions.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2 August 2025 at 07:13

      Thanks Ron.
      Oscar

      Delete
  2. Anonymous2 August 2025 at 09:18

    Thanks Ron, Just when I think I have something figured out, I learn that I really don’t know what I’m talking about! I never realized that K beers was a London only thing. How would a consumer know that they were ordering an aged beer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ron Pattinson4 August 2025 at 21:05

      K beers weren't exclusively a London thing, but rarer elsewhere.

      You's know you were getting an aged beer if you asked for Old Ale. Or, in London, Old Burton or Burton.

      Delete