Thursday, 10 July 2025

UK Beer exports to Europe in 1898

A McEwans Export India Pale Ale label with a drawing of a cavalier holding a tankard of beer.
As part of my research for my current book, "Free!", I came across some wonderful figures for UK beer exports. Wonderful, in that they are more detailed than usual, listing every single country/territory that beer was exported to. 

There are quite a few surprises. Though the country which took in the most beer from the UK isn't: Belgium. Which has a long tradition of importing British beer.

Numbers 2 and 3 are more unexpected, due to their tiny size: Malta and Gibraltar. I'm guessing the beer was mostly being drunk by military personnel. 
Which I don't think was the case in numbers four and five: the Channel Islands and Germany. I'm guessing that the beer going to the Channel Islands was from the big English brands. Stuff like Bass. Probably the same to Germany, too. Bass got everywhere.

The only other countries taking more than 1,000 barrels a year, were France and Holland. Which have in common, I suppose, being relatively close geographically to the UK.

I would have expected the share of Scotland to be higher than 8%. As they were big exporters. Especially how little went to Belgium, where Scotch Ale was popular. I know the Scottish share to total exports was higher. It mist have been going elsewhere in the world. We'll find out exactly where in a later post.

If you're wondering where Ireland is in these figures, there's a note that says:

Included in the above total for the United Kingdom are the exports from Ireland comprising 22 barrels to Germany and Holland, valued at £47, and 3,202 barrels to the United States, valued at £21/100.
The Brewers' Journal vol. 35 1899, June 15th 1899, page 344. 

UK Beer exports to Europe in 1898
Destination From England. From Scotland. From the U.K.
  Quantity. Declared Value. Quantity. Declared Value. Quantity. Declared Value.
  Barrels £ Barrels £ Barrels £
Russia 876 3,152 3 8 878 3,160
Sweden 84 416 37 96 121 512
Norway 106 311 - - 106 311
Denmark 370 1,204 2 6 372 1,209
Germany 12,970 42,965 112 395 13,098 43,395
Holland 4,513 13,737 16 67 4,535 13,816
Belgium 37,770 116,051 2,188 7,031 39,958 123,085
Channel Islands 17,731 41,706 - - 17,731 41,706
France 7,469 21,991 8 25 7,477 22,016
Portugal, Azores, and Madeira 393 1,272 54 238 417 1,510
Spain and Canaries 770 2,547 189 789 969 3,336
Gibraltar 19,322 56,396 16 57 19,338 56,452
Italy  141 539 1 5 142 544
Malta  25,698 79,823 8,489 24,649 34,187 104,472
Greece  12 59 - - 12 59
Roumania  1 8 - - 1 8
Turkey, European 208 747 - - 209 747
Total 128,434 382,924 11,115 33,366 139,551 416,338
Source:
The Brewers' Journal vol. 35 1899, June 15th 1899, page 344.
Note:
Year ending 30th September 1898.

 

 

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