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Saturday, 30 August 2025

Let's Brew - 1885 Thomas Usher Stout

A Thomas Usher Sweet Stout label featuring a drawing of a tankard.
For somewhat of a change of pace, we now have a Stout. Though it’s far from the stoutest Stout I’ve ever come across. At just 1050º, it’s weaker than a London Porter of the period.

At this point Usher wasn’t brewing much Stout. This small batch of 50 barrels was the only brew of Stout in the first three months of 1885. Which is bugger all, really.

I have to say that it’s a rather interesting grist.  With almost 40% coloured malt. Most of it in the form of amber malt. Which is quite unusual. Unlike the black malt, which is pretty standard.

The hops were a combination of Bavarian from the 1882 harvest, Californian from 1883 and Alsace from 1884.

This certainly looks like a Running Stout, given the modest gravity and fairly standard level of hopping. 

1885 Thomas Usher Stout
pale malt 7.50 lb 62.50%
amber malt 3.75 lb 31.25%
black malt 0.75 lb 6.25%
Cluster 120 min 1.25 oz
Strisselspalt 120 min 0.75 oz
Hallertau 30 mins 2.00 oz
Goldings dry hops 0.50 oz
OG 1050
FG 1019
ABV 4.10
Apparent attenuation 62.00%
IBU 56
SRM 27
Mash at 152º F
Sparge at 175º F
Boil time 120 minutes
pitching temp 60º F
Yeast WLP028 Edinburgh Ale

 

 

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