Saturday, 13 September 2025

Let's Brew - 1885 Thomas Usher 68/- M

A Thomas Usher King Size Ale label featuring a six-pointed star.
Another somewhat confusing use of shillings. What were they up to at Usher? 

Strongest of the Shilling Ales was, of course, 68/- M.  You explain the logic to me. I can’t see it myself.

This wasn’t in a Shilling Ale parti-gyle, but in a Pale Ale one. With a much higher hopping rate. Hence the high (calculated) bitterness. The black malt was added to the first copper, so a lower percentage of the darkened wort would have been in the PA and X, the parti-gyle partners.

The single type of pale malt was Scottish. Now there’s a surprise. While the hops were all imports: California from the 1883 season and Alsace from 1884.

Was this aged? If the “M” stands for “Mild”, then that’s unlikely. Though the heavy level of hopping makes it look more like a Stock Ale. Age it if you feel like it. But don’t feel obliged. 

1885 Thomas Usher 68/- M
pale malt 18.50 lb 98.67%
black malt 0.25 lb 1.33%
Cluster 120 min 3.75 oz
Strisselspalt 30 min 3.75 oz
Goldings dry hops 0.50 oz
OG 1080
FG 1025
ABV 7.28
Apparent attenuation 68.75%
IBU 91
SRM 15
Mash at 151º F
Sparge at 175º F
Boil time 120 minutes
pitching temp 60º F
Yeast WLP028 Edinburgh Ale

 

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