Let's Brew Wednesday - 1990 Youngs Special London Ale

Strongest of the Pale Ales, simply called “Exp” in the brewhouse, was sold as Special London Ale. Which was a bottle-conditioned beer.

Despite being parti-gyled with PA, the recipe was a bit different from the other Pale Ales. Specifically, this grist lacked torrefied barley. Not sure why that might be. It’s an ingredient that was usually included to improve head retention. Maybe they thought a bottled beer didn’t need that help.

Otherwise, the recipe is much thew same. Other than that, there are only two types of English hops, rather than three. Not sure what the reasoning behind that was, either.

I think this is one of the beers that is still brewed. I rather liked myself on the half dozen or so times I’ve drunk it. I particularly appreciated the high ABV, pisshead that I am.

1990 Youngs Special London Ale
pale malt	14.25 lb	93.94%
crystal malt 120 L	0.25 lb	1.65%
No. 3 invert sugar	0.67 lb	4.42%
Fuggles 60 min	4.25 oz
Goldings 10 min	0.75 oz
OG	1067
FG	1016.5
ABV	6.68
Apparent attenuation	75.37%
IBU	48
SRM	10.5
Mash at	148º F
Sparge at	165º F
Boil time	60 minutes
pitching temp	57º F
Yeast	WLP002 English Ale

Listen to brewer John Hatch explain how they brewed at Youngs in the 1990s.