Beer in Austria during WW I

You can tell when things are getting bad when governments start cutting beer production. And putting up the price. Why? Because it's a great way of pissing the public off. Something governments rarely do deliberately.

The more observant among you might have noticed that I've started writing about Germany and Austria in WW I. There's a good reason for that. One that I'm not going to tell you quite yet. It is very revealing, though, to look at the war from the other side. The food and booze situation at home for the Central Powers made Britain look like the promised land, overflowing with milk and honey, Or at least bread and beer.

Of course, the German U-boat campaign against British shipping didn't really kick off until 1917. Which is when Britain began to experience grain shortages, though at never anything like the same level as Germany or Austria.

"Beer Scarcity in Austria
Berne, September 1.
Owing to the poorness of the barley harvest in Austria the production of beer will be reduced from October by fully 50 per cent. The brewers, who hitherto had old stocks of barley, have now received from the Government only 30 per cent. of the habitual quantity. This will entail a heavy loss of revenue to both the Government and the municipalities of Austria, where the taxes on beer formerly yielded 220 million kronen annually. A further rise in the price of beer is therefore announced for October. Austrian beer prices have already risen six kronen per hectolitre, Hungarian fourteen kronen, and German ten marks per hectolitre since the beginning of the war. 

Owing to the limited quantity of beer allowed in Germany the beer halls are often obliged to close at 8 p.m., all their beer having been already consumed."
Western Times - Saturday 04 September 1915, page 4.

Output to be reduced 50% but only 30% of the normal amount of barley available. That means there must have been a gravity cut as well. I make that a 40% reduction in gravity. So if average gravity had been 1048º, it would have dropped to 1028º. Austrian beer had been quite strong before the war, so my guess is that average gravity was higher, probably in the low 1050's. Which would still have meant it dropping to about 1030º. The sort the depth not reached until 1918 in Britain.

The above is an excerpt from Armistice,  my wonderful book on brewing in WW I.

Drunkenness in Russia

That got your attention. It is genuinely the headline of the article below. Though it would more accurately have read "No Drunkenness in Russia". Those clickbait headlines from a century ago.

It's really an overview of boozing restrictions in the middle of WW I.

"DRUNKENNESS IN RUSSIA
Is Punished With a Fine of £15.
Belligerents, Neutrals, and the Drink Problem.
(Special the Courier.)
The historian of the future whose concern with the great war is chiefly its contemporary social life will find some of its most wonderful phenomena centred round the drink problem. Practically all the belligerents and not few neutrals have been obliged deal directly with the subject. Bulgaria, Italy, Serbia, and Turkey have not, it is true, been called upon to restrict the consumption of alcoholic liquors, but the reasons are obvious.

Italy, like most wine-drinking countries, is essentially an abstemious nation. Only in the seaport towns, where mixed nationalities are congregated is drunkenness known. In his own country the typical Italian is too frugal to indulge in alcoholic excesses. The Turk is, theoretically, debarred from indulging in strong drink, but religion sits but 1 lightly on the ruling caste. They are essentially materialistic in outlook, and have acquired most of the Western vices. The average Turk, however, is a good Moslem, observant of the requirements of his religion, and strictly avoids the juice of the grape.

Serbs and Their Brandy.
The Serbian, travellers tell the truth, is somewhat fond of his national beverage, Slivovitsa. This is a brandy made from plums, and extremely potent in its action, but the wonderful constitution and open-air life of the Serb neutralises any possible effect it might have on his system. The countries which have dealt directly with the drink question are Great Britain, France, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany. Great Britain's solution of the problem common property. Its success is doubtful, although, owing to the different habits of the southern portion of the island, it appears to have been slightly more successful there than in Scotland.

France has confined her attentions to dealing with absinthe, which even in the piping times of peace was more the drink of decadents than a beverage of the people. The French, bon vivants though they be, are not given to excesses, although readers of some of the realist school in French fiction might think otherwise.

Russia a Sober Nation.
In the search for drastic legislation restricting the consumption of alcohol must go to Russia. Now, there any matter on which one can dogmatise it is that the Russian peasant — and Russia is essentially a country of peasants — was a drunkard. His brother of the towns was little better. Yet now Russia, of all the belligerents, is perhaps the most sober nation.

No sooner did the order for mobilisation go forth in Russia than all wine shops, beer saloons, and Government "vodka" shops were closed, and the sale of all intoxicants absolutely prohibited, except in first-class restaurants and hotels. This order, with certain modifications, remains in force. In passing it is interesting to note that a bottle of whisky which could be procured in Dundee for somewhere in the neighbourhood of four shillings is costing in from twenty-five to thirty shillings. Like our own country, Russia is not exempt from evasions of the law. The next step of the Russian Government was to prohibit the sale of vodka and spirits until the end of the war. One month later, in October, 1914, local municipal and provincial administrative bodies were empowered topetition for prohibition of the sale of all strong intoxicants within the district in question, equivalent reductions of license duty being returned to license-holders. This power has been largely availed of by local authorities, but it is a mistake to assume, as is frequently done by temperance writers, that Russia is now a prohibitionist country. The consumption of light alcoholic drinks is permissible under severe restrictions. Beer and drinks of an equivalent strength are still procurable.

Heavy Fines.
The conspicuous feature about the Russian control of the licensed trade is the savage nature of its fines against the orders of the governing authorities. An intoxicated person is liable to a fine of, in British money, £15. The publican who supplies the liquor is liable to a fine of £450, and his conviction entails the loss of his license. That the new restrictions have resulted in a vast beneficial social upheaval all recent travellers to Russia, especially men such as John Foster Fraser, who knew the country intimately prior these changes, are agreed.

In Denmark there is absolute prohibition of the sale of spirits to soldiers in certain police districts. In more limited extent this prohibition is extended to civilians. The Government of the country has also prohibited the use of home-grown cereals for the distillation of spirits, but has sanctioned the importation of foreign corn and maize for the purppse. Apparently brewing beer in Denmark has not been greatly restricted since our trade returns continue to show fairly constant importations of Danish beer.

In Norway soon war broke out the use of grain and potatoes for distillation was forbidden, but in deference to the desires of farmers this restriction was withdrawn in September. 1914. The supply for distillation was reduced by one-half. Local veto very largely obtains in Norway, but in places where this was not in force the sale of whole bottles of spirits was permitted between 10 a.m. and noon for four days each week. Later a general sale of spirits was allowed on the four open days, and ultimately, except where there existed local veto, sales of spirits were allowed from 8 a.m. to midnight. It should be remembered, however, that the same time Norway raised her tariff on alcoholic liquor very considerably, although proportionately not so high as this country.

Sweden Suspends Sale.
Sweden, on the outbreak of war, required no new law to deal with the emergency. In common with other neutral nations in the belligerent zone she partially mobilised. Swedish law provides that in the event of mobilisation the provincial Governor in nearly every province except Stockholm has power to suspend the sale of spirits. This power was freely exercised. Sweden, too, had only six months before initiated the new "Stockholm system" for controlling the liquor trade. This system, which is merely a logical extension of the "Gothenburg system," has effected marvellous reforms in the brief period that has been in force, and promises to be fruitful of much reform in the future.

In Switzerland the preparation of distilled spirit from potatoes and cereals during the 1914-15 season was forbidden; the sale of potable spirit was forbidden, except for the preparation of medicines and for certain specially authorised uses. The use of methylated spirits as potable spirit was also prohibited. The Liquor Control Board in this country might take a leaf out of Switzerland in this respect.

Last (may she ever be there!) comes Germany. At first restrictions on drinking were imposed. Then the scarcity of raw material necessitated a limitation of the output of breweries and distilleries. Later it was made an offence to supply ardent spirits to soldiers, and in March, 1915 steps were taken to regulate the prices of alcoholic drinks. Characteristically in fixing the limitation of output and sale the Germans exempted certain breweries and distilleries. The ruling caste are largely interested in these, and, the Kaiser owns at least one brewery, whose wares he is reputed to be quite keen on pushing.

Strangely enough few questions have the power to raise passion as readily as the interference of the State with the drink traffic. The average citizen feels that Government interference in such matter is the rankest injustice. Surely it augurs well for the success of our just cause that Great Britain and her Allies have accepted in such good part the restrictions on their private habits which those in authority have found it necessary to impose."
Dundee Courier - Friday 21 January 1916, page 4.

What a wonderful cobination of racial stereotyping and temperance logic. Though you have to love the comparison of the price of a bottle of whisky in Dundee and St. Petersburg.  Good on the journalist for squeezing in the local angle.

I love this bit aboutthe effect of slivovice on Serbs: "the wonderful constitution and open-air life of the Serb neutralises any possible effect it might have on his system." Probably no coincidence that the Serbs were allies of the UK.

The World‘s Beer Production

More stuff from the Brewers' Guardians that have just become available on Google Books. They should keep me in material for posts for month.

Today we're looking at some numbers about breweries and beer production.

"The World‘s Beer Production.-—The Austrian brewers’ periodical Gambrinus publishes in accordance with custom a tabular statement of the beer production and taxation in the world. It appears therefrom that in nineteen countries the enormous sum of 173,662,717 florins is yielded by taxes on the production of beer. The total beer production is set down at 236,319,397 hectos, deducting the quantity brewed in those countries in which no beer tax is levied, 231,701,652 hectos remain. Comparing the latter quantity with the yield of the brewing tax, it is seen that each hectolitre of beer pays on an average 1.34 florins. Whilst in the German Beer Excise District the tax per hectolitre is only 47 kreuzers, in Austria it is 2.18 florins. With the exception of a few unimportant countries from a beer-brewing point of view, as Roumania, Greece, &c., Austria can boast of having the highest tax on beer. In Austria-Hungary, in 1889, there were 1,952 breweries at work, in which 13,728,431 hectos. of beer were brewed (as compared with 13,184,026 hectos. in the preceding year). The revenue accruing therefrom to the State was 25,325,252 florins (24,358,773 florins). The malt used amounted to 3,549,564 centners, and the hops to 102,800 centners only. In the German Empire, in 1889, there were 25,434 breweries at work, and their total production was 47,602,939 hectos. of beer (1888, 26,240 breweries, 47,243,706 hectos. production). The amount of 36,691,500 florins was collected in taxes; 18,208,410 ctrs. of malt was consumed, and 385,000 ctrs. of hops. In Bavaria, of 6,930 breweries, only 6,881 were at work; they consumed 6,339,144 ctrs. (as compared with 5,952,424 ctrs. in previous year), and produced 14,064,842 hectos. of beer, the tax using to 15,964,250 florins. In the other countries there were 22,840 breweries, producing 112,331,347 hectos. of beer, and consuming 43,320,160 ctrs. of malt, and 1,198,686 ctrs. of hops; the taxes yielded 174,302,645 florins."
"The Brewers' Guardian 1890", 1890, page 259.

I've put that information into a nice table because it's much easier to understand:

Breweries, beer production, materials and tax 1888 - 1889
	breweries		production		tax (florins)
	1888	1889	1888	1889	1888	1889	malt	hops
Austria-Hungary		1,952	13,184,026	13,728,431	24,358,773	25,325,252	3,549,564	102,800
German Empire	26,240	25,434	47,243,706	47,602,939		36,691,500	18,208,410	385,000
Bavaria		6,930		14,064,842		15,964,250	6,339,144
other countries		22,840		112,331,347		174,302,645	43,320,160	1,198,686
total				236,319,397		316,667,992
Source:
"The Brewers' Guardian 1890", 1890, page 259.

And people think that there are a lot of breweries nowadays. Almost 7,000 breweries in Bavaria alone. It's amazing that more beer was brewed in Bavaria than in the whole of Austria-Hungary. Especially when you take their populations into account: Bavaria 5,595,000, Austria-Hungary 40,066,600.

I've also derived some numbers of my own about the average amount of hops used per hectolitre:

Hop usage 1889
Country	hops kg/hl
Austria	0.37
Germany	0.40
other countries	0.53
UK	0.53
Sources:
"The Brewers' Guardian 1890", 1890, page 259.
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1988” page 7
Brewers' Almanack 1928, pages 110 and 111

I had expected an even bigger difference between the UK and everywhere else. The UK figures are from 1902, incidentally.

Beer in 1896

Right. Have to make this quick. 17 minutes until I really need to leave for the airport.

Here's the text to go with the table I posted a couple of days ago.

Notice how they big up UK beer exports, and play down those of the Central Powers. " if we treat Austria and Hungary as one country"? Surely it effing was. "a mere exchange of products to suit the tastes of the mixed races on each other’s frontiers"? That's borderline racist. (Border - frontier. I know a shit joke because I needed to explain it..

Got to rush. Need to write Monday's post before I bugger off.

Spot the odd gender thing embedded in the text.

"Beer.
The statistics of beer are more complete and satisfactory than are those of wine. We have already given the figures of the production of 1896 (Brewer’s Journal, vol. xxxiii, No. 387, page 641). The Blue Book figures for that year, so far as they are given, are substantially the same as our own; but, as the figures for a series of rather more than ten years are now given, as well as information about the export and import of the different countries, and the consumption as distinct from the production, we reproduce the official figures for the information of our readers :—

[missing table]

In some cases, as in the United Kingdom for instance, these figures represent not the actual bulk gallons produced, but the oflicial standard gallons charged with duty. The difierence is, however, immaterial, nor is there in most cases any great difference between the figures representing the production and those giving the quantity consumed. In most countries the beer produced is all consumed at home, and as it is seldom now stored for any extended period the annual production corresponds closely with the annual consumption. The only countries that export beer in any considerable quantity are Great Britain, Germany, and Austria, and even in their case the proportion is trifling compared with their production. The exports of Austria are to a large extent only to Hungary, and a good deal of the export trade of both Germany and Austria is a mere exchange of products to suit the tastes of the mixed races on each other’s frontiers.

The export of beer from Germany appears to be steadily declining, and the imports as steadily increasing. Last year, indeed, if we treat Austria and Hungary as one country, Germany imported nearly as much beer as all the other European countries combined, and her exports only exceeded her imports by about 2,000,000 gallons, representing less than two-tenths per cent. of her total production. Great Britain is the only country where there is a substantial excess of exports over imports, the excess representing a little more than one and half per cent; of her total production. This export trade is mainly to non-European countries, and has remained practically stationary for the last ten years. It will be observed that, while the comsumption of wine remains stationary, or is even relatively steadily increasing, and ate considerably greater rate even than the increase of the population. The total quantity of beer produced in 1896, as recorded in the returns given, was nearly 3,600,000,000 gallons, and the productions of Holland and Russia are not included. Including these, and also the small quantities produced in the Balkan States, the 103,012,000 barrels which we estimated (B.J., loc. cit.) as the production of Europe in 1896 closely agrees with the official figures."
"The Brewers' Journal, 1898", page 74.

Consumption of beer likely to decrease

The story usually told is that everyone expected WW I to be over by Christmas. But it looks as if the brewing trade had a more realistic view.

"THE CONSUMPTION OF BEER.
PROBABLE DECREASE OWING TO THE WAR.
The ultimate effects upon the brewing industry are difficult estimate, states the Allied Brewery Traders' Circular. The consumption of beer in the country must almost certainly diminish as money is spent on the war. There will probably be no sudden drop, but the heavy national expenditure and the increased prices of food must be reflected in a decreased barrelage.

The Excise returns the output of beer for the first three months of the current financial year show an increase for the United Kingdom of 324,403 barrels, equal to 3.6 per cent., as compared with the output the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

In the world production of beer Germany ranks second to the United States, and the United Kingdom takes a third place. According to a Viennese calculation, 5,552,000 more hectolitres were produced throughout the world last year than in 1912, an increase which exceeded by 4,119,000 hectolitres, the production of 1911. The total figures for 1913 are:— 336,630,000 hectolitres of 22 gallons each, equal 205,718,000 English barrels, a quantity which is nearly six times as great as the production of the United Kingdom.

The taxes or duties levied the beer produced are estimated at £60,000,000, and this points to an average about of about 6s per barrel, which seems to be an over-estimate, says the circular.

It is claimed behalf of the brewing industry that it has contributed more men to the forces in the field than any other single industry. One Midland firm has sent 300 employes on service. In every case situations are kept open, and the difference between army pay and the usual wages have been made up to dependents at an annual cost to the firm of £13,000."
Newcastle Journal - Saturday 03 October 1914, page 7.

Quite prescient. As beer production did gradually decreas during the course of the war. As these figures show:

Beer production 1913 - 1921 (hl)
Year	Austria	Belgium	Czecho-slovakia	Denmark	France	Germany	UK
1913	21,082,000	16,727,000		2,466,000	12,844,000	69,200,000	56,960,947
1914	20,076,000	-		2,527,000	9,056,000	59,373,000	61,467,176
1915	16,040,000	8,139,000		2,425,000	5,824,000	45,820,000	56,896,285
1916	11,910,000	7,086,000		2,581,000	7,705,000	36,835,000	52,550,937
1917	-	5,391,000		2,306,000	7,115,000	23,837,000	49,365,176
1918	1,179,000	4,930,000		1,669,000	6,375,000	24,825,000	31,233,818
1919	-	9,488,000	4,420,000	2,374,000	10,785,000	29,458,000	38,073,804
1920	3,049,000	10,408,000	5,889,000	2,662,000	11,548,000	23,438,000	57,358,068
1921	3,040,000	12,536,000	6,554,000	2,471,000	12,254,000	33,993,000	56,468,799
Sources:
European Statistics 1750-1970 by B. R. Mitchell, 1978, page 285.
Brewers' Almanack 1928, p. 110

Beer production declined everywhere in Europ. Even in countries not involved in the war like Denmark. Why was that? Because internatioinal trade was disrupted and importing raw materials became difficult.

You can see that UK beer production got back to its 1913 level by 1921. That's slightly deceptive, as tthe beer in 1921 was much weaker. If you look at Standard barrels, there was a 23% decline.

There's a big variation amongst other countries. France seems to have recovered quite quickly. Which is impressive, given that the part of France occupied by the Germans had by far the densest concentration of breweries. The recovery in Belgium is equally surprising. Most breweries there had all their copper vessels looted by the Germans.

When looking at the German numbers, it's important to remember that Germany was considerably smaller after the war,Though that doesn't account for beer output being less than half of the pre=war level.

Price of Milk in Hungary

More results of my supermarket dash through the newspaper archives.

There were food shortages in Britain in WW I, but nothing like those in Germany and Austria.

"Price of Milk in Hungary.
The introduction of maximum prices for milk by the authorities Buda Pest have excited much apprehension in Vienna. The official price for a litre bottle of milk in Buda Pest is 56 hellers (5.6 pence), which is eight hellers more than the present prices in Vienna.

The maximum price in the Hungarian capital represents an advance of ten hellers (a penny), and is avowedly made to stimulate production and increase consignments of milk to the city. Of the 600,000 litres of milk daily consumed in Vienna, at least one-sixth comes from Hungary, consequently the Viennese fear that the higher prices there will tend to divert this milk to Buda Pest.

The situation is the more critical just now as the milk contracts with the farmers and peasants are made for a year from April 1, and agents from both capitals will be competing to secure new contracts.

According to Bohemian papers, Austria is about prohibit the expert of beer in the interests of the home consumers. Such breweries, however, as during the years 1911-12 and 1912-13 sent beer abroad to neutral European countries and to Austria's Allies, may still export, but those who supplied only enemy countries and America will be excluded.

This new prohibition will affect chiefly, and indeed almost exclusively, the Pilsener breweries, which export a large proportion of their output, while the other Austrian breweries have only 6 per cent. of the total exports.

The Pilsener breweries will be permitted to export 30 per cent. of their production, which is now only 40 per cent. of the original quantity, so that the new exports will amount to 12 per cent. of the output of normal years.

At Lemberg the High Court has forbidden the circulation of two Hebrew’ prayer-books, the "Sider Beis Jacob,” published in 1904, and another published in 1907, on the ground that they contain high treason. The Socialist press is asking why it took all these years for the authorities to find out the treasonable character the books.

Wood of all kinds is becoming very scarce and very dear in Austria. Ordinary soft woods have doubled in price, and fire wood has gone up nearly as much. Enormous quantities of wood have been used for military purposes, such as buildings, barracks, and hospitals, and even more in the reconstruction of the towns and villages destroyed in the war zone."
Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough - Thursday 30 March 1916, page 6.

It's odd how they didn't allow breweries who had exported to the Allies to export beer. Though I'm more surprised that they were exporting beer at all. The most impressive statistic is that Pilsner breweries were responsible for 94% of Austrian beer exports.

I'm really happy to find that figure for beer production. Down to just 40% of its pre-war level. Let's see how that compares with the situation in the UK:

Summary of changes in WW I
	Duty		Standard barrels	Bulk barrels	Average OG	Average price
	s.	d.			England & Wales	per pint
1914	7	9	36,057,913	37,558,767	1051.69	3d.
1915	23	0	33,099,000	34,736,000	1051.16	3d.
1916	23	0	30,292,000	32,110,000	1050.49	3d.
1917	24	0	26,626,000	30,163,000	1047.01	4d
1918	25	0	13,816,000	19,085,000	1038.25	4.5d
1919	50	0	12,925,000	23,264,000	1029.35	5d.
1920	79	0	25,115,000	35,047,000	1038.57	6d.
Sources:
The Brewers' Almanack 1928 pages 100 and 110.

Beer output fell between 1914 and 1916, but not by a ridiculous amount. Especially in terms of bulk barrels, i.e. the actual amount of beer. Though the standard barrel number indicates the reduction in materials used.

Drop in beer output
period	standard barrels	bulk barrels
1914 to 1916	15.99%	14.51%
1914 to 1917	26.16%	19.69%

But things quickly got much worse in Bohemia:

"ENEMY'S FOOD CRISIS.
HOW ROUMANIAN INTERVENTION HAS REDUCED SUPPLIES.
The stoppage of Roumanian supplies has already caused an aggravation of the food shortage troubles both in Germany and Austria.

In Germany the allowance of butter per person has been reduced to eighty grammes (less than three ounces) per week. From the end of September there will be three meatless days per week instead of two.

Austria has already introduced three meatless days instead of two. The brewing beer will stopped in Austria. This will strike a destructive blow to the remaining prosperity of Pilsen. Bread rations will have to be reduced Germany and Austria."
Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser - Wednesday 20 September 1916, page 1.

Brewing ground to a complete halt:

"All breweries in the beer producing town of Pilsen, Bohemia, have been closed owing to lack of supplies."
Newcastle Journal - Saturday 23 September 1916, page 4.

Beer might have ended up pretty thin and watery in Britain, but at least there was beer.

Bohemian and Lower Austrian Lagers in 1876

"Chemie der menschlichen Nahrungs- und Genussmittel" is the gift that just keeps on giving. I've harvested some great analyses this last week. Mostly German, but I've just hit an Austrian orchard.

The last set I particularly like. They all come from 1876, which is a period when Austrian beer was still pretty influential internationally. They cover a fairly small geographical area, too. The Czech ones all come from Bohemia as far as I can tell (I haven't been able to discover the Czech names for a couple of the towns). The Austrian ones are all from Lower Austria, but are mostly from the Vienna area. What's even better is that there are both Abzugsbier and Lagerbier samples for most breweries.

I'll warn you now - this is going to be table-heavy. But if that sort of thing put you off, I guess you wouldn't be reading this in the first place. Now where shall I start? What about with the Bohemian beers? OK, we're agreed.

Apologies for the small size of the Schenkbier sample. And I'm not 100% sure that's what they are. The source didn't state what type of beer they are. I've just guessed that, based on their gravity. It's too low for them to be Lagerbiers so they must be Schenkbiers. You can see that the Schenkbiers average out to 10.5º and the Lagerbiers 11.5º Plato. That's quite a small difference. And the higher degree of attenuation of Schenkbier means the difference between the ABVs - 4.26% and 4.02% - isn't huge.

Bohemian Schenkbier and Lagerbier in 1876
Brewer	Beer	Acidity	OG	OG Plato	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
Bömisch-Kamnitzer(Česká Kamenice)	Schenkbier	0.12	1043.2	10.80	1012.8	3.94	70.37%
Münchengrätzer (Mnichovo Hradiště)	Schenkbier	0.08	1041.2	10.32	1009.0	4.19	78.16%
Libotschauer (Libočany)	Schenkbier	0.11	1041.3	10.35	1011.0	3.93	73.37%
Average		0.10	1041.9	10.49	1010.9	4.02	73.96%
Bürgerliches Brauhaus, Pilsen	Pilsener	0.16	1046.5	11.59	1013.0	4.35	72.04%
Bürgerliches Brauhaus, Pilsen	Lagerbier	0.17	1048.6	12.09	1012.8	4.65	73.66%
Wittingauer (Třeboň)	Lagerbier	0.14	1044.5	11.11	1014.0	3.95	68.54%
Budweiser	Lagerbier		1045.6	11.38	1011.4	4.44	75.00%
Jaroscher	Lagerbier	0.09	1047.7	11.88	1014.4	4.31	69.81%
Napageldner	Lagerbier	0.12	1045.8	11.43	1013.4	4.20	70.74%
Leitmeritzer (Litoměřice)	Lagerbier		1046.8	11.66	1013.9	4.26	70.30%
Pardubitzer	Lagerbier	0.13	1046.9	11.69	1015.0	4.13	68.02%
Medleschitzer	Lagerbier	0.12	1044.4	11.09	1011.2	4.31	74.77%
Olmützer	Lagerbier		1047.3	11.78	1016.2	4.03	65.75%
Bürgerliches Brauhaus, Pilsen	Lagerbier	0.12	1045.0	11.23	1013.0	4.15	71.11%
Actien Brauhaus, Pilsen	Lagerbier	0.12	1044.9	11.21	1011.1	4.39	75.28%
Average		0.13	1046.2	11.51	1013.3	4.26	71.25%
Source:
Chemie der menschlichen Nahrungs- und Genussmittel by Joseph König, 1903, pages 1102 - 1156

There's not a huge spread of gravities in the Lagerbiers, with a 1º Plato difference between the weakest and strongest. None of the examples varies more than 5% from the average gravity. The Schenkbier sample is too small to make this sort of comparison.

Note that the level of acidity is a good bit lower than in the Dresden area beers. It still looks high by modern standards, though. Unsurprisingly, Schenkbier, which was sold younger, is less acidic.

Here's the comparison in table form:

Comparison between Bohemian Schenkbier and Lagerbier
	Acidity	OG	OG Plato	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
average Schenkbier	0.10	1041.9	10.49	1010.9	4.02	73.96%
average Lagerbier	0.13	1046.2	11.51	1013.3	4.26	71.25%
difference	0.03	4.3	1.02	2.4	0.25	-2.71%

One final word. In terms of gravity, these beers look very much like modern Czech 10º (Výčepní Pivo) and 12º (Světlý Ležák).

On with the Lower Austrian beers. This is not only a fuller set, but the type of each beer was also stated in the source. Take a look:

Lower Austrian Abzugsbier and Lagerbier in 1876
Brewer	Beer	Acidity	OG	OG Plato	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
Liesinger	Abzugsbier	0.17	1043.9	10.96	1016.2	3.58	63.06%
St. Marx	Abzugsbier	0.1	1041.3	10.35	1014.8	3.43	64.16%
Simmering	Abzugsbier 6 weeks old	0.1	1040.4	10.13	1014.9	3.29	63.12%
Brunner	Abzugsbier 1 month old	0.1	1041.1	10.30	1013.6	3.56	66.91%
Hütteldorf	Abzugsbier	0.09	1039.1	9.82	1014.7	3.15	62.40%
Nussdorf	Abzugsbier 6 weeks old	0.09	1043.6	10.90	1015.3	3.66	64.91%
Währinger	Abzugsbier	0.1	1041.4	10.37	1010.5	4.01	74.64%
Grinzinger	Abzugsbier	0.11	1039.7	9.96	1013.1	3.44	67.00%
Lichtentaler	Abzugsbier	0.08	1040.0	10.03	1014.2	3.34	64.50%
Ottakringer	Abzugsbier	0.11	1041.1	10.30	1009.6	4.09	76.64%
Rauensteiner	Abzugsbier	0.12	1042.4	10.61	1015.6	3.46	63.21%
Average		0.11	1041.3	10.34	1013.9	3.55	66.41%
Schwechater	Böhmisches Bier	0.17	1050.4	12.52	1015.7	4.50	68.85%
Schwechater	Lagerbier	0.13	1052.6	13.04	1017.6	4.53	66.54%
Liesinger	Lagerbier	0.15	1053.8	13.32	1017.9	4.65	66.73%
Simmeringer	Lagerbier 3 months old	0.2	1060.3	14.84	1021.1	5.08	65.01%
Brunner	Lagerbier 5 months old	0.16	1053.2	13.18	1014.0	5.09	73.68%
Hütteldorfer	Lagerbier	0.11	1052.9	13.10	1014.9	4.93	71.81%
Nussdorfer	Lagerbier 3 months old	0.13	1054.0	13.37	1019.6	4.45	63.70%
Währinger	Lagerbier	0.14	1052.4	12.99	1015.3	4.81	70.80%
Grinzinger	Lagerbier	0.12	1053.3	13.20	1015.3	4.93	71.29%
Lichtentaler	Lagerbier	0.1	1048.4	12.04	1014.0	4.46	71.07%
Ottakringer	Lagerbier	0.16	1052.8	13.09	1015.7	4.81	70.27%
Schellenhofer	Lagerbier	0.15	1052.3	12.97	1019.8	4.20	62.14%
Rauensteiner	Lagerbier		1056.5	13.96	1020.2	4.70	64.25%
Average		0.14	1053.3	13.20	1017.0	4.70	68.17%
Source:
Chemie der menschlichen Nahrungs- und Genussmittel by Joseph König, 1903, pages 1102 - 1156

One point should leap out at you: there's a much bigger difference in gravity than for the Bohemian beers. The Lagerbiers average over 13º Plato - almost 3º higher than the Abzugsbiers. And, in a reverse of the situation for Bohemian beers, the stronger beer has a higher degree of attenuation. What's that telling us? Not sure at all. But it does mean that there's quite large difference in ABV, over 1%.

There's a much larger variation in gravity amongst Lower Austrian than Bohemian Lagerbiers. The weakest is 9% below the average and the strongest 12% above. For the Abzugsbiers, the variation is lower, about 5% above and below the average.

Comparison between Lower Austrian Abzugsbier and Lagerbier
	Acidity	OG	OG Plato	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
average Abzugsbier	0.11	1041.3	10.34	1013.9	3.55	66.41%
average Lagerbier	0.14	1053.3	13.20	1017.0	4.70	68.17%
difference	0.04	12.0	2.86	3.1	1.16	1.75%

Again, the beer served younger, Abzugsbier, is less acidic.

Here's a comparison, where I have them, of the same brewery's Abzugsbier and Lagerbier:

Comparison Lower Austrian Abzugsbier and Lagerbier
Brewer	Beer	Acidity	OG	OG Plato	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
Brunner	Abzugsbier 1 month old	0.10	1041.1	10.30	1013.6	3.56	66.91%
Brunner	Lagerbier 5 months old	0.16	1053.2	13.18	1014.0	5.09	73.68%
difference		0.06	12.1	2.88	0.4	1.53	6.77%
Grinzinger	Abzugsbier	0.11	1039.7	9.96	1013.1	3.44	67.00%
Grinzinger	Lagerbier	0.12	1053.3	13.20	1015.3	4.93	71.29%
difference		0.01	13.6	3.24	2.2	1.49	4.29%
Hütteldorfer	Abzugsbier	0.09	1039.1	9.82	1014.7	3.15	62.40%
Hütteldorfer	Lagerbier	0.11	1052.9	13.10	1014.9	4.93	71.81%
difference		0.02	13.75	3.28	0.2	1.78	9.40%
Lichtentaler	Abzugsbier	0.08	1040.0	10.03	1014.2	3.34	64.50%
Lichtentaler	Lagerbier	0.10	1048.4	12.04	1014.0	4.46	71.07%
difference		0.02	8.4	2.01	-0.2	1.13	6.57%
Liesinger	Abzugsbier	0.17	1043.9	10.96	1016.2	3.58	63.06%
Liesinger	Lagerbier	0.15	1053.8	13.32	1017.9	4.65	66.73%
difference		-0.02	9.95	2.36	1.7	1.08	3.67%
Nussdorfer	Abzugsbier 6 weeks old	0.09	1043.6	10.90	1015.3	3.66	64.91%
Nussdorfer	Lagerbier 3 months old	0.13	1054.0	13.37	1019.6	4.45	63.70%
difference		0.04	10.4	2.47	4.3	0.79	-1.20%
Ottakringer	Abzugsbier	0.11	1041.1	10.30	1009.6	4.09	76.64%
Ottakringer	Lagerbier	0.16	1052.8	13.09	1015.7	4.81	70.27%
difference		0.05	11.7	2.79	6.1	0.73	-6.38%
Rauensteiner	Abzugsbier	0.12	1042.4	10.61	1015.6	3.46	63.21%
Rauensteiner	Lagerbier		1056.5	13.96	1020.2	4.70	64.25%
difference			14.1	3.35	4.6	1.24	1.04%
Simmeringer	Abzugsbier 6 weeks old	0.10	1040.4	10.13	1014.9	3.29	63.12%
Simmeringer	Lagerbier 3 months old	0.20	1060.3	14.84	1021.1	5.08	65.01%
difference		0.10	19.9	4.71	6.2	1.79	1.89%
Währinger	Abzugsbier	0.10	1041.4	10.37	1010.5	4.01	74.64%
Währinger	Lagerbier	0.14	1052.4	12.99	1015.3	4.81	70.80%
difference		0.04	11	2.62	4.8	0.80	-3.84%

You can see that in every case there's a difference of more than 2º Plato in gravity. In all but one case the Lagerbier was always more acidic. The attenuation is all over the place and doesn't tell us much. Three of the Lagerbiers have a lower degree of attenuation than the corresponding Abzugsbiers, for the other seven it's higher.

And finally a comparison between Bohemian and Lower Austrian beers. You can see that there's little difference between Schenkbier and Abzugsbier, except that the latter is more poorly attenuated. While there's a huge difference in the gravity between the Lagerbiers - more than 1.5º Plato. Though the greater attenuation of the Bohemian ones means the gap in ABV is relatively smaller.

Comparison between Bohemian and Lower Austrian Lagers
	Acidity	OG	OG Plato	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
average Schenkbier	0.10	1041.9	10.49	1010.9	4.02	73.96%
average Abzugsbier	0.11	1041.3	10.34	1013.9	3.55	66.41%
difference	0.003	-0.6	-0.15	2.9	-0.47	-7.55%
	Acidity	OG	OG Plato	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation
average Bohemian Lagerbier	0.13	1046.2	11.51	1013.3	4.26	71.25%
average Lower Austrian Lagerbier	0.14	1053.3	13.20	1017.0	4.70	68.17%
difference	0.01	7.1	1.69	3.7	0.44	-3.09%

As I keep warning you, there's a lot more to come. There are some more Bohemian numbers from the 1880's I want to look at next.