Change in Beer production in the German customs area 1872 - 1881

If the title didn't put you off, all I can say is: you're my perfect reader.

I'd planned pointing out all sorts of clever stuff. Then I thought: you're not stupid. You can see it for yourself. Why should I condescendingly lead you by the hand?

Change in Beer production in the German customs area 1872 - 1881
Year	Reichssteuergebiet		Bayern		Württemberg
	hl	% change	hl	% change	hl	% change
1872	16,102,179		10,905,836		4,197,274
1873	19,654,903	22.06%	11,256,208	3.21%	3,995,056	-4.82%
1874	20,494,914	4.27%	12,079,760	7.32%	3,596,144	-9.99%
1875	21,358,228	4.21%	12,084,910	0.04%	3,662,418	1.84%
1876	20,873,379	-2.27%	12,347,153	2.17%	3,879,006	5.91%
1877/78	20,360,491	-2.46%	12,205,377	-1.15%	3,801,519	-2.00%
1878/79	20,371,925	0.06%	12,122,483	-0.68%	3,067,305	-19.31%
1879/80	19,984,613	-1.90%	12,152,532	0.25%	3,172,634	3.43%
1880/81	21,136,031	5.76%	11,821,915	-2.72%	3,396,292	7.05%
1881/1882	19,244,000	-8.95%	11,826,000	0.03%	3,396,000	-0.01%
change 1872 - 1882		19.51%		8.44%		-19.09%
1885/86	22,105,000	14.87%	12,655,000	7.01%	2,879,000	-15.22%
1890/91	29,374,000	32.88%	14,427,000	14.00%	3,508,000	21.85%
1891/92	29,695,000	1.09%	14,490,000	0.44%	3,454,000	-1.54%
change 1882 - 1892		54.31%		22.53%		1.71%
1892/93	30,186,000	1.65%	15,104,000	4.24%	3,749,000	8.54%
1893/94	31,290,000	3.66%	15,025,000	-0.52%	3,478,000	-7.23%
1894/95	30,916,000	-1.20%	15,186,000	1.07%	3,493,000	0.43%
1895/96	34,337,000	11.07%	16,034,000	5.58%	3,885,000	11.22%
1896/97	34,904,000	1.65%	16,206,000	1.07%	3,796,000	-2.29%
1897/98	37,707,000	8.03%	16,982,000	4.79%	4,100,000	8.01%
1898/99	38,465,000	2.01%	17,455,000	2.79%	4,069,000	-0.76%
1899/1900	39,320,000	2.22%	17,739,000	1.63%	4,128,000	1.45%
change 1892 - 1900		32.41%		22.42%		19.51%
change 1882 - 1900		104.32%		50.00%		21.55%
change 1872 - 1900		144.19%		62.66%		-1.65%
Source:
Jahresbericht über die Leistungen der chemischen Technologie 1882, 1883, page 871.
https://archive.org/stream/jahresberichtbe02gottgoog#page/n900/mode/2up

Change in Beer production in the German customs area 1872 - 1881
Year	Baden		Alsace-Lorraine		Total
	hl	% change	hl	% change	hl	% change
1872	926,957		812,454		32,944,700
1873	1,094,634	18.09%	987,752	21.58%	36,988,553	12.27%
1874	1,133,865	3.58%	889,191	-9.98%	38,193,874	3.26%
1875	1,066,661	-5.93%	763,313	-14.16%	38,935,530	1.94%
1876	1,050,841	-1.48%	706,694	-7.42%	38,857,073	-0.20%
1877/78	1,098,500	4.54%	803,136	13.65%	38,269,023	-1.51%
1878/79	1,085,020	-1.23%	787,905	-1.90%	37,434,638	-2.18%
1879/80	1,085,655	0.06%	788,542	0.08%	37,183,976	-0.67%
1880/81	1,155,450	6.43%	982,659	24.62%	38,492,347	3.52%
1881/1882	1,155,000	-0.04%	932,000	-5.16%	36,663,000	-4.75%
change 1872 - 1882		24.60%		14.71%		11.29%
1885/86	1,244,000	7.71%	691,000	-25.86%	39,822,000	8.62%
1890/91	1,679,000	34.97%	837,000	21.13%	49,925,000	25.37%
1891/92	1,643,000	-2.14%	875,000	4.54%	50,268,000	0.69%
change 1882 - 1892		42.25%		-6.12%		37.11%
1892/93	1,714,000	4.32%	912,000	4.23%	51,795,000	3.04%
1893/94	1,710,000	-0.23%	907,000	-0.55%	52,528,000	1.42%
1894/95	1,728,000	1.05%	869,000	-4.19%	52,311,000	-0.41%
1895/96	1,914,000	10.76%	997,000	14.73%	57,299,000	9.54%
1896/97	2,192,000	14.52%	937,000	-6.02%	48,169,000	-15.93%
1897/98	2,741,000	25.05%	964,000	2.88%	62,649,000	30.06%
1898/99	2,947,000	7.52%	1,058,000	9.75%	64,164,000	2.42%
1899/1900	3,095,000	5.02%	1,128,000	6.62%	65,621,000	2.27%
change 1892 - 1900		88.37%		28.91%		30.54%
change 1882 - 1900		167.97%		21.03%		78.98%
change 1872 - 1900		233.89%		38.84%		99.19%
Source:
Jahresbericht über die Leistungen der chemischen Technologie 1882, 1883, page 871.
https://archive.org/stream/jahresberichtbe02gottgoog#page/n900/mode/2up

Must be pretty obvious what's important. Don't disappoint me by asking questions.

OK, I'll tell you a bit. In the whole Empire beer production almost exactly dubbled between 1882 1872 and 1900. But the vast majority of that growthcame after 1882. But that growth was very unevenly distributed. The Reichssteuergebiet was a  big winner with growth 45 points above the average for the Empire.

Biggest loser was Württemberg, where output actually fell. While neighbouring Baden saw massive growth, especially after 1890 and was clsoing in on Württemberg. Bayern also lost ground, with growth 36 points below average.

My conclusions? A shift in the focus of German brewing from the South to the North. But also a period of general quite rapid growth of beer output.

German Beer Production 1872 - 1881

If you haven't realised my love for numbers yet you're either a new reader or a dozy twat. I'd like to think none of you are in the latter category.

That should warn you that we're headed for a very number-heavy post. All kicked off by some statistics I stumbled upon in a 19th-century German technical publication, the unputdownable "Jahresbericht über die Leistungen der chemischen Technologie 1882". It had me literally in stitches*.

The numbers cover the first years of the newly-founded German Empire. It was a very dynamic time in Germany. Political union brought all sorts of economic advantages with it and the German economy boomed. Rapid industrialisation was accompanied by a surge in population, which grew from 41 million in 1871 to 56 million in 1900. And, it being Germany, those extra 15 million souls drank beer. Any guesses as to what the trend in German beer output might be over these years?  It doesn't take a genius to work that one out.

Let's get the barrel rolling with the initial set of numbers that kicked my mind off working. But first a little explanation. The German Empire was a complicated place. It wasn't a centralised state the way modern countries are. As a leftover from the way the country was nailed together in the 1870's, there were anomalies in various areas. Like beer tax. Several systems of beer taxation were in use in different parts.

That's why this table is split up in such a weird way. It's divided by beer tax district, which isn't the same as the administrative divisions - the equivalent of modern Germany's states. There was a standard system in much of the country - basically the bits the Prussians had controlled before unification. That's the Reichssteuergebiet (also called the Brausteuergebiet) - the Empire Tax Area. Then there were the traditional brewing regions of the South: Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden who retained their own system of taxing beer. Finally the newly-annexed territory of Alsace-Lorraine.

One last point. The way it's divided up tells us the source of these figures: tax authorities.

Ah, just found some numbers that continue from the first set, neatly doubling the size of the table. How brilliant is that?

Beer production in the German customs area 1872 - 1881 (hl)
Year	Reichssteuergebiet	Bayern	Württemberg	Baden	Alsace-Lorraine	Total
1872	16,102,179	10,905,836	4,197,274	926,957	812,454	32,944,700
1873	19,654,903	11,256,208	3,995,056	1,094,634	987,752	36,988,553
1874	20,494,914	12,079,760	3,596,144	1,133,865	889,191	38,193,874
1875	21,358,228	12,084,910	3,662,418	1,066,661	763,313	38,935,530
1876	20,873,379	12,347,153	3,879,006	1,050,841	706,694	38,857,073
1877/78	20,360,491	12,205,377	3,801,519	1,098,500	803,136	38,269,023
1878/79	20,371,925	12,122,483	3,067,305	1,085,020	787,905	37,434,638
1879/80	19,984,613	12,152,532	3,172,634	1,085,655	788,542	37,183,976
1880/81	21,136,031	11,821,915	3,396,292	1,155,450	982,659	38,492,347
Average 1872 - 1881	20,037,407	11,886,242	3,640,850	1,077,509	835,738	37,477,746
per head of population	62	285	192	71	54	88
1881/1882	19,244,000	11,826,000	3,396,000	1,155,000	932,000	36,663,000
1885/86	22,105,000	12,655,000	2,879,000	1,244,000	691,000	39,822,000
1890/91	29,374,000	14,427,000	3,508,000	1,679,000	837,000	49,925,000
1891/92	29,695,000	14,490,000	3,454,000	1,643,000	875,000	50,268,000
1892/93	30,186,000	15,104,000	3,749,000	1,714,000	912,000	51,795,000
1893/94	31,290,000	15,025,000	3,478,000	1,710,000	907,000	52,528,000
1894/95	30,916,000	15,186,000	3,493,000	1,728,000	869,000	52,311,000
1895/96	34,337,000	16,034,000	3,885,000	1,914,000	997,000	57,299,000
1896/97	34,904,000	16,206,000	3,796,000	2,192,000	937,000	48,169,000
1897/98	37,707,000	16,982,000	4,100,000	2,741,000	964,000	62,649,000
1898/99	38,465,000	17,455,000	4,069,000	2,947,000	1,058,000	64,164,000
1899/1900	39,320,000	17,739,000	4,128,000	3,095,000	1,128,000	65,621,000
Source:
"Jahrbuch der Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei in Berlin, 1911", p.585-589
Jahresbericht über die Leistungen der chemischen Technologie 1882, 1883, page 871.
https://archive.org/stream/jahresberichtbe02gottgoog#page/n900/mode/2up

In terms of per capita production, Bavaria and Württemberg are way out in front. Wondering why Baden is so far behind the other southern regions in terms of beer output? The answer is simple: it's more wine country.

Now let's look at that in terms of percentage of total output. (These are derived from the figures in the first table.)

Beer production in the German customs area 1872 - 1881 (%)
Year	Reichssteuergebiet	Bayern	Württemberg	Baden	Alsace-Lorraine
1872	48.88%	33.10%	12.74%	2.81%	2.47%
1873	53.14%	30.43%	10.80%	2.96%	2.67%
1874	53.66%	31.63%	9.42%	2.97%	2.33%
1875	54.86%	31.04%	9.41%	2.74%	1.96%
1876	53.72%	31.78%	9.98%	2.70%	1.82%
1877/78	53.20%	31.89%	9.93%	2.87%	2.10%
1878/79	54.42%	32.38%	8.19%	2.90%	2.10%
1879/80	53.75%	32.68%	8.53%	2.92%	2.12%
1880/81	54.91%	30.71%	8.82%	3.00%	2.55%
Average 1872 - 1881	53.46%	31.72%	9.71%	2.88%	2.23%
1881/1882	52.49%	32.26%	9.26%	3.15%	2.54%
1885/86	55.51%	31.78%	7.23%	3.12%	1.74%
1890/91	58.84%	28.90%	7.03%	3.36%	1.68%
1891/92	59.07%	28.83%	6.87%	3.27%	1.74%
1892/93	58.28%	29.16%	7.24%	3.31%	1.76%
1893/94	59.57%	28.60%	6.62%	3.26%	1.73%
1894/95	59.10%	29.03%	6.68%	3.30%	1.66%
1895/96	59.93%	27.98%	6.78%	3.34%	1.74%
1896/97	72.46%	33.64%	7.88%	4.55%	1.95%
1897/98	60.19%	27.11%	6.54%	4.38%	1.54%
1898/99	59.95%	27.20%	6.34%	4.59%	1.65%
1899/1900	59.92%	27.03%	6.29%	4.72%	1.72%

Isn't that fascinating? It shows a long-term trend of the North of Germany producing a large percentage of the total at the expense of Bavaria and even more so from Württemberg. That can easily be explained. It was in the North where most of the industrialisation was taking place. And where large, modern, bottom-fermenting breweries were starting to appear, replacing small, old-fashioned top-fermenting breweries.

I'll be doing some more playing around with these numbers. I like to make statistics dance for their tea.





* I fell asleep while reading it and fell onto a glass, slashing my palm open.

Rice in German beer (again)

I know. Obsessing about rice in German beer is weird. I just can't help myself.

There are other things I should be up to. Like researching Dutch Lager styles. I'm supposed to be giving a talk on that soon. Or German sour beers. Another topic I'll soon be lecturing about. So far I've only piled up Dutch brewery histories on the floor behind me. I spent a big chunk of yesterday hunting for  a Heineken history, only to find it within reach of where I sit. That's the main drawback of my way of sorting my books. The just-remembering-where-it-is method.

But I digress. I'm supposed to be telling you aboout rice in German beer, amongst other things. Spinning a tale around a table of dull statistics from a hundred year old chemistry magazine. (Jahresbericht über die Leistungen der chemischen Technologie, if you're interested.)

I guess first I'd best explain what the statistics are for: the Brausteuergebied. What was that? The part of the German Empire with a unified beer tax regime. It literally means Beer Tax Area. It's easier to explain what it wasn't, rather than what it was. Everywhere except Bavaria, Baben, Württemberg and Alsace-Lorraine. Most of the country, really, but missing the major brewing areas in the South.

Right, what to tell you first? One of the most obvious is the rise of Lager. While the output of top-fermenting beer was flat, the production of bottom-fermenting beer more than tripled. The result was that the chare of top-fermenting beer more than halved from 36% to 16%. It was a trend that continued in the 20th century.

Use of taxable raw materials and beer production in the Brausteuergebied
tax year 1 April - 31st March	use of taxable brewing materials
	grain		malt substitutes				quantity of beer brewed				in 1 hl of beer
	total	ground barley malt	total	rice	all types of sugar	all types of syrup	top fermenting	bottom fermenting	top fermenting	bottom fermenting	grain and rice	malt substitutes
	hk	hk	hk	hk	hk	hk	hl	hl	%	%	k	k
1882	4,469,280	4,328,286	22,611	3,755	13,591	1598	7,901,207	14,211,973	36	64	20.23	0.09
1887	5,503,903	5,354,779	43,312	9,684	25,434	2358	8,503,919	18,971,927	31	69	20.07	0.12
1892	6,330,765	6,168,393	87,164	50,767	28,649	2129	7,664,889	25,498,919	23	77	19.24	0.11
1883	6,553,787	6,356,370	91,535	51,074	27,468	1641	7,522,307	26,854,999	22	78	19.15	0.12
1894	6,435,636	6,246,062	109,090	67,805	27,922	1651	7,111,305	26,856,048	21	79	19.15	0.12
1896	7,029,267	6,824,308	119,382	75,782	28,551	1757	7,884,114	29,841,501	21	79	18.83	0.12
1896	7,118,439	6,914,923	121,055	75,957	29,576	1558	7,544,730	30,803,611	20	80	18.76	0.12
1897	7,590,880	7,380,322	142,067	98,669	31,732	1474	7,777,049	33,654,123	19	81	18.55	0.12
1898	7,644,366	7,444,983	157,596	102,254	36,720	1606	7,566,770	34,698,630	18	82	18.33	0.13
1899	7,810,734	7,619,275	157,663	98,090	42,123	1515	7,280,851	35,925,271	17	83	18.30	0.14
1900	8,007,273	7,811,851	149,809	89,573	42,112	2009	7,428,980	37,300,826	17	83	18.10	0.13
1901	7,964,681	7,782,839	149,620	87,371	42,571	3013	7,322,999	37,712,996	16	84	17.88	0.14
Note:
The taxed export beers of Bremen are not included
Source:
Jahresbericht über die Leistungen der chemischen Technologie, 1903 page 446.

On a side note, you can see how barley was pretty much the only grain used. Which is interesting, as many of the old North German top-fermenting styles contained wheat. They were clearly being brewed in tiny quantities.

Rice was by quite a long way the most popular adjunct, though in comparison with barley malt, not a great deal was used. I'm surprised at how little sugar was used. It's such handy stuff. It would be great to have figures for how much sugar is used in German brewing today. I can't remember ever seeing statistics for that. The Deutsche Brauerbund probably isn't keen on advertising the fact German brewers use sugar. Even though they always have. (The Reinheitsgebot allows sugar in top-fermenting beers.)

Just for fun, I've calculated the average OG of the beers. I've based it on 80 brewers pound per quarter of malt. A hectokilo, the unit used in the table, is just about exactly two hundredweight, or two-thirds of a quarter. You can see that it looks much like modern German beer, strength-wise:

year	average OG
1882	1049.1
1887	1048.7
1892	1046.4
1883	1047.4
1894	1046.4
1896	1045.3
1896	1045.1
1897	1044.5
1898	1044.0
1899	1044.0
1900	1043.5
1901	1043.0

Was gravity really falling or were they just getting more from the malt? I'd suspect the latter, but could be wrong.