England vs Scotland, part 2a: the 1840's

I bet you though (hoped more like) that I'd forgotten about my painstakingly detailed comparison of English and Scottish beers. Not true at all. I've just been busy elsewhere. Sorry, saving up these juicy titbits until later.

We'll start with Mild. Why? Because I sorted the table entries by style and Mild is the first alphabetically. That's a good enough reason for me.

I've split the beers into gravity bands under 1070º, 1070º-1080º, 1080º-1090º, 1090º-1110º, and over 1110º. First the kiddies' Milds.

How about this, I show you the table then explain what I think it tells us (if anything)? Sound Good? OK, here goes:

Date	Year	Brewer	Beer	Style	OG	FG	ABV	App. Attenuation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl	boil time (hours)	boil time (hours)	boil time (hours)	Pitch temp	max. fermentation temp	length of fermentation (days)
5th Mar	1841	Truman	X Ale	Mild	1059.3				14	3.85				58	79.5
19th Apr	1848	Younger, Wm.	42/-	Mild	1043	1012	4.10	72.09%	15.00	2.65	1.33			59	66	4
17th Nov	1849	Younger, Wm.	42/-	Mild	1048	1014	4.50	70.83%	19.25	3.76	1.08			58	65	6
5th Mar	1847	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1061	1028	4.37	54.10%	4.15	1.13	1.33			58	64	5
13th Mar	1847	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1064	1033	4.10	48.44%	4.00	1.22	1.5	1.5		58	65	6
Average					1054.0	1021.8	4.27	61.37%	10.60	2.19	1.31	1.50		58.3	65.0	5.3
difference					-5.3	1021.8	4.3	0.6	-3.4	-1.7				0.0	-14.5
Sources:
Truman brewing record document number B/THB/C/122 held at the London Metropolitan Archives
William Younger brewing record document number WY/6/1/2/3 held at the Scottish Brewing Archive

I had trouble matching any London beers with Younger's 42/- and 60/-. Only one Truman beer had a similar gravity. Which makes it difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions. The Truman's beer has about 3 times as many hops per barrel as the Younger's 60/-. Oddly enough, both were pitched at exactly the same temperature - 58º F. Though the maximum fermentation temperature of the Truman beer was much higher. 14.5º F more, to be precise. But if we look at the hopping of Younger's 42/-, there's not much difference with the hopping of the Truman beer. Especially taking into account the lower gravity of the 42/-. You can see that the hopping rate per quarter (a good way of taking the beer's gravity out of consideration) is at 15 and 19.25 lbs, more than the Truman X Ale.

There's not much we can learn from that. Except that Younger hopped their weaker Milds at wildly differing rates. And that Younger brewed some Milds of lower gravity than those made in London.

Onwards to band two, 1070º-1080º:

Date	Year	Brewer	Beer	Style	OG	FG	ABV	App. Attenuation	lbs hops/ qtr	hops lb/brl	boil time (hours)	boil time (hours)	boil time (hours)	Pitch temp	max. fermentation temp	length of fermentation (days)
12th Feb	1845	Barclay Perkins	X	Mild	1070.6				9.26	3.26	3			57.5	69.5
23rd Jan	1849	Barclay Perkins	X	Mild	1071.5				7.79	2.68	3.5			58.5	72
19th Mar	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1074.0	1030.7	5.72	58.43%	9.09	2.74	2	2	3	64	72	7
8th Apr	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1075.3	1031.6	5.79	58.09%	7.29	2.20	1.5	2	3	64	73	7
22nd Apr	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1075.6	1028.8	6.19	61.90%	5.96	1.88	2	2	3	64	73	7
6th Apr	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1075.9	1029.1	6.19	61.68%	9.85	3.00	2	2	3	64	73	6
13th Feb	1841	Truman	X Ale	Mild	1076.2	1027.1	6.49	64.36%	6	1.95				60	74	10
7th Apr	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1076.5	1028.0	6.41	63.41%	9.36	3.09	2	2	3	64	73	8
14th Apr	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1076.7	1028.5	6.38	62.82%	9.42	3.14	2	2	3	64	73	8
13th Apr	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1076.7	1029.9	6.19	61.01%	7.53	2.44	1.5	2	3	64	73.5	6
20th Apr	1841	Whitbread	X	Mild	1077.0	1030.7	6.12	60.07%	7.45	2.36	1.5	2	3	64	73	6
14th Jan	1846	Truman	X Ale	Mild	1077.3	1023.3	7.15	69.89%	14.0	4.53				59	76.25	10
14th Mar	1846	Truman	X Ale	Mild	1079.8	1025.5	7.18	68.06%	6.0	1.94				59	76.5	8
Average					1075.6	1028.5	6.35	62.70%	8.39	2.71	2.10	2.00	3.00	62.0	73.2	7.5
4th Mar	1847	Younger, Wm.	80/-	Mild	1071	1030	5.42	57.75%	4.17	1.36	1.5			59	67	8
28th Feb	1848	Younger, Wm.	80/-	Mild	1071	1036	4.63	49.30%	4.00	1.86	1.25	1.25		57	67	8
11th Jul	1848	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1071	1032	5.16	54.93%	7.00	2.36	1.25			59	69	7
19th Jan	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1071	1033	5.03	53.52%	3.85	1.25	1.25			57	65	8
7th Oct	1848	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1072	1036	4.76	50.00%	3.43	1.25	1.5			61	66	7
9th Oct	1848	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1072	1032	5.29	55.56%	3.18	1.05	1.66			57	69	8
29th Dec	1848	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1072	1035	4.89	51.39%	3.71	1.29	1.5			57	64	8
25th Jan	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1072	1024	6.35	66.67%	3.48	1.18	1.25			56	65	7
16th Nov	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1072	1032	5.29	55.56%	1.29	1.25	2			57	65	7
9th Jan	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1073	1033	5.29	54.79%	3.54	1.18	2			56	67	8
4th Apr	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1073	1034	5.16	53.42%	3.33	1.11	2			56	66	8
8th Sep	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1073	1033	5.29	54.79%	6.00	2.03	1.25	1.25		56	69	8
8th Mar	1847	Younger, Wm.	80/-	Mild	1074	1037	4.89	50.00%	4.00	1.38	1.17	1.33		56	64	10
16th Mar	1847	Younger, Wm.	80/-	Mild	1074	1032	5.56	56.76%	8.00	2.74	1.5	1.5		58	67	8
19th Feb	1848	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1074	1037	4.89	50.00%	3.33	1.18	2			57	66	6
11th Mar	1848	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1074	1033	5.42	55.41%	3.25	1.14	2			58	66	6
3rd Apr	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1074	1033	5.42	55.41%	4.00	1.37	1.25			56	66	9
7th Jun	1849	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1074	1033	5.42	55.41%	6.00	2.14	1.33	1.42		56	66	8
11th Sep	1849	Younger, Wm.	80/-	Mild	1074	1038	4.76	48.65%	6.00	2.05	1.25	1.33		55	68	9
15th Mar	1848	Younger, Wm.	60/-	Mild	1075	1033	5.56	56.00%	3.38	1.14	2			58	67	7
20th Mar	1847	Younger, Wm.	80/-	Mild	1076	1036	5.29	52.63%	4.00	1.44	1.33	1.33		58	67	8
6th Mar	1847	Younger, Wm.	80/-	Mild	1077	1033	5.82	57.14%	4.00	1.37	1.33			57	66	9
Average					1073.1	1033.4	5.26	54.32%	4.22	1.51	1.53	1.34		57.1	66.5	7.8
difference					-2.5	4.9	-1.09	-8.38%	-4.16	-1.20	-0.57	-0.66	-3.00	-4.9	-6.8	0.3
Sources:
Truman brewing record document numbers B/THB/C/122 and B/THB/C/127 held at the London Metropolitan Archives
William Younger brewing record document number WY/6/1/2/3 held at the Scottish Brewing Archive
Barclay Perkins brewing record document number  ACC/2305/1/541 held at the London Metropolitan Archives
Whitbread LMA/4453/D/01/004 brewing record document number  held at the London Metropolitan Archives

There's a bit more to work with in the case of the 80/-. I've plenty of London beers of a similar strength. There's no argument about the hopping: only one Younger beer has more hops than the London average. The least heavily-hopped London beer has 20% more than the average of Younger's beers. The average hopping rate of the London beers is about 50% more than the Scottish average. Younger's weaker Milds were generally more lightly hopped than equivalent London Milds in the 1840's.

Moving on to boil times.They're easy-peasy. The average boil times for the first and second worts were more than half an hour shorter in Scotland. Not really much more to say, except: Younger's boil times in the 1840's were much shorter than in England.

Fermentation temperatures are trickier. There's considerable variation amongst the pitching temperatures of the London brewers, between 58º and 64º F. Truman and Barclay Perkins both pitched a degree or two below 60º F, much like Younger. The big difference between England and Scotland is the maximum fermentation temperature. The average max temperature for the Younger's beers is almost 7º F cooler than the London average. The rise in temperature during fermentation was just short of 10º F for the Younger's beers. For London beers, it averaged about 1º F more. Yes, Younger's beers were fermented cooler, but the difference is considerably less than the 10º F usually quoted. And most of the fermentation was at temperatures above 60º F. I'm going to stick my neck out and say: suggests: in the 1840's Younger's Milds were fermented cooler than equivalent London beers, on average around 5 - 6º F.

And I've added a new field to compare: fermentation time. As you'd expect with their lower fermentation temperature, the Scottish beers took a little longer to ferment. Though not by a huge amount: less than half a day on average. But there were a couple of London beers with the same fermentation time - 10 days - as the longest Scottish time. The usual story is that Scottish fermentations could take twice as long as London ones. That does not appear to be the case. All I can say is: in the 1840's Younger's Milds did not take longer to ferment than equivalent London beers.

Almost forgot in all the excitement. Attenuation and ABV. Both are lower for the Scottish beers. Only one Younger's beer has attenuation of over 60%. That's the only one with greater attenuation than the least attenuated London beer. The most attenuated 80/- is still a touch below the least attenuated London beer. The ABV difference is significant - averaging just over 1% less than the London Average. So in the 1840's Younger's Milds were less attenuated and lower in alcohol than London Milds of a similar gravity.


Lot's more to go still. And that's just the 1840's. Think of how many more decades we have to go.

6 more discounted gift ideas

As I already told you yesterday, Lulu are running a January sale. Giving you the chance to get my wonderful books for even less than the already ludicrously low price.

Until January 31st 2012 you can get 25% off (maximum saving £50) by entering this coupon code when you order:

LULUBOOKUK305

Here are 6 great ways to use that discount:

Gift Idea #7: Bitter!

Yes it's self-promotion time again wearing a (very) thin disguise of present recommendations.

But this is a very special book. One that hasn't ever really been released. More like escaped. And don't pay attention to that Mini Book Series volume number. "Bitter!" is really a Mega Book. Volume III, I think.Or is it II? No, pretty sure Volume II is Mild! plus. Another unreleased book.

At almost 600 pages, I can't really call it a Mini Book. It's packed with all the usual fun stuff: numbers, tables, asinine humour, more tables and some recipes.

Buy "Bitter!" now. Before I decide to hide it again.

Beer gift #8: Trips! (South)

You might be starting to notice a slight theme here. One of me trying to persuade you to buy some of my crappy books. Sorry, I mean thoroughly researched and wittily written books.

"Trips! (South)" is a celebration of pissing it up in the South of Germany. Actually, it's a pub and brewery guide to the beeriest bits of Germany's deep South, where the pigs are roasted, the beer divine and the men are very happy. And some of the women, too.

Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Forchheim, Regensburg, Augsburg, Stuttgart, Bayreuth and Ulm. All the places you're likely to go if, like me, you have an unquenchable thirst for German culture in its most liquid form.

And it's got a groovy new cover by Andrew. I've been trying to persuade him to finish off covers for the whole series. So far his response to my urging has been monosyllabic grunts or shouting. Good to see he's a normal teenager*.

Buy "Trips! (South)" now! Before Andrew hits me.





* He's started treating me the way Simon from the Inbetweeners treats his dad.

Beer gift #9: Trips! (West)

Will I make it to the full 12 books of Christmas? 'Course I will. Even if I have to write some new ones. No, still got enough left that I haven't plugged yet.

Which has got me thinking (I do that at least once every day, think). Maybe I should have a special Christmas release. What do you think? There are a couple of possibilities.

First, there's "Can We Go Home now?" That's Mini Book Series volume III. A slim book of tales of travelling with the kids. It's never been available for sale. I had 10 copies printed and gave them to friends.

Then there's "Strong!". It will eventually be Mega Book Series volume IV. But I might be persuaded to release a Mini Book version.

And finally there's "Let's Brew!". Though I'd need to ask Kristen about that. As it stands, it contains 60-odd recipes from the weekly series.

What am I doing? You've completely distracted me.

Buy "Trips! (West)" now.! (It's s pub guide to towns in the West of Germany.)

Beer gift #10: War! and Peace!

The horse is still twitching a bit. No need to stop flogging it yet. Not until Christmas day.

Though Christmas is partly about familial violence "I got a clout every Christmas" my Aunt Florrie used to say. She had a long list of Yuletide tales which all ended with her Mum or Dad giving her a belt. It didn't seem to have suppressed her indomitable spirit at all. That's the old-time working class for you. Tough as old nails.

This isn't the dull doorstep by that Russian geezer - what was his name? - about a bunch of posh bastards.No, this War and Peace is much better. Not only does the title contain not one but two exclamation marks, it also contains way more about beer. In fact I don't think the Russian one has even a single mention of beer. How useless is that?

This "War! and Peace!" is a celebration* of er, war and peace. But in a beery way. None of that nasty killing and maiming.

Buy "War! and Peace!" today! One's bound to be appropriate to your country.



* I may have used this once or maybe twice before.

Gift idea #11:Mild! plus

Time for a very special book pimping. I've deliberately kept this one back until Christmas eve. No, that's a lie. The real reason is that I only finished it this morning. The Mega Book version of "Mild!". With the rather clumsy title of "Mild! plus".

Why such a shit title? Because I unwisely used the title "Mild!" for the Mini Book version. See my problem?

Where was I? Trying to flog you my new crappy book. What's the difference between this and the Mini Book "Mild!"? About 140 pages. More recipes, more beer details plus a completely new section on Brown Ale. Not that means I think Brown Ale is a type of Mild. Just that there's nowhere more suitable to put the info I have on Brown Ale. I've even added a couple of Brown Ale recipes, you lucky children.

Buy "Mild! plus" now! Before I change my mind.

Gift idea #12: Amsterdam Pub Guide

What better place to end than at the beginning? And the Amsterdam Pub Guide is where my publishing career began way back in  . . . now what year was it? Can't remember, to be honest

Yes, Mini Book Series volume 1. At the time I published, I didn't have my plans for a series of books fully formed. Come to think of it, I still don't. There were supposed to be 11 volumes. But I'm fairly certain I've issued at least 13 volumes, a couple with the same volume number. Hang on, "Scotland" is volume XIV and wasn't "Trips! (East)" volume XIII? I don't envy someone the job of trying to catalogue my books. Even I can't keep track of them

You'll probably have noticed the more professional-looking cover. That's because it was designed by a proper graphic artist, Craig Gravina. Thanks Craig.

More books. That's what the New Year should bring. "Strong!", the final volume in my Mega Book Series, is my number one priority. And maybe "Lager!", if I decide to extend the series to five volumes.

Buy the Amsterdam Pub Guide now! If you plan coming to Amsterdam. Not much point otherwise.

Profitable McEwan's

Just a brief little thing this time. One of those boring items that fill the financial pages and don't warrant a second glance. If we're talking about 2012. Go back 100 years and I'm suddenly much more interested in such dull stuff. Funny that.

You can see why they were keen on that share structure:

"The Directors of William McEwan and Co., Limited, Fountain Brewery, Edinburgh, report that at the sixth annual balance of the books, on 30th June last, the accounts of the Company show on the year's operations (including £25,759 brought forward from last year) a profit of £180,592. After payment of the 5 per cent dividend upon the preference shares, amounting to £25,000, the Directors have decided to dispose of the surplus as follows : —in payment of a dividend of 10 per cent and a bonus of 15 per cent on the ordinary shares, £125,000 ; balance carried forward, £30,592 ; the reserve fund remains at £100,000."
Manchester Evening News - Saturday 3 August 1895, page3.

£180,000 profit is a huge amount. These were the profits of George Younger, the largest Scottish brewer outside Edinburgh, around the same time:

For Year ending 3lst December, 1894,     £22,237 3 10
For Year ending 3lst December, 1895,     £1,416 15 9
For Year ending 31st December, 1896,    £38,173 0 4

Making more than four times as much profit as George Younger, McEwan must have been a very substantial enterprise. The whole of George Younger's business was only valued as £500,000.

Hang on. I can work out the valuation of McEwan from those figures and their share structure. If 5% is £25,000, then the full amount is £500,000. Similarly, £125,000 is 25% £500,000. So there were £500,000 worth of preference shares and another £500,000 worth of ordinary shares. Which values the company at a round million quid. Or double the size of George Younger.

"the Directors have decided to dispose of the surplus as follows" - it's worth bearing in mind that the Directors were also the owners of the ordinary shares. So they were voting to pay themselves. And just look at that - they got 5 times the return (25%) on their shares as ordinary punters did. What a surprise.

The return on investment - I make £180,000 of £1,000,000 18% - is pretty good. Though of course the Directors grabbed the lion's share. These were the boom years in brewing. Things would get a lot tougher in the new century. You can see why, with figures like this, investors were queueing up to buy shares in breweries.

As this was the sixth annual balance, McEwan must have gone public in 1889. That makes it one of the earliest in Scotland. Looking at the money the Directors (i.e. former partners) were making while still retaining control, it's no wonder most decent-sized breweries followed their lead.

6 discounted gift ideas

Lulu are running a January sale. Very nice of them. Or it would be if the discount applied to me. But it doesn't. Just to you lot. You jammy bastards.

Until January 31st 2012 you can get 25% off (maximum saving £50) by entering this coupon code when you order:

LULUBOOKUK305


Here are 6 great ways to use that discount:

Gift Idea #1: Mild!

It's two in one today. Not only have I nicked the idea from this post of Stephen Beaumont, I'm also pushing one of my own books.

Christmas is a time for giving. And as I'd like to give my own kids food this Christmas, why not help me out? Buy a copy (or several) of "Mild!" for a loved one or even yourself. How else will you ever be able to drop something like "Did you know all early 19th-century Milds were pale in colour?" or "The role invert sugar in 1930's Dark Mild cannot be underestimated." into your yuletide conversation?

"Mild!" is the definitive history of Mild Ale (at least until I finish "Mild!+"), told through numbers, numbers, tables, more numbers, loads of quotes and the occasional joke of dubious quality.

Buy Mild! today. (Or yesterday, if you're a time-traveller.)

Gift Idea #2: Porter!

This is perfect. Not only do I get to boost my post count for the year, I might even squeeze out a few extra book sales.

"Porter!" is the definitive history of . . .hang on, Itried that one last time . . . "Porter!"tells the story of Porter in a unique and charming way, from its murky begins in 18th century London, through its decline and near extinction all the way to its glorious revival st the end of the 20th. A two-century romp that will take you to Dublin, India, Australia and even Philadelphia.

Listen to what the critics have to say about "Porter!":

"Please don't hit me with the book again. It weighs a ton. What did you want me to say? . . . . OK. Porter is the bestest book ever written in history of the universe about Porter. Will you get off my chest now?" 
D. Hornbusch.

"Much better than those crappy books in the Classic Beer Styles series. Can I have my tenner now?"
Charlie Australian.

""Porter!" will be a treasure for future generations of your family, an heirloom to be stored carefully and occasionally taken out and caressed."
A. Madeupname.

Don't be a fool to yourself. Buy "Porter!" today! And again tomorrow. And maybe even the day after.

Gift Idea #3: Decoction!

What can I say about "Decoction!" that hasn't already been said? Pretty much anything as no-one has ever said bugger all about it.

Mini Book Series volume IV, "Decoction!" is a celebration of central European beer. It covers tricky and poorly documented topics such as Lager styles, methods of decoction mashing, extinct German top-fermenting styles and more detail on Berliner Weisse in English than anywhere else.

It's a handy companion to the Oxford Companion to Beer, for those worried about little details such as accuracy and completeness. A full set of my books is certainly a more reliable reference than the OCB, if a tad more expensive. But at least the money goes to poor starving children (Andrew and Lexie) rather than the rapacious OUP.

Buy "Decoction!" now. 

Gift Idea #4: War!

War uh, what is it good for? Keeping bloody teenagers off the streets and finding a socially acceptable outlet for the murderous proclivities.

Wonder what that grey thing is on the cover? It's one of those crappy German WW I tanks. I thought it was a minimalist tombstone first time I saw it. "It's one of those crappy German WW I tanks." Andrew said.

Like a low-quality music hall performer, I'll leave you with  a song:

Lloyd George's beer, Lloyd George's beer,
At the brewery, there's nothing doing,
All the water-works are brewing,
Lloyd George's beer, it isn't dear
Oh they say it is a terrible war, Oh Lor'
And there never was a war like this before
But the worst thing that ever happened in this war
Is Lloyd George's beer.

Rhyming Oh Lor' with war. Pure genius

Buy "War!" now. Before paper is rationed.

Gift idea #5: London!

Taking an idea and running it into the ground. That's one one of my specialities. Along with crappy jokes and numbers.

Talking of which - crappy jokes and numbers - "London!" is jam-pack full of both. Oh yes, indeedy. They're packed in there like herring in a barrel (a little Dutch idiom for you there).

"London!" is a celebration of brewing in London . . . hang on, I've already used that one. It's a compendium of capital delights. Want to learn about Whitbread's beers in excruciating detail? It's the book for you. Or that very special loved one. I'd be giving Dolores a copy, except she said "Don't try fobbing me off with one of your rubbishy books as a present." What better endorsement could you get than that?

Buy "London!"now!

Gift idea #6:Numbers!

The title says it all - a book untroubled by words. A book you can't read because - there aren't any words! The perfect gift for the illiterate and lazy.

Hex Decimal says: 0FCE D3D4 26B2 84AC

Thanks for the testimonial, Hex.

Yes, buy "Numbers!" So much better than letters.

And 15% off.

William Younger, sugar and purity

I'm in a bit of a holding pattern today. I just stopped myself in time. From rashly posting something. But more of that later.

It's William Younger trotting out the scientists to prove their beer wasn't going to poison you. This one is in response to the next great beer poisoning scare: arsenic in 1900. Except, unlike the strychnine scare, this one was real. And killed many.

"WILLIAM YOUNGER AND COMPANY, LIMITED.

The following Circular Letter and Certificate of Analysis, certifying the purity of our Ales, have been issued to our customers.
J. W. SHENNAN, Secretary.

COPY CIRCULAR LETTER. Abbey and Holyrood Breweries, Edinburgh, 6th December, 1900.

Dear Sir.

No sugar of any kind being used by us in brewing, we unhesitatingly guarantee our beers free from impurities or any sort, and refer you to the enclosed copy of Certificate of Analysis.

We are. Dear Sir,

Yours truly,
WILLIAM YOUNGER & Co., Limited.
W. J. YOUNGER, Director.

COPY CERTIFICATE.
Analytical Laboratory,
Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh. 5th December. 1900.

I have carefully analysed samples of Messrs William Younger and Co.'s (Limited) Ales and Stout, taken from various brewings selected by me from their Stores at Abbey and Holyrood Breweries, Edinburgh, and find such to be perfectly free from Arsenic or any Metallic impurity.

From a further investigation, I am satisfied that these Ales and Stout are brewed from the best class of materials, and are pure, sound, and wholesome.
(Signed) W. IVISON MACADAM,
F.E.S.E., F.T.C., F.C.S., &c.
Analytical and Consulting Chemist;
Professor of Chemistry and Toxicology.
New Veterinary College, Edinburgh."
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Tuesday 8 January 1901, page 1.

Personally, I'd have had more faith in the recommendation of someone from a human medical establishment rather than a veterinarial one.

Why the mention of sugar? Because the arsenic got into beer through brewing sugar which had been inverted with non food-grade sulphuric acid. No need to worry about Younger's beers though, because they contained no sugar. At least that's what they've sworn. But was it true?

Frustratingly, I don't have Younger's brewing records for 1900. But I do have some for 1899. And guess what? Not only were they using sugar, they were using 5 different types: DM Invert, Glucose, Caramel, Corpulose and another I can't decipher. And they used it in loads of their beers. Not all, but a lot: XXX, XX, No. 1, No. 3, 60/-, 100/-, 120/-, DBS, S1, SS1.

The next records I have are from 1913. It's the same story there: loads of sugar. So did William Younger stop using sugar in 1900 then start again sometime before 1913? Or did they always use sugar and just improved the truth for publication? My money's on the latter.

George Younger goes public

While we're on the topic of brewery share issues, I may as well use up this one, too. It's the prospectus from the launch of Alloa brewer George Younger.

It's quite a lengthy document (despite me chopping out the less interesting bits), but does contain quite a lot of useful information.

The SUBSCRIPTION LIST for the UNDERMENTIONED PREFERENCE SHARE CAPITAL will be OPENED on MONDAY, the 1st, and it will be CLOSED on or BEFORE TUESDAY. the 24 MARCH, 1897, at 3.30 P.M.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED BY THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, LIMITED, AT ITS HEAD OFFICE IN EDINBURGH; AT ITS OFFICE. 62 LOMBARD STREET, LONDON; AT ITS OFFICE, BUCHANAN STREET, GLASGOW: AND AT ANY OF ITS COUNTRY BRANCHES.

GEORGE YOUNGER & SON, LIMITED.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACTS. 1862 TO 1893.

CAPITAL	£500,000,
Divided Into
25,000 5 PER CENT CUMULATIVE PREFERENCE SHARES of £10 EACH,	£250,000
12,500 ORDINARY SHARES of £10 EACH,	125,000
and 12,500 DEFERRED SHARES of £10 EACH	125,000
	£500,000

The PREFERENCE SHARES are entitled to a CUMULATIVE PREFERENTIAL DIVIDEND of FIVE PER CENT. PER ANNUM, payable out of the profits of the Company half-yearly, at 1st March and 1st September, and will also be entitled to priority over the Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares in respect of Capital.

The whole of the above-mentioned PREFERENCE SHARES, amounting to £250,000, are now offered for SUBSCRIPTION at a premium of £1 per share, payable in the following instalments, viz. :-

On Application,	£1 per Share.
On Allotment (inclusive of the £1 premium),	£4  "    "
On the 12th day of April. 1897	£3  "    "
On the 12th day of May, 1897	£3  "    "
	£11 per Share.

The SHARES may be paid up in full on allotment or at the date when the first instalment is payable, and the first Dividend on the Shares in September next will be calculated from the dates on which the several payments in respect thereof were made.

Applications for the PREFERENCE SHARES should be made on tbe Form accompanying the Prospectus, and forwarded to the Bankers of the Company, together with the amount payable on application.

The whole of the ORDINARY SHARES and of the DEFERRED SHARES are taken by the Vendors in part payment of the purchase price.

The premium of £1 per Share is not to belong to the Vendors, but to the Company, part of whose General Reserve Fund it is to form.

DIRECTORS.
GEORGE YOUNGER, Brewer, Alloa, Chairman.
THE EARL OF MAR AND KELLIE, Alloa House, Alloa.
JOHN JAMES MOUBRAY of Naemoor, Rumbling Bridge.
JAMES YOUNGER, Brewer, Alloa.

. . . . . .

PROSPECTUS.

This COMPANY has been formed for the purpose of acquiring and carrying on the old and well-establlshed business of GEORGE YOUNGER & SON, Brewers, Alloa.

The business, the trade of which consists in the production of Ales and Stouts for the Home and Export markets, is carried on at Alloa in the Candleriggs and Meadow Breweries, the Craigward Maltings. and the Kelliebank Export Bottling Stores. It was founded about the year 1760 by Mr George Younger, and it has been carried on continuously by his descendants. Since 1875 it has been conducted by Mr George Younger and Mr James Younger, as the sole partners of the firm. The business is believed to be now the largest of the kind in Scotland, outside Edinburgh.

The whole of the brewing operations have been for many years past carried on in the Candleriggs Brewery alone. The principal part of that Brewery, with all the Plant, having been totally destroyed by fire in November, 1889, the opportunity was taken, when rebuilding it in 1893, to introduce many modern improvements, with the result that the Brewery is now one of the best equipped in the country. The new Brew-House is fireproof, and contains a 145 quarter Plant, all new and of the best type, and capable, as it stands, of meeting a largely-increased output. In addition to the Plant found in all well-equipped Breweries, there is a valuable Refrigerating Apparatus for regulating the temperature of the fermenting rooms in warm weather, and there are also two Patent Grain-Drying Machines, with a capacity of 130 quarters per day, which will always ensure the disposal of the Brewery grains. An installation of Patent Pneumatic Malting Plant, with a capacity of 100 quarters per week, was erected two years ago. This has since been in full operation with very satisfactory results. The Meadow Brewery has for a considerable number of years past been used exclusively for Counting- House and Storage purposes. The Wells yield a copious supply of excellent brewing water, far in excess of present requirements. The Craigward Maltings, which have a capacity of 265 quarters per week, are substantial stone buildings, connected by sidings both with the North British and the Caledonian Railways. The Kelliebank Export Bottling Stores stand upon a site extending to 4.5 acres, and are connected by a siding with the Caledonian Railway. The site has a frontage to the River Forth with a private wharf for the use of the works. The Malting premises of the firm have for some years past been inadequate to cope with the demands of a constantly increasing business, and large quantities of malt have in consequence had to be purchased for use in the Brewery. With the view of obviating this inconvenience for the future, the Vendors recently entered into negotiations with the North British Railway Company, as a result of which they have secured by feu a site adjoining that Railway at Alloa, upon which new maltings, of the most approved modern type, and with a capacity of 300 quarters a week, are now in course of erection. These Maltings when completed will, it is believed, be a source of considerable additional profit to the business, and the expenditure thereon, so far as it was not actually paid on the 31st December last, will be defrayed by the Company.

. . . . .

The Banks and Profit and Loss Accounts have been audited for many years by Messrs Moncreiff & Horsbrugh, C A. Edinburgh, who have granted the following Certificate as to the Profits and the Movable Assets :-

46 CASTLE STREET, EDINBURGH, 20th February, 1897.

We hereby certify that we have for the past fifteen years made an annual audit of the Books and Accounts of the business carried on by Messrs George Younger & son. Brewers, Alloa ; that during that period the business has steadily increased; and that in the three years ending 31st December, 1896, the Annual Profits excluding Interest on Capital employed, were as follows:-

For Year ending 3lst December, 1894,     £22,237 3 10
For Year ending 3lst December, 1895,     1,416 15 9
For Year ending 31st December, 1896,     38,173 0 4

The Profits of the above three years have been arrived at by the same methods of book-keeping and statement that were followed in the conduct of the business during the preceding twelve years of our audit, and they have been struck after making ample allowance for discounts, contingencies of realisation, maintenance and depreciation, in addition to the usual charges on the business.

Exclusive of Lands, Buildings, and Fixed Machinery, the Balance-sheet of 31st December, 1886, comprises the following assets :- Customers' Balances, and Cash, Stocks Of Ales. Stouts, Malt, Hops, and other materials, together with Casks and Bottles for the Home and Export Trades, and Plant, Utensils, &c., amounting in all to £160,111 17s 10d. and in our opinion the valuations of these assets are very moderately stated.
MONCREIFF & HORSBRUGH, C.A.
Dundee Courier - Saturday 27 February 1897, page 1.

You can see the same type of construction as at McEwan. The capital of £500,000 was divided into into preference shares, ordinary shares and deferred shares. With the board hanging onto all of the latter two. That's a fair bit of capital for the time. Though, as the prospectus states, it was the largest Scottish brewery outside Edinburgh.

There are details of the brewery, too. A 145 quarter brewhouse equates to an annual output of around 175,000 barrels. In 1897, 2,000,000 barrels of beer were brewed in Scotland. Which means George Younger had the capacity to brew 9% of all Scottish beer. I can easily believe they were the largest outside Edinburgh. And I can't imagine many in Edinburgh were bigger.

With a capacity of 565 quarters per week, the two maltings (after the completion of the new one) produced about enough for 4 days brewing. Which means they must have been close to self-sufficient in terms of malt.

The profits look a bit weird. Why did they earn so much less in 1895? That's the first question I would have asked if I'd been contemplating investing in the company.

The valuation of £160,111 17s 10d (how wonderfully precise) seems an awful lot considering in excludes the brewery premises and fixed machinery. They must have been worth a few quid.

McEwan goes public

In the late 1880's and 1890's there was a mad rush for breweries to change from private companies to public ones. They were prompted by the success of Guinness, whose flotation in the 1880's was massively over-subscribed.

McEwan was one of the first Scottish breweries to go public. Though, as in the case of most other Scottish breweries, the family who had formerly owned the brewery kept control.

It seems there were some surprising subscribers to McEwan's share issue:

"THE MCEWAN BREWERY COMPANY. 
It will he remembered (says a correspondent of the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch) that when the announcement was first made that Mr William McEwan was about to convert his extensive brewery business into a Limited Liability Company, there was a general rush for shares. It has now transpired that an immense number of the "trade" have secured shares. The largest holders of the preference shares of £10 are Lord Rosebery and Mr J. A. Molleson, C.A., Edinburgh, each of whom holds 1000, while Lord Rothschild holds 500. Mr Thomas Aitken, of the London and Edinburgh Shipping Company, has 750, and Mr. T. R. Buchanan, M.P. who is a supporter of Local Option, has 100. Mr Shiress Wills, another Scottish M.P. who is supposed to favour Local Option, holds 50. Lord Provost Boyd. Edinburgh, is the owner of 100 shares : his son, Mr William Boyd, W.S., has 50; and Sir James King, ex-Lord Provost of Glasgow, has 200. Viscount Bridport holds 425 ; Sheriff Crichton, 50 ; Sir George Balfour, K.C.B., holds 250 ; Professor Sir William Turner, 200: Mr David Turnbull, W.S., 250; Mr J. M. McCandlish, W.S., 100; Mr James Macdonald, S.S.C., 100 ; Mr J. H. Buchanan, C.A., 300 ; and the other principal shareholders are lawyers, bankers, and professional men in Edinburgh and throughout the country. At least one prominent local teetotaller, who occasionally makes himself conspicuous as an opponent of the drink traffic, is not above profiting by the evil thing, Councillor D. Miller Dunlop, hatter, North Bridge, Edinburgh, holding 100 shares. All the 50,000 ordinary shares are held by the Board, Mr McEwan retaining -43,000 in his own hands ; 5000 being allocated to Mr William Younger, managing director; 1000 to Mr Robert Younger, barrister. London; 500 to Mr William Hunter, secretary of the Company ; and 500 to Mr J. A. Molleson, C.A."
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 15 January 1890, page 4.

I should explain what the "local option" was. That was the idea to allow areas to vote on becoming dry. Something along those lines was later passed and some parts of Glasgow became dry. So it's odd that an M.P. who supported such a temperance move would buy shares in a brewery. Maybe he was hedging his bets.

Councillor Dunlop, the teetotaller, is even worse. Campaigning against the drink trade yet buying brewery shares seems rather hypocritical.

I'm starting to realise just how common some surnames are in Scotland. Ones like Aitken and Younger. It would be easy to jump to the conclusion  that Robert and William Younger weer connected with the breweries of those names, but I'm pretty sure that's not the case.

I'm pretty sure the ordinary shares were the only ones with voting rights. By keeping all of them, the board remained in total control. The share issues of other Scottish breweries were similar, with preference shares being flogged off to the public and the ordinary shares being held by the owners.

Younger's IPA

Pale Ale brewers. They had a thing about dragging in chemists and medical experts to testify how great - and healthy - their beer was. Mostly it was the Burton brewers - Bass, Allsopp and Salt - but William Younger was in on the act, too.

In the case of the Burton brewers, it was in reaction to the strychnine scare of 1852 (when a French doctor alleged that large quantities of strychnine were being exported to Britain for use as a bittering agent in Pale Ale).

INDIA PALE ALE,
ABBEY AND HOLYROOD BREWERIES, EDINBURGH, ESTABLISHED 1749.
WILLIAM YOUNGER & CO. respectfully call attention to the following CERTIFICATE by the late Professor WILSON, one of the most eminent Chemists of his day, regarding the peculiar and special excellencies of the Water used in brewing their PALE ALES, which secures unrivalled superiority in delicacy of flavour and keeping qualities:-

"Laboratory Edinburgh.
"Having twice visited with the interval of two years, Messrs. YOUNGER & Co.s ABBEY BREWERY EDINBURGH, and having carefully examined the water drawn in my presence from their Well, I can testify to its being of excellent quality for Brewing, as well as for other purposes. It is bright and sparkling - free from sediment - and without colour, taste, or smell.

"I have also examined it in my Laboratory, and subjected it twice to minute Analysis. It proves to be free from Organic Matter and all Noxious Ingredients, and to contain the Salts which long experience has shown to characterise the Waters which are most suitable for the purposes of the Brewer.

"I have likewise examined the Ale made with this Water, and find it, possess the appearance, properties, and chemical composition of Bitter Ale of the test quality.
"GEORGE WILSON, M.D.,
"Regius Professor of Technology. University, Edinburgh.

AGENTS FOR GLASGOW AND THE WEST OF SCOTLAND:-
JOHN BAIRD & CO.. 14 QUEEN STREET, GLASGOW.
The above to be had in hds, Barrels. and Half-Barrels.
Glasgow Herald - Wednesday 9 August 1865, page 2.

What can I say? Yet more frustration about the exact composition of Younger's water. Without colour, taste or smell. That's a pretty basic set of requirements for brewing water. Salts, well I could have guessed that it contained salts. Something slightly more specific would be useful. Like exactly what those salts were. Once again, hints of a Burton-like mineral content, but no actual details.

Hang on. There's something slightly off there. professor Wilson examined the brewing water of the Abbey Brewery. That was the older and larger of Younger's two breweries. But their IPA was usually brewed in the Holyrood Brewery.

"The Holyrood Brewery, five minutes walk from this place, is a more recent acquisition, and is interesting not only from the thousand memories connected with its name, but chiefly by the comparison between the present and the past of the art of brewing, suggested by what we have seen of its machinery and vessels, its immense range of granaries and mattings, its great store cellars and powerful machinery and the simpler methods and vessels until recently in use at the Abbey establishment, where the Edinburgh ale, for which Messrs. Wm. Younger & Co's ancestors were famous, is still brewed, whilst at Holyrood is produced their justly celebrated India pale ale, the triumph of Messrs. Wm. Younger & Co.'s skill and care. They are exceptionally fortunate in the situation of their establishments, which gives them access to water-bearing strata, yielding an abundant supply of water exactly suitable for the production of the highest class of ales."
"Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 2", Alfred Barnard, 1889, page 18.

I've mostly looked at records from the Abbey Brewery and just a single year from the Holyrood Brewery. While it's true that Holyrood concentrated mostly on Pale Ales, Abbey brewed every beer in their range:shilling Ales, Strong Ales, Edinburgh Ales, Stouts, Table Beer, mild Ales and Pale Ales. It's a sign of the importance of IPA to Younger's business that they had virtually a brewery dedicated to its production.

How the beer trade worked

Court cases. I love them. Because they often report on the inner workings of the beer trade. Something that doesn't show up in other sources.

No further introduction is necessary. The title of the article says it all

"ACTION AGAINST AN ABERDEEN SPIRIT-DEALER. BREWER'S DISCOUNT. An action was raised some time ago in the Aberdeen Sheriff Court at the instance of James Calder & Company, brewers, Alloa, against Thomas Donaldson, spirit dealer, King Street, Aberdeen, concluding for payment of £129 12s, being the price.of 32 hhds. of beer ordered by the defender from the pursuers through their traveller an 26th April, 1895, at the price of £4 per hhd. They also sued for the sum of £10 4s 8d, being the amount of freight and storage charge incurred by them to the railway companies in consequence of the defender's refusal to take delivery of the beer when tendered to him. The contract price of the beer was subject to a special discount of 40 per cent. if paid within six months, but in consequence of the defender's refusal to implement the bargain the pursuers sued for the full price. The defender in his pleadings denied having ordered 32 hogsheads of beer, but admitted having ordered 12, and pleaded that in any event he was entitled to the usual trade discount. The defender refused to take delivery of any part of the beer when tendered to him by the Caledonian and North British Railway Companies. Proof was led some time ago before Sheriff Brown, who has now granted decree against the defender for the sum sued for, under deduction of 35 per cent. from the contract price as trade discount.

In course of his note the Sheriff says:-The law applicable to the case is perfectly clear. The defender bought the goods in question, and was offered delivery, which he refused for no reason of any kind, and he must therefore pay the price. He is also liable for the loss occasioned by his failure to take delivery; and in taking back the beer and storing it in their own premises, to be there at the order and risk of the defender, the pursuers did what was best to avoid further damage. The other question in the case is as to the discount, the evidence bearing on it being meagre, and the authorities somewhat scanty. The view I take of the matter is that up to 35 per cent. it is to be regarded as a trade discount or abatement of the price, for which the purchaser is entitled to get credit at settlement, even although, as here, that should be made compulsorily. That doctrine seems to me to be expressed in the opinion of the Lord President and Lord McLaren, in the recent judgment of the Fist Division of the Court, in Buchanan & Co. v. Macdonald, 33 Scot. L., R. 200. Mr Calder seems to think that a different view is sanctioned by the custom of trade, but that is a large sum to be conditional on the mere accident of promptness in payment or to make a penalty for an appeal to the courts of law. The pursuers aptly quoted Duncan v. Aitchison & Co., 6 R. 582, and in re Cumberland, L. R. 3, Chan. Div., 803, but I think the principle which governs the case is that expounded in the judgment in the case first above mentioned. It appears to me also that that is an authority for making a distinction in this question of discount between the proportion which is to be regarded as a trade discount or abatement of the price and the increment which may fairly be considered as having been granted in consideration of prompt payment and of delivery being taken within a certain time. It is clearly proved that the additional 5 per cent. was given on these conditions, and as they were not qualified it has now been forfeited. The pursuers are, I think; entitled to full expenses, these having been incurred in proving the contract, and the defender having made no offer."
Aberdeen Journal - Friday 15 May 1896, page 7.

Let's get out a toothpick and pick the shreds of meat from that hearty meal.The beer had been sold by Calder's  traveller to a wine and spirit merchant. If this had happened 50 years earlier, I would have assumed that the purchase intended bottling the beer and then retailing it. That could still have been the case, but I can't be sure. Certainly the cask size - hogshead - suggests bottling. If he were reselling casks to private families, he'd want smaller ones than that.

It still tells us something about how Calder sold its beer. In this case it wasn't working through a local agent, but through its own traveller (salesman). Presumably he went around touting for orders which the brewery then dispatched by rail. (Note that it took two railway companies to get the beer from Alloa to Aberdeen. Ah, the joys of private railways.)

The figures don't seem to add up. 32 hogsheads at £4 a pop comes to £128. There's an extra 32 shillings in the price quoted - £129 12s. Clearly the price per hogshead  was 4 guineas (1 guinea = £1 1s), not four quid. Almost forgot, that makes the beer an 80/- (well, 88/- to be pedantic) Ale. William Younger's 80/- had an OG of 1061º in 1898. I would assume Calder's beer was of a similar gravity.

The defendant seems a bit shifty. Claiming he only ordered 12 hogsheads, refusing to take delivery of any but still trying to get his discount when forced to pay.

The Sheriff's ruling that 35% was a standard trade discount is significant, too. In "The complete practical brewer" (by Marcus Lafayette Byrn, 1860, page 117) it states that the trade discount was 15%. In the article Forty Years of Brewing (by A. W. Thomson, printed in "The Brewers' Journal 1940" page 55) says that the trade discount in 1900 was 33.33%. Based on that limited evidence, it looks as if the trade discount increased in the latter part of the 19th century. Was this the result of increased competition?

Another informative day for us all.

James Calder and the railway

Time for some obsessing about James Calder again. This time with a slight twist. A railway twist.

I'd best start with an explanation. The North British Railway (great name, that) was the major rail company in Scotland. With a network of lines in the industrial parts of central Scotland, it had a virtual monopoly in many areas. Hence the enthusiasm of Calder and others for the establishment of  a rival rail company. Presumably in the hope of seeing transportation costs fall. Beer is, after all, pretty bulky stuff.

Word of explanation number two. In order to build a railway line an Act of parliament was required. Even the merger of railway companies needed to be approved by parliament. Hence this parliamentary debate about

"THE FORTH AND CLYDE RAILWAY. FORTH & CLYDE JUNCTION & CALEDONIAN RAILWAY COMPANIES AMALGAMATION BILL. This bill came on for consideration before a Select Committee, of which the Hon. W. O. Stanley was chairman, on Wednesday. The bill was opposed by the North British Railway.

. . . .

James Calder, of Alloa, examined - am a partner in the firm of McNellan & Co., brewers. We have a very extensive business, and send by the North British Railway from 12,000 to 15,000 barrels per year. There are six or seven other breweries in Alloa, and they send together about 75,000 barrels a year, nearly the whole of which goes by the North British Company. There are also eight or ten woollen manufactories at Alloa, and large distilleries also, which are dependent for railway accommodation upon the North British Railway. The present bill would be of great advantage to the district by introducing a healthy competition in rates, accommodation, and convenience. The other towns in the district are in the same position as Alloa. All the traders in the district would be benefitted by the bill, except, perhaps, the coal-owners, who seem to be afraid of the competition of the Wishaw coal."
Stirling Observer - Thursday 28 March 1867, page 5.

Did you spot all the interesting bits?

First, James Calder was already a partner in McNellan & Co. in 1867. Judging by the fact that he went to parliament rather than McNellan, he took a leading role in the company. Calder was an energetic man, active in local politics in addition to his business activities.

Then there are those barrel numbers. 12,000 to 15,000 a year that Calder shipped by rail. It's worth remembering here that Alloa was a port and that Calder and McNellan's premises were called the Shore Brewery for a reason. I mention this because it's certain that some beer was shipped by sea. Even after the completion of the railway network.

In 1871, 9362 people lived in Alloa. Let's see how those 75,000 barrels of beer exported by rail would have amounted to per head of population of Alloa. I make it just over 2,307 pints per head of population. Or way more than the inhabitants of Alloa could ever possibly drink. And that's just the beer exported by rail. Clearly beer was an important export for the town.

Finally, 75,000 barrels were exported by rail from Alloa, of which McNellan's share was about a fifth. And, in total, there were 7 or 8 breweries in the town. What does that tell us? That Calder almost certainly wasn't the largest, the average amount of beer shipped being around 10,000 barrels per brewery.

It's all been very educational today, hasn't it?

The Scottish free trade again

Here's two for the price of one: James Calder and a tie agreement. What fun.

"AN ALLOA BREWER AND HIS CUSTOMER. In the Court or Session yesterday, Lord Trayner was to have heard evidence in an action at the instance of James Calder, brewer, Alloa, against William Aitken, spirit merchant, Junction Street, Leith, but the case was settled extra-judicially. Pursuer sued for £1000, alleged to have been incurred as penalty under a lease of the premises occupied by defender. Pursuer let the premises in 1880 to Daniel Bernard on condition that Bernard should take all the ale, beer, and stout which he should sell from James Calder & Company, brewers, Alloa, or any other brewery in which pursuer might be interested, or that he should pay pursuer £1 per barrel for all other liquors used. Aitken now occupies the premises by assignation from Bernard, with pursuer's consent. It was averred that defender had violated that condition to the extent of taking at least 1000 barrels of liquor from other brewers. Defender averred that the stipulation bad been allowed to become a dead letter, but that he had taken all his bitter ale from pursuer, although he would have saved 5 per cent by not doing so. He explains that be procured stout, sweet ale, and light beer liquors from other traders, because pursuer did not supply him with liquors of the best quality, but he stated that he had their express consent. Parties Have come to a new agreement with reference to the liquors to be taken."
Dundee Courier - Thursday 17 November 1887, page 4.

If I interpret this correctly, James Calder owned the lease of the pub. They let the pub to Daniel Bernard with a tie for beer. William Aitken then took over the pub from Bernard but started buying beer from elsewhere.

I'm pretty sure that isn't how Scottish brewers usually worked. They owned the freehold or the lease of comparatively few premises. More commonly, brewers lent money to publicans in return for them taking the brewer's beer.

That charge of  £1 per barrel for beer bought from other brewers is more considerable than it might sound. A barrel of X Ale or Porter cost £3. Even the most expensive beers rarely cost more than £6. Knowing how tight the profit margins were for pubs, that extra £1 a barrel was probably enough to make it uneconomical.

The most surprising element of this story is the complaint about the quality of Calder's beer.I thought they had a good reputation. Perhaps that was only for their Pale Ale. Because it's noteworthy that Aitken did take Calder's Pale Ale. It was just the 'stout, sweet ale, and light beer liquors" that he wasn't happy with. What do you reckon sweet ale was? Mild Ale?

OCB induced error

Martyn Cornell and I agreed on the main reason for exposing inaccuracies in the Oxford Companion to Beer. That it would be assumed to be authoritative and any errors in it would be endlessly repeated. If left uncorrected, they could do untold harm.

And here it is. My first spotting of the OCB being used as a reference. Alright, it's only in wikipedia. But you get my point. It's just the start.

Though there's some irony in it being the Porter article from the OCB that's used as a reference. The OCB article having listed my book "Porter!" in its references.

People want to have a good time (except in Scotland)

Pub closing times. British governments can't help but play around with them. It's nothing new. This particular piece of legislation was concerned with extending pub opening hours in London (and possibly other cities) to 11 PM.

"London's 11 o'Clock Closing Hour

"PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME "

Mr. Foot's Amendment Affecting Cities and Boroughs

When Standing Committee "B" of the House of Commons yesterday resumed consideration the Licensing (Standardisation of Hours; Bill, the first amendment tabled Mr. J C. Lockwood (Cons., Hackney, Central), which aimed at limiting the operation of the eleven o'clock closing hour the Metropolis, gave rise considerable discussion.

Mr. MacQuisten (C, Argyll) said that, in his view, there was no demand for extension of hours except in the Metropolis. There was no demand in Scotland and there was not anybody who would be more opposed to it than the trade.

Mr. Lockwood: The Bill does not apply to Scotland.

Mr. MacQuisten: Well, don't try it in Scotland, you will find that will be bitterly opposed. He added that the country as a whole did not want an extension of hours; most people wanted to go to bed after 10 p.m.

GOOD TIME IN LONDON.

But," Mr. MacQuisten finally observed, "people come London for a good time, and you are not finished having good time by ten o'clock at night."

Mr. A. Wise (C. Smethwick), opposing the amendment, said he could not see why his constituents should be considered as less sober in their habits and less fit to have extra hour for drinking than the Cockneys in London. "Even if the public houses were open for twenty-four hours still think my constituents would be capable maintaining their sobriety."

Lady Astor: I don t think so.

Mr. Wise: But the noble Lady does not know my constituency. He added that even this Bill were passed there was nothing to stop the public going to bed at 10 p.m. if they chose.

Mr. Wise: The desire Scotsmen not to to the public houses after 10 o'clock might be due to their thrifty habits. Or perhaps they prefer their drink in bulk rather than by retail. —(Laughter).

Mr. Rutherford (C, Edmonton), who opposed the amendment, asked why should not people Birmingham or Manchester have a good time, just those in London demanded.

Mr. Lockwood's amendment was rejected by sixteen to thirteen.

Mr. Foot moved further amendment to provide that the eleven o'clock closing hour should apply to cities and boroughs with a population of 100,000 or over, instead of those of 20,000 or over.

Mr. Lockwood rose in protest. "Lady Astor,he said, has no right to make the allegation that I am receiving any funds of any kind or sort or description from the brewing industry. Some of us are getting little tired of allegations being made which have no foundation in fact whatever."

Mr. Lockwood asked the Chairman's protection against such allegations.

Lady Astor: I never said it, but would remind the hon. Member that the drink trade boasts of spending a million a year in propaganda in advertising, and that this is a Bill which is wanted only two classes of people, those who produce the drink and those who want to consume it.

Amid cries of Order! Order!" Lady Astor sat down.

The Government's attitude was indicated Mr. Douglas Hacking, Under Secretary Home Office, who pointed out that, on second reading, he stated that anomalies were not corrected by the Bill, and the Government could not reasonably be expected to support Bill which cut across one of the main proposals of the Report of the Royal Commission.

"I must clearly state that if this Bill goes down to the House for its report stage with the anomalies not corrected, and, in fact, definitely increased, and one of the main provisions of the Royal Commission attacked, then must say that the Government certainly will not give it facilities for its further stages in the House of Commons."

The Committee adjourned until Tuesday next."
Western Times - Friday 16 February 1934, page 16.

Mr. MacQuisten doesn't seem the sharpest knife in the drawer, not realising the Bill didn't apply to Scotland. Surely anyone with even the vaguest clue about pubs would have realised that Scottish licensing legislation was totally separate. And has been for just a couple of hundred years. Still is, for that matter.

What were people up to in London that meant their good time wasn't over by 10 PM? Sounds rather seedy to me. Or could it be connecting with the fact that London was where Mr. MacQuisten had most of his good times?

There are a couple of classic Scottish jokes hidden in there. Good to see that the level of humour in the House of Commons has always been so high.

Lady Astor plays the pantomime temperance fanatic in that short passage. More proof that nothing ever changes, at least in Britain. You can't trust those working classes. Give them the chance and they'll never be sober again.

It makes a change from Aitken, don't you think? Licensing legislation, I mean. Terrifically riveting.

The Aitken family again

More gossip from Alex Young. Sort of about the Aitken family.

I'd not expected this:

"This I must tell you, Mrs Aitken was French, they had a house in St Malo in France. When the Germans invaded France that was one of the first places they occupied Mrs Aitken just got out by the skin of her teeth she got over to Britain in a coal boat with just the clothes she stood up in."

That's the first mention of Aitken's wife. How had they met? I can't imagine Falkirk was full of the French back in 1900. Sounds like she had quite an adventure, dodging the Germans.

This nest section explains the later management of the company.

"Dan Robertson came as the head brewer William Findlay came as Private Secretary to Mr Aitken John Young came as the Foreman Cooper, I'm not sure It's so long ago whether they came from Patersons* or Murray's**

When Aitken died Findlay and Robertson became manageing Directors. At the Board Meetings an Edinburgh lawyer by the name of Beveridge represented Mrs Aitken William Findlay brought into the business his two sons James and Roy, Roy was a partner in a Broker and Accounting firm, Roy was a good Tennis player but a right Playboy, they put him in the advertising side but he did'nt last long. His wild life eventually caught up with him, his wife left him and killed himself drinking. In the meantime the father died and James took over as manageing Directer and was in that position until the take over"

According to "The Breweries of East Stirlingshire" (by Forbes Gibb, 2007, page 31), James Heugh Aitken died in 1933. He'd been running the company since his father's death in 1898. Not a bad run then, 35 years in charge.

Aitken himself (that's him looking dapper to the right) had no son to take over the business, just one daughter. If she'd been a boy, the family might have stayed in control. Bit sexist, these brewery owners. I can't remember any daughters being brought into the business, while it was standard with sons. Up until at least the 19th century, at least one son would be trained as a brewer.

I bet Roy Finlay didn't drink himself to death with beer.



*I assume this is T. Y. Paterson & Co., brewers in Edinburgh, who Aitken's bought and
closed in 1936. According to "The Breweries of East Stirlingshire" (by Forbes Gibb, 2007, page 22) William Finlay (managing director) and Daniel Robertson had both previously worked for T. Y. Paterson.

** Presumably William Murray & Co., another Edinburgh brewer.

A visit to William Younger in 1872

How to start the new year? I know: more about Scotland.

Just to vary things up a bit, let's leave Falkirk and head to Scotland's capital. For another visit to William Younger's breweries. I'll warn you that it's another of those pieces without paragraphs. Best I divide it up for you.

"A VISIT TO MESSRS WILLIAM YOUNGER AND CO.'S BREWERIES IN EDINBURGH. Within a hundred yards of the front of the ancient and Royal Palace of Holyrood, at the entrance to the Queen's Park in Edinburgh, are situated the premises of one if not the oldest and most extensive brewery firm in Scotland— Messrs William Younger & Co's. Starting in the year 1749, but on a limited scale of operation, the firm have, by their indomitable energy and business tact, and relying especially on the superior quality of beer they sent into the market, gradually extended their connection, till now their name is favourably known throughout the civilised world. Their present premises, taken altogether, cover an area of fully ten acres. These consist of the Abbey, or principal brewery, at the foot of Canongate ; the newer brewery of Holyrood, the export stores, a splendid building, nearly opposite, and occupying a site on the margin of the Queen's Park; and, lastly, the extensive maltings, in a northern district of the city, called Canonmills."

That 1749 date as the foundation of the brewery has clearly been around a long time. Despite it being, er, dubious. Untrue, that's the word. But don't let that distract us. William Younger was already an extensive enterprise, with two breweries, an export store and a maltings. (As you'll recall, most Scottish breweries made at least some of their own malt.)

"The Abbey Brewery, in which more than half the beer manufactured by the firm is produced, is that nearest to Holyrood ; and the site possesses natural advantages of a most important and valuable character. Not the least important of these consists in the fact that it enables the firm to obtain from wells sunk by themselves, underneath their own premises, an abundant supply of beautifully clear water, containing properties which have afforded practically convincing proof of being excellently adapted for brewing purposes. These buildings are of three storeys. The portions in which the malt is prepared are situated in the wings of the block, but are here of comparatively limited extent, the principal maltings, which are made to supplement the supply of material both to tbe Abbey and the Holyrood breweries, being situate at Canonmills."

Yet another frustrating description of Edinburgh brewing water. Exactly what was its composition? Presumably quite hard, given it proved perfect for brewing Pale Ale.

"As we entered the building at the Abbey Brewery, the making of a browst of bitter or India pale ale had just commenced. To give the various processes, although extremely interesting, would occupy too much space, but those who wish to see brewing carried on under the must approved methods, cannot do better than visit one of the breweries of William Younger and Co. "

That's useful. Brewing IPA is fascinating, but we haven't space to describe it. Well thank you very much. Though there is further confirmation that  Pale Ale and Bitter were the same thing.

"Next in importance to the Abbey Brewery, we notice the second branch of Messrs William Younger and Co.'s working premises in Edinburgh, namely, the Holyrood Brewery. There are several buildings, the scene of different industrial pursuits, intervening between this branch and the head-quarters of the firm's establishment ; so that the Abbey and the Holyrood as breweries, are quite separate and distinct. In the latter, the brewing operations are carried on for only ten months in the year. In its internal arrangements generally the Holyrood necessarily bears considerable resemblance to the parent establishment of the Abbey."

Want to see how the layout of the buildings looked? Well here's a map from 1876:

The Abbey brewery is in the top right hand corner. The Holyrood brewery is at the bottom left. Marked "Holyrood Brewery".  The Export stores are in the bottom right.

As the text says, there are several other industrial buildings between the two breweries - a brass foundry, a glassworks. Whenever I see maps of Edinburgh breweries, their sites always look cramped and restricted. Not perfect for a large industrial enterprise.

Did the Holyrood brewery only brew for 10 months a year? Not sure. I can't say That I'd noticed a break in the brewing records. I need to root through my photos. That's certainly not how London breweries operated. They were full speed ahead 12 months of the year.

"These extensive export stores, built by Messrs Younger and Co., in 1867, at an expense of full £13,000, for the purpose of facilitating the preparation and packing of their beers for export, form an interesting and imposing feature, even in an architectural point of view, in the surroundings of Holyrood Palace. The stores occupy a site of fully two acres in extent on the once famous orchard of Holyrood ; and a stranger is at once struck with the conviction that in its design and construction a most commendable regard was had to preserving harmony of character with the surrounding buildings of historical interest. Facing the visitor as he enters the extensive courtyard, and occupying the extreme south side of the square, is the main building or export store ; on the west side of the square being the cooperage, at which fifty men and boys for this department of the establishment alone, are always in full employment."

Building on the royal rochard. Not sure they'd get away with that now. Then again, the bastards built that stupid Scottish parliament building on the site of the Abbey Brewery. And when they designed that they clearly didn't give a toss about preserving any harmony of character. The bastards.

"On leaving the export stores, the visitor naturally takes a peep into the cooperage, where he will find about fifty journeymen and apprentices busy at work. This department is limited, however, compared with the extent of the business; for the firm confine their operations here to making the casks for the export of the bottled beer and for repairing casks in use for the home consumption."

I wonder where they made their other casks?

"The great maltings and storehouses in which the bulk of the malt is prepared for the Abbey and Holyrood- breweries are situated at the opposite or northern district of the city, Canonmills. The maltings and cooperages of Messrs William Younger and Co., occupy an area of nearly three acres. It is here, perhaps, after all, that the best idea can be formed of the extent of the business carried on by the firm — from the enormous quantities of malt on the numerous floors of the spacious buildings, where may be seen, carried on in perfection, the various processes of wetting, germinating, and drying the malt in kilns. The buildings are remarkable for their strength and solidity, their cleanness and convenience of situations relatively to each other. By a new wing that has of late years been added to the premises here, the malting accommodation has been increased by about 20,000 additional quarters. The extensive cooperage at Canonmills we found also in full operation, its steam saws, planes, &c, being driven by a 25-horse power engine attached to the establishment. In the manufacture of the barrels, the process of steaming the staves after they are set up, and before putting them over the fire, is here carried out to perfection. The oak here used is Dantzic oak. — Birmingham Daily Gazette. "
Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough - Tuesday 3 September 1872, page 3.

Ah right, got it now. The main cooperage was at Canonmills with the maltings. Finally some numbers. 20,000 quarters extra capacity. That tells me something. That's enough to brew about 80,000 barrels of beer. And That's just the additional capacity. Younger must have been brewing well in excess of 100,000 barrels a year.

Dantzic oak is I guess the same as Memel oak. That is, from the Baltic. That remained British brewers favourite well into the 20th century, even though World Wars blocked their access to it.

Not the most informative brewery description ever. But I still feel we've learned something.