Let's Brew Wednesday updated stats

As some of you noticed, there was a slight cock up in the last set of stats I posted. I hadn't noticed there was a second page.

Here's a correct set. First broken down by style. I'm surprised by the poor showing of IPA. According to this, it's the least popular style in terms of views.

Style	No. recipes	% of total	average no. views
Brown Ale	2	1.50%	612
Burton	12	9.02%	691
IPA	8	6.02%	399
Lager	3	2.26%	753
Light Ale	1	0.75%	1221
Mild	29	21.80%	515
Pale Ale	30	22.56%	665
Porter	7	5.26%	1021
Scotch Ale	8	6.02%	953
Shilling Ale	4	3.01%	501
Stout	22	16.54%	806
Strong Ale	5	3.76%	863
Table	2	1.50%	701
Total	133	100.00%

Now in reverse order of popularity, each recipe:

Recipe	Style	no. of views	date posted
1917 Whitbread X	Mild	99	25/03/2009
1918 Barclay Perkins GA	Mild	126	04/02/2010
1923 Whitbread PA	Pale Ale	129	03/03/2009
1942 Barclay Perkins KK	Burton	155	05/06/2009
1918 Courage X	Mild	165	18/03/2009
1936 Barclay Perkins KKKK	Burton	169	02/07/2009
1860 Truman XXX Ale	Mild	171	23/02/2009
1950 Whitbread Mild	Mild	173	09/03/2009
1917 Whitbread IPA	IPA	179	07/04/2009
1914 Ushers 48/- and 54/-	Pale Ale	182	23/09/2009
1920 Fuller's XX Ale	Mild	184	22/02/2009
1918 Whitbread IPA	IPA	201	15/04/2009
1950 Whitbread Best Ale	Mild	230	13/05/2009
1917 Whitbread GA	Mild	230	01/04/2009
1923 Whitbread X Ale	Mild	232	01/03/2009
1909 Maclays 54/- PI	IPA	242	19/08/2009
1920 Fullers PA, AK, XK	Pale Ale	248	06/05/2009
1921 Barclay Perkins PA	Pale Ale	271	24/02/2010
1849 Barclay Perkins EI	Porter	271	27/02/2009
1941 Whitbread weak IPA	IPA	275	21/10/2009
1864 Lovibond XXXX Christmas beer	Mild	278	24/12/2009
1953 Truman No.7	Mild	285	27/01/2011
1971 Whitbread Final Selection	Strong Ale	301	19/12/2013
1952 Lees Stout	Stout	308	29/09/2010
1909 Maclay PI 60/-	IPA	316	18/12/2013
1928 Barclay Perkins Ale 4d	Mild	361	11/11/2010
1962 Fullers OH, X	Mild	361	22/07/2009
1936 Barclay Perkins DB	Brown Ale	363	25/06/2009
1928 Barclay Perkins Export PA	Pale Ale	379	14/10/2010
1919 Barclay Perkins X	Mild	380	19/01/2011
1962 Fullers Nourishing Stout	Stout	382	04/08/2009
1934 Barclay Perkins Ale 4d	Mild	386	12/01/2011
1923 Whitbread IPA	IPA	387	02/03/2009
1894 Usher's PA	Pale Ale	392	16/12/2011
1920 Fullers XX	Mild	395	18/12/2009
1958 Lees Best Mild	Mild	408	04/08/2010
1915 Courage X	Mild	423	11/03/2009
1943 Whitbread XXXX	Burton	424	09/06/2009
1921 Barclay Perkins BS S Irish Stout type	Stout	431	10/03/2010
1924 Barclay Perkins Export PA	Pale Ale	443	11/05/2011
1936 Barclay Perkins KKKK	Burton	445	01/07/2009
1868 William Younger No. 2	Scotch Ale	447	22/02/2012
1971 Whitbread Brewmaster Export	Pale Ale	448	11/12/2013
1923 Barclay Perkins XLK	Pale Ale	449	08/12/2010
1885 Usher's 40/-	Shilling Ale	456	24/11/2011
1868 William Younger 120/-	Shilling Ale	462	03/11/2011
1868 Younger Table Beer	Table	471	20/10/2011
1868 William Younger Bg	Scotch Ale	471	21/09/2011
1949 William Younger DBS	Stout	477	26/04/2012
1949 William Younger XXPS	Pale Ale	495	11/04/2012
1942 Barclay Perkins XLK	Pale Ale	509	11/03/2011
1894 Usher's Stout	Stout	514	07/12/2011
1868 Younger 60/-	Shilling Ale	525	13/10/2011
1934 Barclay Perkins Draught Lager	Lager	526	29/08/2012
1950 Whitbread Exp PA	Pale Ale	539	20/07/2011
1933 Kidd AK	Pale Ale	541	06/04/2011
1971 Whitbread Tankard	Pale Ale	553	04/12/2013
1868 William Younger 140/-	Shilling Ale	562	05/10/2011
1928 Barclay Perkins IBS	Stout	566	01/12/2010
1934 Kidd PA	Pale Ale	573	28/04/2011
1951 Lees "C" Ale	Burton	579	25/07/2010
1879 William Younger No.3	Scotch Ale	587	02/02/2012
1910 Fuller's Porter	Porter	588	28/02/2009
1924 Barclay Perkins RNS	Stout	589	11/07/2012
1987 Boddington's ELM	Mild	590	23/05/2012
1915 Noakes Double Stout	Stout	592	01/08/2012
1900 Amsdell Porter	Porter	601	14/11/2012
1868 Tetley's X3P Stout	Stout	605	15/08/2012
1962 Barclay Perkins Sparkling Beer	Lager	642	26/09/2012
1896 Eldridge Pope LTS	Stout	645	23/01/2013
1879 Whitbread XX Export	Mild	656	30/06/2011
1942 Barclay Perkins KK	Burton	660	02/03/2011
1952 Mackeson Stout	Stout	661	01/11/2010
1923 Fuller's XK	Pale Ale	664	07/02/2013
1867 Courage Double Stout	Stout	665	08/08/2012
1962 Fullers ELP, LP, PA, LA	Pale Ale	667	29/07/2009
1840 Truman Export Stout	Stout	671	07/07/2011
1833 Vassar Pale Double Ale	Strong Ale	683	01/11/2012
1895 Truman Export Stout	Stout	684	25/07/2012
1890 Truman Imperial, Double and SS Stout	Stout	684	28/04/2010
1942 Barclay Perkins XX	Mild	690	17/03/2011
1955 Whitbread XXX	Mild	696	03/03/2010
1923 Courage X	Mild	727	21/11/2013
1941 Barclay Perkins IBS	Stout	736	11/02/2010
1923 Courage KKK	Burton	749	07/11/2013
1868 William Younger DBS	Stout	757	26/10/2011
1883 Truman Export Pale Ale	Pale Ale	760	13/07/2011
1913 William Younger No. 1	Scotch Ale	770	28/03/2012
1955 Fullers X	Mild	772	07/06/2012
1933 Barclay Perkins KKKK	Burton	789	22/12/2010
1941 Whitbread Strong IPA	IPA	795	15/10/2009
1885 Younger XP	IPA	798	25/10/2013
1987 Boddington's Mild	Mild	798	16/05/2012
1913 William Younger No. 3	Scotch Ale	809	21/03/2012
1923 Barclay Perkins XLK	Pale Ale	810	02/02/2011
1930 Whitbread AK	Pale Ale	823	03/08/2011
1953 Ben Truman	Pale Ale	825	22/04/2010
1885 Usher's PA	Pale Ale	829	16/11/2011
1948 Portsmouth and Brighton United Breweries Pompey Royal	Strong Ale	836	27/06/2012
1877 Whitbread KKK	Burton	844	09/07/2009
1955 Whitbread Forest Brown and Double Brown	Brown Ale	861	04/03/2009
1928 Barclay Perkins KK (bottling)	Burton	887	18/03/2010
1914 Fullers AK	Pale Ale	894	18/08/2011
1834 St. Stephen's Porter	Porter	898	14/01/2010
1896 Eldridge Pope AK	Pale Ale	903	17/01/2013
1987 Oldham Mild	Mild	906	10/05/2012
1834 St. Stephen's Porter	Porter	906	14/01/2010
1834 Vassar Double Ale	Strong Ale	918	12/10/2012
1877 Whitbread XPS	Pale Ale	924	25/05/2011
1804 Barclay Perkins Table Beer	Table	931	04/11/2010
1934 Kidd XXX	Burton	960	13/04/2011
1885 Usher's IP	Pale Ale	981	09/11/2011
1943 Whitbread Oat Mild	Mild	983	28/01/2010
1868 Younger No. 3	Scotch Ale	1016	28/09/2011
1868 Younger XP	Pale Ale	1024	15/09/2011
1839 Barclay Perkins XXX	Mild	1092	24/03/2010
1962 Harp Lager	Lager	1092	30/09/2009
1911 Russell AK	Pale Ale	1105	24/08/2011
1890 Truman Export Stout	Stout	1146	06/01/2010
1965 Courage Light Ale	Light Ale	1221	07/10/2009
1987 Boddington's Bitter	Pale Ale	1296	02/05/2012
1928 Barclay Perkins IPA	Pale Ale	1298	18/11/2010
1909 Maclay's Oatmalt Stout	Stout	1310	13/06/2012
1936 Mackeson Stout	Stout	1366	07/10/2010
1879 William Younger No.1	Scotch Ale	1441	18/01/2012
1967 Eldridge Pope Hardy Ale	Strong Ale	1576	13/03/2013
1935 Fullers OBE	Burton	1631	09/06/2010
1923 Courage Stout	Stout	1796	14/11/2013
1811 Whitbread Porter	Porter	1819	05/01/2011
1859 Barclay Perkins EI	Porter	2063	22/11/2012
1868 William Younger No. 3 Export	Scotch Ale	2084	08/02/2012
1952 Lees Best Mild	Mild	2131	28/07/2010
1914 Courage Imperial	Stout	2141	29/02/2012

Another watery WW I Mild just sqeezed out the Barclay Perkins Government Ale in the revised list.

And finally in date order. Still no recipe for the 1820's.

Recipe	Style	no. of views	date posted
1804 Barclay Perkins Table Beer	Table	931	04/11/2010
1811 Whitbread Porter	Porter	1819	05/01/2011
1833 Vassar Pale Double Ale	Strong Ale	683	01/11/2012
1834 St. Stephen's Porter	Porter	898	14/01/2010
1834 St. Stephen's Porter	Porter	906	14/01/2010
1834 Vassar Double Ale	Strong Ale	918	12/10/2012
1839 Barclay Perkins XXX	Mild	1092	24/03/2010
1840 Truman Export Stout	Stout	671	07/07/2011
1849 Barclay Perkins EI	Porter	271	27/02/2009
1859 Barclay Perkins EI	Porter	2063	22/11/2012
1860 Truman XXX Ale	Mild	171	23/02/2009
1864 Lovibond XXXX Christmas beer	Mild	278	24/12/2009
1867 Courage Double Stout	Stout	665	08/08/2012
1868 Tetley's X3P Stout	Stout	605	15/08/2012
1868 William Younger 120/-	Shilling Ale	462	03/11/2011
1868 William Younger 140/-	Shilling Ale	562	05/10/2011
1868 William Younger Bg	Scotch Ale	471	21/09/2011
1868 William Younger DBS	Stout	757	26/10/2011
1868 William Younger No. 2	Scotch Ale	447	22/02/2012
1868 William Younger No. 3 Export	Scotch Ale	2084	08/02/2012
1868 Younger 60/-	Shilling Ale	525	13/10/2011
1868 Younger No. 3	Scotch Ale	1016	28/09/2011
1868 Younger Table Beer	Table	471	20/10/2011
1868 Younger XP	Pale Ale	1024	15/09/2011
1877 Whitbread KKK	Burton	844	09/07/2009
1877 Whitbread XPS	Pale Ale	924	25/05/2011
1879 Whitbread XX Export	Mild	656	30/06/2011
1879 William Younger No.1	Scotch Ale	1441	18/01/2012
1879 William Younger No.3	Scotch Ale	587	02/02/2012
1883 Truman Export Pale Ale	Pale Ale	760	13/07/2011
1885 Usher's 40/-	Shilling Ale	456	24/11/2011
1885 Usher's IP	Pale Ale	981	09/11/2011
1885 Usher's PA	Pale Ale	829	16/11/2011
1885 Younger XP	IPA	798	25/10/2013
1890 Truman Export Stout	Stout	1146	06/01/2010
1890 Truman Imperial, Double and SS Stout	Stout	684	28/04/2010
1894 Usher's PA	Pale Ale	392	16/12/2011
1894 Usher's Stout	Stout	514	07/12/2011
1895 Truman Export Stout	Stout	684	25/07/2012
1896 Eldridge Pope AK	Pale Ale	903	17/01/2013
1896 Eldridge Pope LTS	Stout	645	23/01/2013
1900 Amsdell Porter	Porter	601	14/11/2012
1909 Maclay PI 60/-	IPA	316	18/12/2013
1909 Maclays 54/- PI	IPA	242	19/08/2009
1909 Maclay's Oatmalt Stout	Stout	1310	13/06/2012
1910 Fuller's Porter	Porter	588	28/02/2009
1911 Russell AK	Pale Ale	1105	24/08/2011
1913 William Younger No. 1	Scotch Ale	770	28/03/2012
1913 William Younger No. 3	Scotch Ale	809	21/03/2012
1914 Courage Imperial	Stout	2141	29/02/2012
1914 Fullers AK	Pale Ale	894	18/08/2011
1914 Ushers 48/- and 54/-	Pale Ale	182	23/09/2009
1915 Courage X	Mild	423	11/03/2009
1915 Noakes Double Stout	Stout	592	01/08/2012
1917 Whitbread GA	Mild	230	01/04/2009
1917 Whitbread IPA	IPA	179	07/04/2009
1917 Whitbread X	Mild	99	25/03/2009
1918 Barclay Perkins GA	Mild	126	04/02/2010
1918 Courage X	Mild	165	18/03/2009
1918 Whitbread IPA	IPA	201	15/04/2009
1919 Barclay Perkins X	Mild	380	19/01/2011
1920 Fullers PA, AK, XK	Pale Ale	248	06/05/2009
1920 Fullers XX	Mild	395	18/12/2009
1920 Fuller's XX Ale	Mild	184	22/02/2009
1921 Barclay Perkins BS S Irish Stout type	Stout	431	10/03/2010
1921 Barclay Perkins PA	Pale Ale	271	24/02/2010
1923 Barclay Perkins XLK	Pale Ale	449	08/12/2010
1923 Barclay Perkins XLK	Pale Ale	810	02/02/2011
1923 Courage KKK	Burton	749	07/11/2013
1923 Courage Stout	Stout	1796	14/11/2013
1923 Courage X	Mild	727	21/11/2013
1923 Fuller's XK	Pale Ale	664	07/02/2013
1923 Whitbread IPA	IPA	387	02/03/2009
1923 Whitbread PA	Pale Ale	129	03/03/2009
1923 Whitbread X Ale	Mild	232	01/03/2009
1924 Barclay Perkins Export PA	Pale Ale	443	11/05/2011
1924 Barclay Perkins RNS	Stout	589	11/07/2012
1928 Barclay Perkins Ale 4d	Mild	361	11/11/2010
1928 Barclay Perkins Export PA	Pale Ale	379	14/10/2010
1928 Barclay Perkins IBS	Stout	566	01/12/2010
1928 Barclay Perkins IPA	Pale Ale	1298	18/11/2010
1928 Barclay Perkins KK (bottling)	Burton	887	18/03/2010
1930 Whitbread AK	Pale Ale	823	03/08/2011
1933 Barclay Perkins KKKK	Burton	789	22/12/2010
1933 Kidd AK	Pale Ale	541	06/04/2011
1934 Barclay Perkins Ale 4d	Mild	386	12/01/2011
1934 Barclay Perkins Draught Lager	Lager	526	29/08/2012
1934 Kidd PA	Pale Ale	573	28/04/2011
1934 Kidd XXX	Burton	960	13/04/2011
1935 Fullers OBE	Burton	1631	09/06/2010
1936 Barclay Perkins DB	Brown Ale	363	25/06/2009
1936 Barclay Perkins KKKK	Burton	169	02/07/2009
1936 Barclay Perkins KKKK	Burton	445	01/07/2009
1936 Mackeson Stout	Stout	1366	07/10/2010
1941 Barclay Perkins IBS	Stout	736	11/02/2010
1941 Whitbread Strong IPA	IPA	795	15/10/2009
1941 Whitbread weak IPA	IPA	275	21/10/2009
1942 Barclay Perkins KK	Burton	155	05/06/2009
1942 Barclay Perkins KK	Burton	660	02/03/2011
1942 Barclay Perkins XLK	Pale Ale	509	11/03/2011
1942 Barclay Perkins XX	Mild	690	17/03/2011
1943 Whitbread Oat Mild	Mild	983	28/01/2010
1943 Whitbread XXXX	Burton	424	09/06/2009
1948 Portsmouth and Brighton United Breweries Pompey Royal	Strong Ale	836	27/06/2012
1949 William Younger DBS	Stout	477	26/04/2012
1949 William Younger XXPS	Pale Ale	495	11/04/2012
1950 Whitbread Best Ale	Mild	230	13/05/2009
1950 Whitbread Exp PA	Pale Ale	539	20/07/2011
1950 Whitbread Mild	Mild	173	09/03/2009
1951 Lees "C" Ale	Burton	579	25/07/2010
1952 Lees Best Mild	Mild	2131	28/07/2010
1952 Lees Stout	Stout	308	29/09/2010
1952 Mackeson Stout	Stout	661	01/11/2010
1953 Ben Truman	Pale Ale	825	22/04/2010
1953 Truman No.7	Mild	285	27/01/2011
1955 Fullers X	Mild	772	07/06/2012
1955 Whitbread Forest Brown and Double Brown	Brown Ale	861	04/03/2009
1955 Whitbread XXX	Mild	696	03/03/2010
1958 Lees Best Mild	Mild	408	04/08/2010
1962 Barclay Perkins Sparkling Beer	Lager	642	26/09/2012
1962 Fullers ELP, LP, PA, LA	Pale Ale	667	29/07/2009
1962 Fullers Nourishing Stout	Stout	382	04/08/2009
1962 Fullers OH, X	Mild	361	22/07/2009
1962 Harp Lager	Lager	1092	30/09/2009
1965 Courage Light Ale	Light Ale	1221	07/10/2009
1967 Eldridge Pope Hardy Ale	Strong Ale	1576	13/03/2013
1971 Whitbread Brewmaster Export	Pale Ale	448	11/12/2013
1971 Whitbread Final Selection	Strong Ale	301	19/12/2013
1971 Whitbread Tankard	Pale Ale	553	04/12/2013
1987 Boddington's Bitter	Pale Ale	1296	02/05/2012
1987 Boddington's ELM	Mild	590	23/05/2012
1987 Boddington's Mild	Mild	798	16/05/2012
1987 Oldham Mild	Mild	906	10/05/2012

Ansell's Mild Ale 1935 - 1986

Here's a surprise for you: something that's neither about Newark nor Whitbread. What is wrong with me today?

It's weird. Since the Big Six disappeared up their own drainpipe, I've started feeling this strange nostalgia for them. Understandable with a brewery of such historical importance as Bass. But Ansell? I've rarely heard anyone say a good word about them. But me, I've a soft spot for them.

I drank a fair bit of Ansell's Mild in the past. Mum came from Birmingham and we often visited her relations there. It was a funny place, Brum. It looked as if the pubs had been allotted alternately to Ansells and M & B. There were virtually none tied to other breweries, even Davenports who brewed in the town. And relatively few pubs. Birmingham council had been enthusiastic about "improved" pubs and local breweries were encouraged to surrender the licences of small, grotty pubs in the inner city in return for licences for "road houses", enormous pubs on major roads.

I never cared much for the M & B beers from Cape Hill. Though their brewery in Wolverhampton made some good stuff, Springfield Bitter and Dunkirk Pale Ale. Unfortunately you only really saw these in the Black Country, not in Birmingham proper. A lot of the Cape Hill stuff was bright or keg, but not much cop on cask, either. Brew XI was more like a bland Light Mild than a Bitter, The Mild was a little better, but still not something I'd drink from choice.

Ansell's Mild was another matter. Not up to the standard of my beloved Tetley's Mild, but still a decent drink. Ansell's pubs could be weird. I remember several that had keg Brew XI and a handpump at the end of the bar serving Mild. Not something you saw in many parts of Britain.

Funny the things you remember. I can clearly recall drinking Ansell's Mild in the Fox on Hurst Street, a pub I revisited last year when the family was in Birmingham for a short holiday. I know. Who goes to Birmingham on holiday?

Allied closed the brewery in 1981 after problems with industrial unrest. After which their Mild bounced around several breweries, before, according to RateBeer, being discontinued in 2012. A shame, as I'll never get to try it again.

Personal reminiscences over, shall we look at the beer itself?

The most obvious point is its strength. In the 1950's even Best Mild only just stretched to a gravity of 1038º. And most standard Milds didn't get higher than 1032º. A decent gravity and a very high degree of attenuation made it very potent for a Mild, sometimes even getting above 4% ABV. You can see how after 1961 the gravity was cut - coincidentally the same year Ansell became part of Allied Breweries - dropping to around the average gravity of Mild.

The King Pin Mild is probably a keg version. The fact that it cost almost 50% more than their standard Mild certainlly suggests that. It's always been such poor value you have to wonder why anyone, given the choice, ever drank keg.

One thing that confuses me is the colour. I remember it as a dark brown beer, about the same colour as Tetley's Mild. But those colour numbers suggest a beer a good bit paler, just a tad darker than Newcastle Brown. It's a shame there are no colour numbers for the later analyses because I'd like to know if my memory is playing tricks on me or if it really did become darker.

Ansell's Mild Ale 1935 - 1986
Year	Beer	Price	size	package	Acidity	FG	OG	colour	ABV	App. Atten-uation
1935	Ale	6d	pint	draught	0.06	1009.7	1047		4.85	79.36%
1949	Mild Ale	1/1d	pint	draught	0.05	1007.4	1035.4	2.5 + 40	3.64	79.10%
1950	Mild Ale	1/1d	pint	draught	0.04	1005.2	1034.8	40 + 2	3.85	85.06%
1951	Mild Ale	1/3d	pint	draught	0.07	1005.7	1038.3	45	4.25	85.12%
1960	Mild Ale	13d	pint	draught			1038
1961	King Pin Mild	19d	pint	draught	0.04	1006.7	1037.6	45	3.86	82.18%
1962	King Pin Mild	22d	pint	draught	0.04	1007.4	1035.9	50	3.56	79.39%
1972	Mild	11p	pint	draught		1010.7	1033.9		3.00	68.44%
1977	Mild		pint	draught			1035.5
1979	Mild		pint	draught			1035.5
1981	Mild		pint	draught			1035.5
1986	Mild		pint	draught			1035.5
Sources:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001.
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/002.
Daily Mirror July 10th 1972, page 15.
Good Beer Guide 1978, 1980, 1982 and 1987.

Important Sale of Licensed Property

The Duke of Newcastle owned considerable amounts of property in and around Newark.

The fourth Duke, Henry Pelham Fiennes Pelham Clinton, who lived from 1785 to 1851, seemed to consider that he had the right to choose the town's MP. And to insist that the MP vote in the Commons as the Duke wished.

"Nevertheless, in the face of these examples, and despite these convictions, 587 electors were found independent and public-spirited enough to vindicate their right of choosing a representative for themselves; but the result had been, as the House was aware, that their attempt was unsuccessful, and the gentleman nominated by the Crown-lessee was ultimately returned. The noble Duke, in his opinion, might have rested satisfied with the result of that election, with having been the means of returning a representative who was opposed to the interests, or at all events to the inclinations, of a large portion of the inhabitants. But the parties who had incurred his displeasure better knew with whom they had to deal. Although his vengeance seemed for a time dormant, it turned out to be an assumed slumber, like that of the cat before she darts upon her prey. As soon as the whole business of the election was over, and the time had gone by when that House could interfere, every person who had presumed to vote for Mr. Serjeant Wilde, and possessed land under the Duke, was served eventually with a notice to quit."
House of Commons Debate 01 March 1830 vol 22 cc1077-121
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1830/mar/01/borough-of-newark-duke-of-newcastle

Nice. He evicted all his tenants who voted the wrong way, about three dozen in all. This being the time before secret ballots, it was easy for him to find out who had voted for whom.

Unsurprisingly, he wasn't a popular man in town. Also because he leased former crown lands that almost encircled Newark, making development and expansion of the town was impossible without his approval. And he was a reactionary Tory who opposed change of pretty much any kind. His son, who was M.P. for South Nottingham, had very different political views which buggered up their relationship a treat.

It was the great-grandson of the 4th Duke, Henry Pelham Archibald Douglas Pelham-Clinton the 7th Duke of Newcastle, who sold off all the property detailed below:

"Important Sale of Licensed Property.—On Tuesday afternoon, Messrs. Farebrother, Ellis, Clark, and Co., the noted London auctioneers, offered for sale by auction, at the Town Hall, Newark, several lots of valuable freehold property belonging to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. The  catalogue of sale comprised the Trent Brewery, the three principal hotels, seven fully licensed inns, a beerhouse, several shops, the whole occupying good positions. There was a very large attendance, the hall being quite full. Sir J. W. Ellis, who was auctioneer, said the present Duke had determined, on the advice of his solicitors and others, to offer to the people of Newark a certain portion of his property, which he thought would be better in their hands than in his. He (the auctioneer) did not know but what the present sale might be the precursor of others. Lot 1 comprised the Trent Brewery, covering area of 1a. 0r. 15p., situate in Mill-gate, of 70 barrel capacity, with a frontage of 170 feet to the River Trent Navigation. It is let on lease to Messrs. Richardson, Earp, and Slater for 30 years from 6th April, 1862, at £125 per annum; also three cottages adjoining, let for yearly rents amounting to £14 2s. This lot was started at £3,000, and when £5,000 had been reached, it was withdrawn. Lot 2 comprised the Clinton Arms Hotel, with stabling for about 50 horses, situate in the Market place, and let to Mr. Albert Jollands on a yearly tenancy at the rent of £176; also a private residence in the Clinton Arms yard, let to Mr. William Talbot, at £10 10s. per annum. The biddings started at £3,000, and the lot was eventually purchased by Mr. Jollands, the tenant, at £5,500. The next lot consisted of a house and shop. No. 37, Marketplace, occupied by Mr. Charles Smith, gunsmith, at the rent of £40 per annum; also a portion of the adjoining shop, occupied by Mrs. Agnes Swift, extending under the premises occupied by Mr. Smith, the apportioned rent in respect of such shop being £12. The bidding started at £1,000, and after a brisk competition it was purchased by Mr. Jollands for £2,200. Lot 5 consisted of the Saracen's Head Hotel, with stabling for 40 horses, situate in the Market-place. The hotel is let to Messrs. Richardson, Earp, and Slater, yearly tenants, at £95 per annum, and the yard and stabling to Mr. William Slater, at £38 per annum. Also the house adjoining and the remainder of the shop occupied by

Mrs. Agnes Swift, the apportioned rent of such last mentioned premises being £25 per annum. Also a house and shop in the Saracen's Head yard, in the occupation of Mr. Robert Chatterton, at the yearly rent of £14. The biddings started at £3,000, and Mr. Joseph Richardson became the purchaser at £3,500. Lot 9 consisted of the Ram Hotel, situate in Castlegate, and let to Messrs. Richardson, Earp, and Slater, at £80 per annum; and a small house adjoining occupied by John Geary, at the rent of £8. The bidding started £1,500, and the lot was purchased by Mrs. Dinah White for £2,300. The Royal Oak Inn, situate in Stodman-street, and let to Mr. Hoe at the yearly rent of £70, was purchased by Mr. Joseph Richardson for £2,450. The Woolpack Inn, also situate in Stodman-street, and let to Mr. Edward Jackson at the yearly rent of £35 11s., was knocked down Mr. C. W. Haigh, solicitor, on behalf of Messrs. James Hole and Co., for £1,760. The Angel Inn, at the junction of Middle-gate and Boar-lane, let to Mrs. Ann Sheppard at £32 per annum, was purchased by Messrs. Warwick and Sons for £1,760. The Queen's Head Inn, situate in the Market-place, and let to Mrs. Mary Wright at £25 per annum, also a house and butcher's shop adjoining, let to Mr. J. B. Robinson at £20 per annum, was purchased by Mr. L. C. Bastow for £1,000. The Horse and Gears Inn, Portland-street, in the occupation of Mr. Seth Eason, at the annual rent of £28, was next offered. The bidding started at £800, and the lot was eventually knocked down to Mr. Eason, the present occupier, for £1,030. The Admiral Lord Nelson Inn, Baldertongate, let to Mr. Foster Watson, at the yearly rent of £26, was purchased by Mr. Josh. Richardson for £1,000. Lot 17, the Oddfellows' Arms beerhouse, situate in Castlegate, let to Mr. Wm. Curtis, at £19 10s. per annum, was purchased by Jas. Hole and Co. for £610. Lot 18 consisted a leasehold inn, known as the Royal Oak, situate in Castlegate and occupied by Dinah and George White, at £46 per annum. This property is held by the vendors on a lease from St Leonard's Charity Trustees, for the lives of which Lord Charles Pelham Clinton, now aged seventy-five, is the sole survivor. This lot was purchased by Mrs. White for £190. The total remit of the sale (including the brewery withdrawn £6,000) amounted to £90,190. On Wednesday afternoon, farther portion the estate of the Duke of Newcastle, situate at Newark, was offered for sale by auction. The total of the day's sale was £9,880."
Grantham Journal - Saturday 30 June 1888, page 6.

Here's a summary of the licensed premises the Duke sold:

the Trent Brewery withdrawn at £5,000
the Clinton Arms Hotel £5,500
the Saracen's Head Hotel £3,500
the Ram Hotel £2,300.
the Royal Oak Inn, Stodman Street £2,450.
the Woolpack Inn £1,760
the Angel Inn £1,000
the Horse and Gears Inn £1,030
the Admiral Lord Nelson Inn £1,000
the Oddfellows' Arms beerhouse £610
Royal Oak, Castlegate £190 

One brewery and ten pubs. Personally, that would be exactly the sort of property I would hang onto.

It's no surprise that Richardson and Hole bought most of the pubs. This was just when the rush to build up tied estates was beginning. I'd wondered why the Clinton and Ram were Home Ales pubs and not tied to one of the Newark breweries. Now I know why: because they were outbid at this auction. Odd, though, that presumably before this sale, as the Ram was leased to Richardson, Earp and Slater, it would have been selling their beers.

Tetley's Mild

I feel sorry for you. If you don't know what those two words mean. Really mean.

Throwing down an Abt or two this evening, at the arse end of the year, my mind wanderered off to beers past.

Tetley's Mild. My favourite beer of all time.

Really.

A beer that just scraped over 3% ABV. But hit heights that were higher than beers of triple its strength.

Black Dog. Sheepscar. Rising Sun.

The Cardigan Arms. My best ever were there. When they went from electric to handpulls. As if they'd just switched the colours on.

I've drunk all sorts of poncy stuff. But the best pints I've had were in Leeds. And all Tetley's Mild.

Finally

My proper book is out! A guide to the brewing beers of the past. But it's not just a bunch of recipes - there are chapter on ingredients, brewing techniques and a description of the history and development of each style. Pretty cool, eh?

To promote it, I'll be doing a short tour of the East Coast in March, with events in Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Colonial Williamsburg, Washington DC and Baltimore. Come along if you can. It should be a lot of fun, and there will be beers to drink, brewed from recipes in the book.

But make sure to buy a copy first so you bring it along for me to sign.

The Royal Oak, Stodman-street, Newark

I've been uncovering all sorts of interesting titbits about the Royal Oak in Stodman Street.

Like who ran it in the 1840's, Mr. William Taylor:

"MARRIAGES
Mr. Edw. Carter White, excise-officer, of Balderton, to Mary Ann eldest daughter of Mr. Wm. Taylor, of the Royal Oak, Stodman-street, Newark."
Stamford Mercury - Friday 25 December 1840, page 3.

Marrying his daughter to an excise man doesn't seem to have helped Taylor because less than a year later they caught him with some dodgy gin:

"Taylor, Wm., publican, of the Royal Oak, Stodman-street, was charged with having 20 gallons of gin in his possession which he could not account for: the liquor was forfeited, and sold by auction by the Excise.
Stamford Mercury - Friday 27 August 1841, page 3.

By 1845 Samuel Taylor was running the pub. Was he the son of William Taylor? Probably.

"Charles Ives, chimney sweep, was convicted in the penalty of £2, including costs, for being drunk in Stodman-street, and breaking the windows of Mr. Saml. Taylor, Royal Oak : ordered to pay 5s. per week until the same be paid, and in default to be committed for 1 month."
Lincolnshire Chronicle - Friday 14 February 1845, page 2.

A few years later and William Taylor was dead:

"DIED
on the 26th, Mr. Wm. Taylor, formerly of the Royal Oak, Stodman-street, aged 70;"
Lincolnshire Chronicle - Friday 01 January 1847, page 5.

Samuel Taylor was still running the pub in 1853, when this odd event took place:

"Newark.— Disgraceful Proceeding. A case of gross imposture has just transpired at this place. The parties more seriously implicated in the affair are Joseph Geary, tailor, Henry Anderson, bricklayer, both of Newark. The subject of their trickery was a young woman named Ann Graham, who we understand is from Horncastle, and for about six weeks had lived as a servant in the family of Mr. Saml. Taylor, of the Royal Oak, Stodman- Street, Soon after the commencement of her service there she became acquainted with the above parties, and with one Edward Moore, shoemaker, also residing in the town, who were drinking companions, and were all in the habit of frequenting the house. For some time Moore professed great affection for the girl, and had proceeded so far as to induce her to believe that he wished to marry her, but in truth having no such intention. On Wednesday evening Geary and Anderson called to see her, and informed her that "Ted was ready," meaning Moore was ready to make her his wife, and she must therefore leave her place, they would be married by licence on the next day. At first the girl was incredulous, and refused believe the statement; but they solemnly protested that it was true, and furthermore stated that he had requested them assist her conveying her clothes to his (Moore's) residence. At length she yielded, and agreed that her boxes should be taken away in the morning, and they left her. Shortly after six o'clock on Thursday morning they again made their appearance, accompanied by Robert Hemsworth. The girl gave up her clothes, contained in two boxes which were looked, herself retaining the keys. It was then agreed that she should wait in the street whilst they carried the boxes to Moore's place of abode, but instead of doing so they took them to the house of man named Pinkney, Hill-end, and returned to Graham, who accompanied them to the Queen's Head. There they left her, stating that they were going to fetch the man who would soon become her husband. But it seems their only motive was to obtain money to purchase drink, for they went back directly to Pinkney's house, where Hemsworth left them, being unwilling to carry the joke any farther. The girl's boxes were then forced open, and four dresses were taken out and sent to the pawn-shop, where they were pledged for seven shillings. Thus furnished with the means of gratifying their disgusting appetites, they returned to the Queen's Head to treat themselves, which they did, and also had the liberality to invite their unfortunate dupe to partake with Them. In the meantime, Moore had intimation of what what was going forward, and called to ascertain the truth of the matter. On being questioned by Graham about the wedding, to her surprise and mortification he declared his entire ignorance of the trick which had been practised upon her and the whole of the affair came out. Thus disappointed and robbed she made her case known to the authorities of the borough, who caused Geary and Anderson to be apprehended, and brought before them and remanded till Monday, when they again appeared before the Bench. Some difficulty, we find, was felt as to the mode in which they should be proceeded against, and ultimately the charge of illegal pawning was preferred against them; upon which they were each convicted in the penalty of 40s., with 13s.6d. costs, and in default of payment to be imprisoned to hard labour for three months. The money was soon raised, and the defendants were discharged. Some dissatisfaction prevails in the public mind as to the punishment these men have received. However much to blame the girl may have been to have allowed herself to have been imposed upon, it is thought that the men who, by false pretences and as her professed friends, could act so basely to take advantage of her weakness to entice her from her situation, to which she cannot return, and then deliberately break open her boxes, extract her property and appropriate it to their own base purposes as these men have done, ought to have been more severely dealt with."
Stamford Mercury - Friday 16 September 1853, page 2.

Why on earth were they accused of "illegal pawning" rather than straight theft? I'm with the public on this one. They deserved a heavier punishment than a two quid fine.

Oh, and I've found out exactly where it was located. It lies underneath the right hand third of Marks and Spencer.  It's outlined in red on this ordnance survey map from 1900: