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17-06-2014, 09:01
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We're just about at the end of this table-heavy series. That's just how I like my posts: without too many words in them.
Based on the hugely diverging strengths is the samples - from 4.76% to 11.91% ABV - it's clear that they encompass several different types of beer. I'm not sure how meaningful any comparisons are going to be. But why let a little detail like that stop me? Especially now I've come so far.
I'm not just scratching my head, but turning my scalp into a bloodied mess, trying to work out which London beers these could be. Let's start off by saying what they aren't: Burton. At least not draught Burton. All are way too strong (draught Burton was 5% to 5.5% ABV). Even Fuller's Old Burton Extra is well short, strength-wise. Even Barclay Perkins KKKK was much weaker, 7 and a bit % ABV, 1080 OG.
No. 25 must have had a massive OG. It's 11% ABV and still has lots of unfermented stuff in it. Probably about as high as you reasonably go with gravity, 1140 or so. I'm sure I've never seen any 20th-century London beer anywhere near that level, other than Russian Stout.
As usual, we begin with London beers:
Composition of London Beers
Calories per pint.
Total Solids per cent.
Absolute Alcohol (by weight) per cent.
Ratio of Total Solids to Alcohol (T.S.=1).
ABV
Solid Matter.
Alcohol.
Total.
Strong Beers and Old Ales
No. 23
4.65
7.00
1:1.50
8.89
108
278
386
No. 24
6.11
8.62
1:1.41
10.95
142
343
485
No. 25
9.55
8.72
1:0.91
11.07
222
347
569
No. 26
5.16
9.38
1:1.82
11.91
120
374
494
Average
6.36
8.43
1:1.32
10.71
148
335
483
Source:
Journal of the Institute of Brewing, Volume 38, Issue 1, January-February 1932, pages 84 - 88.
The country beers are a real hotch-potch:
Composition of Country Beers
Calories per pint.
Total Solids per cent.
Absolute Alcohol (by weight) per cent.
Ratio of Total Solids to Alcohol (T.S.=1).
ABV
Solid Matter.
Alcohol.
Total.
Strong Beers and Old Ales
No. 79
7.97
7.14
1:0.89
9.07
185
284
469
No. 80
6.04
5.27
1:0.87
6.69
141
209
350
No. 81
6.72
4.72
1:0.70
5.99
156
187
343
No. 82
10.42
5.28
1:0.50
6.71
243
210
453
No. 83
5.47
8.53
1:1.55
10.83
127
339
466
No. 84
6.12
4.28
1:0.69
5.44
142
170
312
No. 85
6.57
5.86
1:0.89
7.44
153
233
386
No. 80
3.89
3.75
1:0.96
4.76
91
149
240
No. 87
4.44
4.33
1:0.97
5.50
103
172
275
No. 88
5.13
4.52
1:0.88
5.74
119
180
299
Average
6.27
5.36
1:0.85
6.81
146
213
359
Source:
Journal of the Institute of Brewing, Volume 38, Issue 1, January-February 1932, pages 84 - 88.
Some of the weaker ones look like the equivalent of a London Burton, while a couple look like Barley Wine. The lower ration of solids to alcohol in the country beers means that they must have been drier.
Finally the comparison of averages:
Strong Beers and Old Ales
Calories per pint.
Total Solids per cent.
Absolute Alcohol (by weight) per cent.
Ratio of Total Solids to Alcohol (T.S.=1).
ABV
Solid Matter.
Alcohol.
Total.
London
6.36
8.43
1:1.32
10.71
148
335
483
Country
6.27
5.36
1:0.85
6.81
146
213
359
% difference
-1.44%
-57.28%
-0.77%
-57.28%
-1.37%
-57.28%
-34.54%
I can see a pattern emerging now: more of everything in the London beers.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2014/06/london-vs-provincial-beer-in-1930s_17.html)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kj9vUQijNIk/U4c7DoZcM9I/AAAAAAAATv4/mjq_3a3AoYw/s1600/Soames_Strong_Ale.JPG (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kj9vUQijNIk/U4c7DoZcM9I/AAAAAAAATv4/mjq_3a3AoYw/s1600/Soames_Strong_Ale.JPG)
We're just about at the end of this table-heavy series. That's just how I like my posts: without too many words in them.
Based on the hugely diverging strengths is the samples - from 4.76% to 11.91% ABV - it's clear that they encompass several different types of beer. I'm not sure how meaningful any comparisons are going to be. But why let a little detail like that stop me? Especially now I've come so far.
I'm not just scratching my head, but turning my scalp into a bloodied mess, trying to work out which London beers these could be. Let's start off by saying what they aren't: Burton. At least not draught Burton. All are way too strong (draught Burton was 5% to 5.5% ABV). Even Fuller's Old Burton Extra is well short, strength-wise. Even Barclay Perkins KKKK was much weaker, 7 and a bit % ABV, 1080 OG.
No. 25 must have had a massive OG. It's 11% ABV and still has lots of unfermented stuff in it. Probably about as high as you reasonably go with gravity, 1140 or so. I'm sure I've never seen any 20th-century London beer anywhere near that level, other than Russian Stout.
As usual, we begin with London beers:
Composition of London Beers
Calories per pint.
Total Solids per cent.
Absolute Alcohol (by weight) per cent.
Ratio of Total Solids to Alcohol (T.S.=1).
ABV
Solid Matter.
Alcohol.
Total.
Strong Beers and Old Ales
No. 23
4.65
7.00
1:1.50
8.89
108
278
386
No. 24
6.11
8.62
1:1.41
10.95
142
343
485
No. 25
9.55
8.72
1:0.91
11.07
222
347
569
No. 26
5.16
9.38
1:1.82
11.91
120
374
494
Average
6.36
8.43
1:1.32
10.71
148
335
483
Source:
Journal of the Institute of Brewing, Volume 38, Issue 1, January-February 1932, pages 84 - 88.
The country beers are a real hotch-potch:
Composition of Country Beers
Calories per pint.
Total Solids per cent.
Absolute Alcohol (by weight) per cent.
Ratio of Total Solids to Alcohol (T.S.=1).
ABV
Solid Matter.
Alcohol.
Total.
Strong Beers and Old Ales
No. 79
7.97
7.14
1:0.89
9.07
185
284
469
No. 80
6.04
5.27
1:0.87
6.69
141
209
350
No. 81
6.72
4.72
1:0.70
5.99
156
187
343
No. 82
10.42
5.28
1:0.50
6.71
243
210
453
No. 83
5.47
8.53
1:1.55
10.83
127
339
466
No. 84
6.12
4.28
1:0.69
5.44
142
170
312
No. 85
6.57
5.86
1:0.89
7.44
153
233
386
No. 80
3.89
3.75
1:0.96
4.76
91
149
240
No. 87
4.44
4.33
1:0.97
5.50
103
172
275
No. 88
5.13
4.52
1:0.88
5.74
119
180
299
Average
6.27
5.36
1:0.85
6.81
146
213
359
Source:
Journal of the Institute of Brewing, Volume 38, Issue 1, January-February 1932, pages 84 - 88.
Some of the weaker ones look like the equivalent of a London Burton, while a couple look like Barley Wine. The lower ration of solids to alcohol in the country beers means that they must have been drier.
Finally the comparison of averages:
Strong Beers and Old Ales
Calories per pint.
Total Solids per cent.
Absolute Alcohol (by weight) per cent.
Ratio of Total Solids to Alcohol (T.S.=1).
ABV
Solid Matter.
Alcohol.
Total.
London
6.36
8.43
1:1.32
10.71
148
335
483
Country
6.27
5.36
1:0.85
6.81
146
213
359
% difference
-1.44%
-57.28%
-0.77%
-57.28%
-1.37%
-57.28%
-34.54%
I can see a pattern emerging now: more of everything in the London beers.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2014/06/london-vs-provincial-beer-in-1930s_17.html)