Blog Tracker
17-09-2014, 07:17
Visit the Shut up about Barclay Perkins site (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2014/09/watney-stout-quality-1922-1925.html)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeRh5KiVxOA/VBMB0I5FryI/AAAAAAAAVP4/EuT04vwFzoI/s1600/Reids_Family_Stout_1950.jpg (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeRh5KiVxOA/VBMB0I5FryI/AAAAAAAAVP4/EuT04vwFzoI/s1600/Reids_Family_Stout_1950.jpg)
I just noticed that I'd jumped over Watney. How on earth did I manage overlook them? Not to worry, that will all be put right now.
Since starting this series I've come to have a sneaking respect for Watney's beers. Their consistently high scores can't be a fluke. YEst the y were the largest brewery in London and one of the largest in the country. The biggest brewery making the best beer. It's not a situtation you'd find today.
I'd thought about publishing a whole load more financial stuff about Watney. But I can't be arsed to traipse through the newpaper archive looking for their annual results for the 1920's. Sorry, but I'm an intensely lazy person at heart. But this one I did find should give a good impression of the state of Watney's finances.
"Watney Combe.
It was announced Friday afternoon that the dividend on Watney Combe Reid stock was to be increased from 17 per cent, to 19 per cent, for the year to June 30 last. The report is now available, and shows trading profits of £1,365,483. This compares with £1,340,735 the year before.
Another £400,000 is placed to general reserve, but it is stated that a similar amount placed to reserve last year has been expended improving properties and converting leaseholds into freehold. The general reserve is £759,455.
The financial position is very sound. There are investments in Government securities for £532,879."
Dundee Courier - Monday 30 July 1928, page 2.
It looks like they were rolling in money. They probably brewed around ten times as much beer as Wenlock Brewery. So you'd expect their profits to be ten times higher. In 1927 and 1928 Wenlock's net profits were £119,201 and £122,047 respectively, meaning Watney's profits were indeed about ten times those of Wenlock.
That's it for the money stuff. I've decided to talk about Watney's other Stouts instead. Like many London brewers, they made several Stouts. They were: Family Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Special Stout and Special Stout for Belgium. All were in bottled form. In addition there was at least one, and possibly two, draught Stouts.
Watney Stouts 1921 - 1929
Year
Beer
Price
size
package
Acidity
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
1921
Family Stout
17d
quart
bottled
1046.3
1012.5
4.39
73.00%
1922
Family Stout
17d
quart
bottled
1043.9
1010.9
4.28
75.17%
1922
Family Stout
9d
pint
bottled
1044.3
1012.5
4.12
71.78%
1923
Family Stout
bottled
1046.5
1011
4.61
76.34%
1921
Reids Family Stout
9d
pint
bottled
1045
1010.7
4.46
76.22%
1926
Reids Family Stout
8d
pint
bottled
1048.5
1927
Reids Family Stout
bottled
1047.7
1012.3
4.60
74.21%
1928
Reids Family Stout
8d
pint
bottled
1050.2
1012.7
4.87
74.70%
1929
Reids Family Stout
8d
pint
bottled
0.18
1047.8
1007.3
5.28
84.73%
1921
Reids Oatmeal Stout
9d
pint
bottled
1045.5
1009.7
4.66
78.68%
1922
Oatmeal Stout
bottled
1047.4
1009.3
4.96
80.38%
1928
Reids Oatmeal Stout
8d
pint
bottled
0.07
1050
1015.6
4.46
68.80%
1928
Reids Special Stout
pint
bottled
1056
1014.7
5.37
73.75%
1921
Special Stout
13d
pint
bottled
1059
1016.2
5.56
72.54%
1922
Special Stout
bottled
1057.8
1015.9
5.44
72.49%
1923
Special Stout
bottled
1054.3
1013.8
5.26
74.59%
1922
Special Stout (Belgian sample)
9d
pint
bottled
1067.1
1023.8
5.60
64.53%
1929
Stout
8d
pint
bottled
1047
1010.8
4.71
77.02%
1929
Stout
8d
pint
bottled
0.06
1046
1010.8
4.57
76.52%
1921
Stout
9d
pint
draught
1053.4
1014.8
5.01
72.28%
1921
Stout
9d
pint
draught
1054.5
1014.4
5.21
73.58%
1921
Stout
9d
pint
draught
1045.7
1009.8
4.67
78.56%
1926
Stout
8d
pint
draught
1053.9
1926
Stout
8d
pint
draught
1052.7
1926
Stout
8d
pint
draught
1053.6
1929
Stout
8d
pint
draught
0.08
1055.9
1014.5
5.38
74.06%
1929
Stout
8d
pint
draught
0.07
1052.9
1012.1
5.31
77.13%
Sources:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001
Truman Gravity Book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number B/THB/C/252
It's not always made clear in the sources exactly how these beers were branded. Sometimes they are describes as Reid, but others not. Watney seemed to prefer to brand its bottled Stouts as Reid, presumably because, as an old Porter brewery, they would be associated with Stout. Watney's continued to use the Reid name for at least 30 years after the Griffin Brewery in Clerkenwell closed.
Doubtless Watney parti-gyled these Stouts in various combinations. Family Stout, Reids Family Stout, Oatmeal Stout and Reids Oatmeal Stout all look like the same beer to me. I bet they pulled the trick of throwing the odd pound of oats into the grist for all Stouts so they could legally describe some of it as Oatmeal Stout.
Special Stout and Reids Special Stout are probably the same beer as each other and the draught Stout. Though possible they've been slightly tweaked. The Belgian Special Stout prabably resembles Watney's pre-war Stout. That's what most breweries did: kept brewing export versions at pre-war strength.
With a couple of exceptions, the rate of attenuation is high, with a couple even over 80%. Were they getting some extra conditioning before bottling?
Right, now on to their draught Stout. It's of the 9d (8d after 1923) type. It's a little stronger and more highly-attenuated than average, but not by a huge amount. The sample that's only 1046.3 looks like it's a weaker 8d/7s Stout./ Unless it's been seriously watered. But it does look suspiciously like Family Stout. It's been sold at 9d a pint, which screams "cheating landlord" at me.
Will their Stout contiunue Watney's good run?
Watney Stout quality 1922 - 1925
Year
Beer
FG
OG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
Flavour
score
Price
1922
Stout
1014.7
1057.7
5.59
74.52%
clean
1
9
1922
Stout
1012.4
1055.9
5.67
77.82%
good
2
9
1922
Stout
1013.2
1056.2
5.60
76.51%
good
2
9
1922
Stout
1012.8
1054.8
5.47
76.64%
poor
-1
9
1922
Stout
1013.7
1055.2
5.40
75.18%
yeast bitter
-1
9
1923
Stout
1013
1056.5
5.66
76.99%
fair
1
9
1923
Stout
1013.6
1056.1
5.53
75.76%
fair
1
9
1923
Stout
1015.2
1056.2
5.33
72.95%
good
2
8
1923
Stout
1010.8
1046.3
4.61
76.67%
only fair
1
9
1923
Stout
1012
1055
5.60
78.18%
v fair
2
9
1923
Stout
1013.2
1055.2
5.46
76.09%
v fair
2
8
1923
Stout
1013.8
1054.8
5.33
74.82%
v fair
2
8
1923
Stout
1012.5
1054.5
5.47
77.06%
very fair
2
9
1924
Stout
1015.4
1053.4
4.93
71.16%
good
2
8
1924
Stout
1013.2
1054.9
5.43
75.96%
v poor
-2
8
1925
Stout
1015.4
1055.9
5.26
72.45%
good
2
8
Average
1013.4
1054.9
5.40
75.55%
1.13
Source:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001
Yes, it will. Thirteen from sixteen achieved positive scores, including 9 2's. The overall average is a very decent 1.13.
It'll feel weird seeking out Watney's pubs when I'm holidaying in the 1920's. But they're probably the safest bet.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2014/09/watney-stout-quality-1922-1925.html)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeRh5KiVxOA/VBMB0I5FryI/AAAAAAAAVP4/EuT04vwFzoI/s1600/Reids_Family_Stout_1950.jpg (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeRh5KiVxOA/VBMB0I5FryI/AAAAAAAAVP4/EuT04vwFzoI/s1600/Reids_Family_Stout_1950.jpg)
I just noticed that I'd jumped over Watney. How on earth did I manage overlook them? Not to worry, that will all be put right now.
Since starting this series I've come to have a sneaking respect for Watney's beers. Their consistently high scores can't be a fluke. YEst the y were the largest brewery in London and one of the largest in the country. The biggest brewery making the best beer. It's not a situtation you'd find today.
I'd thought about publishing a whole load more financial stuff about Watney. But I can't be arsed to traipse through the newpaper archive looking for their annual results for the 1920's. Sorry, but I'm an intensely lazy person at heart. But this one I did find should give a good impression of the state of Watney's finances.
"Watney Combe.
It was announced Friday afternoon that the dividend on Watney Combe Reid stock was to be increased from 17 per cent, to 19 per cent, for the year to June 30 last. The report is now available, and shows trading profits of £1,365,483. This compares with £1,340,735 the year before.
Another £400,000 is placed to general reserve, but it is stated that a similar amount placed to reserve last year has been expended improving properties and converting leaseholds into freehold. The general reserve is £759,455.
The financial position is very sound. There are investments in Government securities for £532,879."
Dundee Courier - Monday 30 July 1928, page 2.
It looks like they were rolling in money. They probably brewed around ten times as much beer as Wenlock Brewery. So you'd expect their profits to be ten times higher. In 1927 and 1928 Wenlock's net profits were £119,201 and £122,047 respectively, meaning Watney's profits were indeed about ten times those of Wenlock.
That's it for the money stuff. I've decided to talk about Watney's other Stouts instead. Like many London brewers, they made several Stouts. They were: Family Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Special Stout and Special Stout for Belgium. All were in bottled form. In addition there was at least one, and possibly two, draught Stouts.
Watney Stouts 1921 - 1929
Year
Beer
Price
size
package
Acidity
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
1921
Family Stout
17d
quart
bottled
1046.3
1012.5
4.39
73.00%
1922
Family Stout
17d
quart
bottled
1043.9
1010.9
4.28
75.17%
1922
Family Stout
9d
pint
bottled
1044.3
1012.5
4.12
71.78%
1923
Family Stout
bottled
1046.5
1011
4.61
76.34%
1921
Reids Family Stout
9d
pint
bottled
1045
1010.7
4.46
76.22%
1926
Reids Family Stout
8d
pint
bottled
1048.5
1927
Reids Family Stout
bottled
1047.7
1012.3
4.60
74.21%
1928
Reids Family Stout
8d
pint
bottled
1050.2
1012.7
4.87
74.70%
1929
Reids Family Stout
8d
pint
bottled
0.18
1047.8
1007.3
5.28
84.73%
1921
Reids Oatmeal Stout
9d
pint
bottled
1045.5
1009.7
4.66
78.68%
1922
Oatmeal Stout
bottled
1047.4
1009.3
4.96
80.38%
1928
Reids Oatmeal Stout
8d
pint
bottled
0.07
1050
1015.6
4.46
68.80%
1928
Reids Special Stout
pint
bottled
1056
1014.7
5.37
73.75%
1921
Special Stout
13d
pint
bottled
1059
1016.2
5.56
72.54%
1922
Special Stout
bottled
1057.8
1015.9
5.44
72.49%
1923
Special Stout
bottled
1054.3
1013.8
5.26
74.59%
1922
Special Stout (Belgian sample)
9d
pint
bottled
1067.1
1023.8
5.60
64.53%
1929
Stout
8d
pint
bottled
1047
1010.8
4.71
77.02%
1929
Stout
8d
pint
bottled
0.06
1046
1010.8
4.57
76.52%
1921
Stout
9d
pint
draught
1053.4
1014.8
5.01
72.28%
1921
Stout
9d
pint
draught
1054.5
1014.4
5.21
73.58%
1921
Stout
9d
pint
draught
1045.7
1009.8
4.67
78.56%
1926
Stout
8d
pint
draught
1053.9
1926
Stout
8d
pint
draught
1052.7
1926
Stout
8d
pint
draught
1053.6
1929
Stout
8d
pint
draught
0.08
1055.9
1014.5
5.38
74.06%
1929
Stout
8d
pint
draught
0.07
1052.9
1012.1
5.31
77.13%
Sources:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001
Truman Gravity Book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number B/THB/C/252
It's not always made clear in the sources exactly how these beers were branded. Sometimes they are describes as Reid, but others not. Watney seemed to prefer to brand its bottled Stouts as Reid, presumably because, as an old Porter brewery, they would be associated with Stout. Watney's continued to use the Reid name for at least 30 years after the Griffin Brewery in Clerkenwell closed.
Doubtless Watney parti-gyled these Stouts in various combinations. Family Stout, Reids Family Stout, Oatmeal Stout and Reids Oatmeal Stout all look like the same beer to me. I bet they pulled the trick of throwing the odd pound of oats into the grist for all Stouts so they could legally describe some of it as Oatmeal Stout.
Special Stout and Reids Special Stout are probably the same beer as each other and the draught Stout. Though possible they've been slightly tweaked. The Belgian Special Stout prabably resembles Watney's pre-war Stout. That's what most breweries did: kept brewing export versions at pre-war strength.
With a couple of exceptions, the rate of attenuation is high, with a couple even over 80%. Were they getting some extra conditioning before bottling?
Right, now on to their draught Stout. It's of the 9d (8d after 1923) type. It's a little stronger and more highly-attenuated than average, but not by a huge amount. The sample that's only 1046.3 looks like it's a weaker 8d/7s Stout./ Unless it's been seriously watered. But it does look suspiciously like Family Stout. It's been sold at 9d a pint, which screams "cheating landlord" at me.
Will their Stout contiunue Watney's good run?
Watney Stout quality 1922 - 1925
Year
Beer
FG
OG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
Flavour
score
Price
1922
Stout
1014.7
1057.7
5.59
74.52%
clean
1
9
1922
Stout
1012.4
1055.9
5.67
77.82%
good
2
9
1922
Stout
1013.2
1056.2
5.60
76.51%
good
2
9
1922
Stout
1012.8
1054.8
5.47
76.64%
poor
-1
9
1922
Stout
1013.7
1055.2
5.40
75.18%
yeast bitter
-1
9
1923
Stout
1013
1056.5
5.66
76.99%
fair
1
9
1923
Stout
1013.6
1056.1
5.53
75.76%
fair
1
9
1923
Stout
1015.2
1056.2
5.33
72.95%
good
2
8
1923
Stout
1010.8
1046.3
4.61
76.67%
only fair
1
9
1923
Stout
1012
1055
5.60
78.18%
v fair
2
9
1923
Stout
1013.2
1055.2
5.46
76.09%
v fair
2
8
1923
Stout
1013.8
1054.8
5.33
74.82%
v fair
2
8
1923
Stout
1012.5
1054.5
5.47
77.06%
very fair
2
9
1924
Stout
1015.4
1053.4
4.93
71.16%
good
2
8
1924
Stout
1013.2
1054.9
5.43
75.96%
v poor
-2
8
1925
Stout
1015.4
1055.9
5.26
72.45%
good
2
8
Average
1013.4
1054.9
5.40
75.55%
1.13
Source:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001
Yes, it will. Thirteen from sixteen achieved positive scores, including 9 2's. The overall average is a very decent 1.13.
It'll feel weird seeking out Watney's pubs when I'm holidaying in the 1920's. But they're probably the safest bet.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2014/09/watney-stout-quality-1922-1925.html)