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11-02-2019, 07:21
Visit the Shut up about Barclay Perkins site (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/02/number-of-breweries-in-uk-1838-2917.html)
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Lots of numbers this time. You may be able to tell that I've been doing some more extracting from BBPA Statistical Handbook 2018.
The trend for the last couple of decades are the exact opposite of those for pubs. That is, the nunmbers have been constantly rising. Though a quick glance at the table will tell you that the current number of breweries is way off the record. It's only just about got back to the level of the early 1920s. Go back into the 19th century and its's way short.
Though it should be borne in mind that the vast majority of breweries in the 19th century were tiny, producing fewer than 1,000 barrels per year. In 1881, for example, around 75% of brewers were homebrew pubs.
One thing to bear in mind: these numbers are for brewing licences issued. The number of breweries thnat were actively brewing was lower.
I'm going to out on a limb here: I don't think we'll ever see the UK manage 1 brewery per 544 inhabitants again.
Number of breweries in the UK 1838 - 2917
Year
Breweries
population
pop. per brewery
1838
49,200
26,751,199
544
1870
32,287
31,555,694
977
1880
21,131
34,934,476
1,653
1890
11,364
37,802,381
3,327
1895
9,050
39,220,114
4,334
1900
6,447
41,154,646
6,384
1910
4,512
44,911,346
9,954
1914
3,647
46,089,249
12,638
1920
2,914
46,873,396
16,086
1930
1,418
46,074,000
32,492
1935
1,144
1940
840
48,216,000
57,400
1945
708
1950
567
50,290,000
88,695
1955
460
1960
358
52,807,000
147,506
1965
274
1970
177
55,928,000
315,977
1980
191
56,352,000
295,037
1990
279
57,808,000
207,197
2000
500
59,009,000
118,018
2001
448
2002
403
2003
493
2004
504
2005
570
2006
642
2007
667
2008
725
2009
745
2010
828
2011
948
2012
1,300
2013
1,490
2014
1,700
2015
1,880
2016
2,250
2017
2,430
66,020,000
27,169
Sources:
Journal of the Institute of Brewing, vol 7, 1901, page 64
BBPA Statistical Handbook 2003, p. 92
Brewers' Almanack 1955 p.68
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/02/number-of-breweries-in-uk-1838-2917.html)
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2XHdP3ZR3A/XF7KVY5G-SI/AAAAAAAAf70/J9Jb4XCkXNsFJoANIG2YCLG0aJoZoq6HQCLcBGAs/s400/Beverleys_Export_Pale_Ale_1964.jpg (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2XHdP3ZR3A/XF7KVY5G-SI/AAAAAAAAf70/J9Jb4XCkXNsFJoANIG2YCLG0aJoZoq6HQCLcBGAs/s1600/Beverleys_Export_Pale_Ale_1964.jpg)
Lots of numbers this time. You may be able to tell that I've been doing some more extracting from BBPA Statistical Handbook 2018.
The trend for the last couple of decades are the exact opposite of those for pubs. That is, the nunmbers have been constantly rising. Though a quick glance at the table will tell you that the current number of breweries is way off the record. It's only just about got back to the level of the early 1920s. Go back into the 19th century and its's way short.
Though it should be borne in mind that the vast majority of breweries in the 19th century were tiny, producing fewer than 1,000 barrels per year. In 1881, for example, around 75% of brewers were homebrew pubs.
One thing to bear in mind: these numbers are for brewing licences issued. The number of breweries thnat were actively brewing was lower.
I'm going to out on a limb here: I don't think we'll ever see the UK manage 1 brewery per 544 inhabitants again.
Number of breweries in the UK 1838 - 2917
Year
Breweries
population
pop. per brewery
1838
49,200
26,751,199
544
1870
32,287
31,555,694
977
1880
21,131
34,934,476
1,653
1890
11,364
37,802,381
3,327
1895
9,050
39,220,114
4,334
1900
6,447
41,154,646
6,384
1910
4,512
44,911,346
9,954
1914
3,647
46,089,249
12,638
1920
2,914
46,873,396
16,086
1930
1,418
46,074,000
32,492
1935
1,144
1940
840
48,216,000
57,400
1945
708
1950
567
50,290,000
88,695
1955
460
1960
358
52,807,000
147,506
1965
274
1970
177
55,928,000
315,977
1980
191
56,352,000
295,037
1990
279
57,808,000
207,197
2000
500
59,009,000
118,018
2001
448
2002
403
2003
493
2004
504
2005
570
2006
642
2007
667
2008
725
2009
745
2010
828
2011
948
2012
1,300
2013
1,490
2014
1,700
2015
1,880
2016
2,250
2017
2,430
66,020,000
27,169
Sources:
Journal of the Institute of Brewing, vol 7, 1901, page 64
BBPA Statistical Handbook 2003, p. 92
Brewers' Almanack 1955 p.68
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/02/number-of-breweries-in-uk-1838-2917.html)