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22-02-2019, 08:18
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The restrictions imposed on brewers in WW II were far less Draconian than in WW I, but kicked in far earlier.

That was mostly dictated by the different progress of the two wars. In the first conflict, UK food supplies only came under serious threat almost three years in, in spring 1917. In WW II the serious problems started after less than a year, after the fall of France in the summer of 1940.

Which is why in early 1941 brewers voluntary reduced their grain usage:


"No Reduction In Beer Output
BUT GRAIN CUT MAY MEAN LIGHTER BREWS
The ten pear cent. cut in grain for brewing implies no restriction on the quantity of beer produced, states the "Brewing Trade Review", official of the Brewers' Society.

"It is the desire of authorities the that British beer shall to be available where needed," the journal states,

"Under present conditions of effort and strain it would be indefensible if the British worker were prevented from obtaining that refreshment and relaxation which he is accustomed and for which the present circumstances accentuate the need."

With modern vastly improved methods of brewing, the journal says, it is probable that the saving in material will be much more real than apparent that the beer drinker eill have little conscience of the change. Some beer of heavier gravity may, however, disappear from the bar, it is added, and be replaced something lighter."
Morpeth Herald - Friday 07 March 1941, page 6.You can see the effect on Barclay Perkins standard Bitter, XLK:




Barclay Perkins draught XLK 1939 - 1945


Date
Year
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
lbs hops/ qtr
hops lb/brl
dry hops (oz / barrel)


22nd Jun
1939
1045.8
1014.5
4.14
68.35%
7.50
1.35
3.00


11th Jun
1940
1042.8
1012.0
4.07
71.96%
7.50
1.27
3.00


22nd Apr
1941
1042.8
1011.0
4.20
74.28%
6.00
1.02
2.00


8th May
1942
1035.3
1009.5
3.41
73.09%
5.61
0.82
2.00


2nd Dec
1944
1035.7
1010.5
3.33
70.59%
5.29
0.77
4.00


7th Apr
1945
1035.4
1012.8
3.00
63.98%
5.09
0.75
4.00


25th Jan
1946
1035.3
1010.0
3.35
71.67%
7.00
1.04
4.00


Sources:


Barclay Perkins brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document numbers ACC/2305/01/623, ACC/2305/01/624 and ACC/2305/01/626.



You can observe the typical WW II gravity decline: a small fall in 1940, a larger fall in 1941 and then stability until war's end.

Something similar happened with Whitbread's Bitter:



Whitbread PA 1939 - 1945


Date
Year
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
lbs hops/ qtr
hops lb/brl


27th Sep
1939
1048.2
1012
4.79
75.10%
7.33
1.41


30th Apr
1940
1047.2
1011
4.79
76.69%
7.33
1.44


14th Aug
1940
1043.1
1011.5
4.18
73.32%
7.25
1.34


6th Feb
1941
1042.9
1015
3.69
65.03%
6.54
1.11


30th Jan
1942
1040.0
1011
3.84
72.50%
5.85
0.97


29th May
1942
1038.6
1009
3.92
76.68%
6.03
0.96


3rd Apr
1943
1038.5
1009.5
3.84
75.32%
6.03
1.01


22nd Feb
1944
1039.1
1010.5
3.78
73.15%
6.13
1.00


4th Apr
1945
1039.4
1010
3.89
74.62%
6.03
1.01


Sources:


Whitbread brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document numbers LMA/4453/D/01/107, LMA/4453/D/01/108, LMA/4453/D/01/109, LMA/4453/D/01/110, LMA/4453/D/01/111 and LMA/4453/D/01/112.



Both beers lost around 20% of their gravity over the course of the war.

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