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19-03-2019, 06:40
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Before WW I, beer imports into the UK were at a very low level – just 50,000 barrels in 1910. This figure shot up, however to 1.3 million barrels in 1924. There was a very simple reason for this sudden massive increase: Irish independence. Over 95% of imports were a single beer, Guinness Extra Stout.
As you can see in the table below, little had changed by the time WW II kicked off. Much as before the first war, imports from the rest of the world remained at a meagre 50,000 barrels or so. Judging by the main sources of these imports – Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands – it’s safe to assume most of this was Lager.
All of the countries from which the UK imported any quantity of beer (other than the Republic of Ireland) were in Axis hands during the war. So it’s pretty obvious they wouldn’t be supplying any beer for the duration.
Sadly, I don’t have figures for the source of imports during the war years. However, I do have the numbers for total Irish exports. Adjusting these to strip out Foreign Extra Stout and using the OG of Guinness to convert standard barrels to bulk barrels, I can come up with a reasonable estimate of Irish imports. And it matches very closely to the total volume of imports. Not that that should be any great surprise.
The fall in imports from Ireland in 1943 and 1944 is as a result of a dispute between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. In late 1943, in order to force the UK government to export more grain to Ireland, the Irish government banned the export of beer. The UK caved in, fearing what would happen in Northern Ireland where the vast majority of beer sold was from the Republic. Almost all in the form of Guinness.
After the war, imports picked up pretty much where they had left off. The only exception being Germany, from which no beer was imported until 1953. Lack of availability would have been one of the main reasons. In the immediate post-war years the occupying powers severely restricted brewing in Germany. The British, for example, only allowed brewing for UK troops stationed in Germany.
UK Beer imports 1936 - 1951
Country of Origin
1936
1937
1938
1950
1951
Irish Republic
1,380,343
1,256,212
836,624
1,031,159
1,025,902
Other British Countries
128
121
108
22
31
Total from British Countries
1,380,471
1,256,333
836,732
1,031,181
1,025,933
Denmark
17,867
22,560
25,459
17,686
23,058
Germany
16,953
18,669
18,813
-
-
Netherlands
8,824
9,143
8,708
2,685
3,492
Belgium
128
705
821
700
1,150
Czechoslovakia
3,806
3,882
3,810
915
903
Other Foreign Countries
241
180
278
224
1,703
Total from Foreign Countries
47,819
55,139
57,895
22,110
30,306
Total Bulk Barrels
1,428,290
1,311,472
894,627
1,053,291
1,056,239
Source:
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, page 60.
Guinness Extra Stout exports to the UK 1939 - 1943
Years ended 31st March
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
Irish Exports: Standard barrels
770,562
789,864
767,209
905,165
691,275
FES Exports: Standard barrels
17,639
18,810
17,630
9,847
13,864
Exports Extra Stout
752,923
771,054
749,579
895,318
677,411
Extra Stout OG
1055
1053
1048
1047
1046
Irish Exports: bulk barrels
752,923
800,150
858,893
1,047,712
809,947
UK imports
838,269
822,678
789,787
1,047,374
837,788
Sources:
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, page 60.
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, pages 107 - 110.
Guinness Extra Stout exports to the UK 1944 - 1947
Years ended 31st March
1944
1945
1946
1947
Irish Exports: Standard barrels
483,031
661,674
802,122
676,485
FES Exports: Standard barrels
22,660
19,939
15,338
29,974
Exports Extra Stout
460,371
641,735
786,784
646,511
Extra Stout OG
1046
1046
1046
1042
Irish Exports: bulk barrels
550,444
767,292
940,720
846,621
UK imports
572,389
765,602
929,028
860,161
Sources:
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, page 60.
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, pages 107 - 110.
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Before WW I, beer imports into the UK were at a very low level – just 50,000 barrels in 1910. This figure shot up, however to 1.3 million barrels in 1924. There was a very simple reason for this sudden massive increase: Irish independence. Over 95% of imports were a single beer, Guinness Extra Stout.
As you can see in the table below, little had changed by the time WW II kicked off. Much as before the first war, imports from the rest of the world remained at a meagre 50,000 barrels or so. Judging by the main sources of these imports – Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands – it’s safe to assume most of this was Lager.
All of the countries from which the UK imported any quantity of beer (other than the Republic of Ireland) were in Axis hands during the war. So it’s pretty obvious they wouldn’t be supplying any beer for the duration.
Sadly, I don’t have figures for the source of imports during the war years. However, I do have the numbers for total Irish exports. Adjusting these to strip out Foreign Extra Stout and using the OG of Guinness to convert standard barrels to bulk barrels, I can come up with a reasonable estimate of Irish imports. And it matches very closely to the total volume of imports. Not that that should be any great surprise.
The fall in imports from Ireland in 1943 and 1944 is as a result of a dispute between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. In late 1943, in order to force the UK government to export more grain to Ireland, the Irish government banned the export of beer. The UK caved in, fearing what would happen in Northern Ireland where the vast majority of beer sold was from the Republic. Almost all in the form of Guinness.
After the war, imports picked up pretty much where they had left off. The only exception being Germany, from which no beer was imported until 1953. Lack of availability would have been one of the main reasons. In the immediate post-war years the occupying powers severely restricted brewing in Germany. The British, for example, only allowed brewing for UK troops stationed in Germany.
UK Beer imports 1936 - 1951
Country of Origin
1936
1937
1938
1950
1951
Irish Republic
1,380,343
1,256,212
836,624
1,031,159
1,025,902
Other British Countries
128
121
108
22
31
Total from British Countries
1,380,471
1,256,333
836,732
1,031,181
1,025,933
Denmark
17,867
22,560
25,459
17,686
23,058
Germany
16,953
18,669
18,813
-
-
Netherlands
8,824
9,143
8,708
2,685
3,492
Belgium
128
705
821
700
1,150
Czechoslovakia
3,806
3,882
3,810
915
903
Other Foreign Countries
241
180
278
224
1,703
Total from Foreign Countries
47,819
55,139
57,895
22,110
30,306
Total Bulk Barrels
1,428,290
1,311,472
894,627
1,053,291
1,056,239
Source:
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, page 60.
Guinness Extra Stout exports to the UK 1939 - 1943
Years ended 31st March
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
Irish Exports: Standard barrels
770,562
789,864
767,209
905,165
691,275
FES Exports: Standard barrels
17,639
18,810
17,630
9,847
13,864
Exports Extra Stout
752,923
771,054
749,579
895,318
677,411
Extra Stout OG
1055
1053
1048
1047
1046
Irish Exports: bulk barrels
752,923
800,150
858,893
1,047,712
809,947
UK imports
838,269
822,678
789,787
1,047,374
837,788
Sources:
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, page 60.
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, pages 107 - 110.
Guinness Extra Stout exports to the UK 1944 - 1947
Years ended 31st March
1944
1945
1946
1947
Irish Exports: Standard barrels
483,031
661,674
802,122
676,485
FES Exports: Standard barrels
22,660
19,939
15,338
29,974
Exports Extra Stout
460,371
641,735
786,784
646,511
Extra Stout OG
1046
1046
1046
1042
Irish Exports: bulk barrels
550,444
767,292
940,720
846,621
UK imports
572,389
765,602
929,028
860,161
Sources:
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, page 60.
“1955 Brewers' Almanack”, pages 107 - 110.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/03/uk-beer-imports-during-ww-ii.html)