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21-03-2019, 06:07
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WW II was a challenging time for British brewers, though, due to a variety of factors, not nearly as difficult as WW I.
The biggest difference was that, unlike in WW I, beer production was maintained at it pre-war level. Even in terms of standard barrels, which take the OG of the beer out of the equation. In terms of bulk barrels, production actually increased by 25%.
The difference between the two wars was due to a variety of factors. Better preparation, an assumption that the war would last several years, and controlling food supply right from the outset meant that raw materials were never in as short supply. But another important factor was the more sympathetic approach of the government. In WW I the authorities had been positively hostile to the industry.
At first glance it might seem odd that imports held up so well during WW II. In WW I, imports had dwindled to zero. But it’s all about Ireland, which in 1939 was an independent country. But still supplying large quantities of beer to the UK. Imports during the war years were almost exclusively from Ireland. And the vast majority of it a single beer, Guinness Extra Stout.
There was one thing which suffered: the strength of beer, which dropped by almost 20%. Average gravity would never return to its level of 1939, settling down at around 1037º in 1951. Where it remained for the next forty years. It was one of the most long-lasting effects of the war.
Beer production and consumption, which both fared well during the war, weren’t so lucky during the peace. They fell all through the 1950s and only got back to their 1948 level in 1961. Falling demand was one of the factors behind the large scale rationalisation in the 1950s.
UK brewing 1938 - 1949
Year
Production (bulk barrels)
Production (standard barrels)
Consumption (bulk barrels)
Exports (bulk barrels)
Imports (bulk barrels)
Average OG
1938
24,205,631
18,055,539
25,087,393
281,284
1,163,046
1041.02
1939
24,674,992
18,364,156
25,229,287
283,974
838,269
1040.93
1940
25,366,782
18,738,619
25,922,694
266,766
822,678
1040.62
1941
26,203,803
18,351,113
26,768,038
225,552
789,787
1038.51
1942
29,860,796
19,294,605
30,813,374
94,796
1,047,374
1035.53
1943
29,296,672
18,293,919
30,027,441
107,019
837,788
1034.34
1944
30,478,289
19,193,773
30,973,081
77,597
572,389
1034.63
1945
31,332,852
19,678,449
31,968,011
130,443
765,602
1034.54
1946
32,650,200
20,612,225
33,391,810
187,418
929,028
1034.72
1947
29,261,398
17,343,690
30,011,879
109,680
860,161
1032.59
1948
30,408,634
18,061,390
31,067,391
205,098
863,855
1032.66
1949
26,990,144
16,409,937
27,611,545
254,147
875,548
1033.43
change 1938 - 1949
11.50%
-9.11%
10.06%
-9.68%
-24.74%
-18.50%
Source:
Brewers' Almanack 1955, pages 50 and 57.
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WW II was a challenging time for British brewers, though, due to a variety of factors, not nearly as difficult as WW I.
The biggest difference was that, unlike in WW I, beer production was maintained at it pre-war level. Even in terms of standard barrels, which take the OG of the beer out of the equation. In terms of bulk barrels, production actually increased by 25%.
The difference between the two wars was due to a variety of factors. Better preparation, an assumption that the war would last several years, and controlling food supply right from the outset meant that raw materials were never in as short supply. But another important factor was the more sympathetic approach of the government. In WW I the authorities had been positively hostile to the industry.
At first glance it might seem odd that imports held up so well during WW II. In WW I, imports had dwindled to zero. But it’s all about Ireland, which in 1939 was an independent country. But still supplying large quantities of beer to the UK. Imports during the war years were almost exclusively from Ireland. And the vast majority of it a single beer, Guinness Extra Stout.
There was one thing which suffered: the strength of beer, which dropped by almost 20%. Average gravity would never return to its level of 1939, settling down at around 1037º in 1951. Where it remained for the next forty years. It was one of the most long-lasting effects of the war.
Beer production and consumption, which both fared well during the war, weren’t so lucky during the peace. They fell all through the 1950s and only got back to their 1948 level in 1961. Falling demand was one of the factors behind the large scale rationalisation in the 1950s.
UK brewing 1938 - 1949
Year
Production (bulk barrels)
Production (standard barrels)
Consumption (bulk barrels)
Exports (bulk barrels)
Imports (bulk barrels)
Average OG
1938
24,205,631
18,055,539
25,087,393
281,284
1,163,046
1041.02
1939
24,674,992
18,364,156
25,229,287
283,974
838,269
1040.93
1940
25,366,782
18,738,619
25,922,694
266,766
822,678
1040.62
1941
26,203,803
18,351,113
26,768,038
225,552
789,787
1038.51
1942
29,860,796
19,294,605
30,813,374
94,796
1,047,374
1035.53
1943
29,296,672
18,293,919
30,027,441
107,019
837,788
1034.34
1944
30,478,289
19,193,773
30,973,081
77,597
572,389
1034.63
1945
31,332,852
19,678,449
31,968,011
130,443
765,602
1034.54
1946
32,650,200
20,612,225
33,391,810
187,418
929,028
1034.72
1947
29,261,398
17,343,690
30,011,879
109,680
860,161
1032.59
1948
30,408,634
18,061,390
31,067,391
205,098
863,855
1032.66
1949
26,990,144
16,409,937
27,611,545
254,147
875,548
1033.43
change 1938 - 1949
11.50%
-9.11%
10.06%
-9.68%
-24.74%
-18.50%
Source:
Brewers' Almanack 1955, pages 50 and 57.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/03/uk-brewing-1938-1949.html)