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21-07-2010, 08:42
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Ridiculous levels of detail. That's what I'm good at. There's going to be plenty of it as we browse through 80 years of Lees brewing records over the coming weeks. What fun we'll have.

Because I'm such a generous and thoughtful bloke, this time I'm throwing in a bonus table of Whitbread beers from the same time. So you can compare Northern and Sourhern beers at your leisure.

I got all excited when I spotted "C" Ale in the logs. It's a Manchester-specific type of bottled beer that appears to have left no ripples in the pond of history, save for a few labels. No-one seemed to have any idea what it was, other than quite strong. Well we do now. Have an idea of what it was. How would I describe it? Like a bottled Burton. Or a weakish Old Ale. Something like that. Dark and reasonably well-hopped.

Before you look at the tables, I've one last remark. One of the main effects of WW II seems to have been a standardisation of beer gravities. Something similar - but more extreme happened at the end of WW I. When prices were fixed by government depending on the gravity of the beer.

First the Lees beers:


JW Lees beers 1948 - 1951
Date
Year
Beer
Style
OG
lbs hops/ qtr
hops lb/brl
barrels
lbs hops
qtrs malt
boil time (hours)
dry hops (oz / barrel)
colour
dry hops lbs
pale malt
black malt
crystal malt
glucose
other sugar
flaked barley
enzymic malt
18th Aug
1948
Bot. B
Mild


1030.0


5.32


0.66


112


74


13.9


1.75








76.94%


0.46%


3.66%


2.44%


12.21%


2.45%


1.83%
19th Aug
1948
B
Pale Ale


1038.0


6.02


0.95


109.3


104


17.266


1.75








86.07%


0.10%


0.00%


2.05%


10.25%


0.00%


1.54%
31st Aug
1948
K
Mild


1028.0


5.65


0.65


117


76


13.46


1.75








80.13%


0.98%


3.91%


0.00%


10.42%


2.61%


1.95%
2nd Sep
1948
B
Pale Ale


1038.0


6.14


0.95


111


106


17.266


1.75








86.07%


0.10%


0.00%


0.00%


12.30%


0.00%


1.54%
19th Nov
1948
“C” Ale
Strong Ale


1050.0


4.48


0.91


46


42


9.375


1.75


1.39




4


74.64%


1.44%


5.74%


3.83%


11.48%


0.00%


2.87%
3rd Dec
1948
K
Mild


1028.0


5.23


0.60


116


70


13.375


1.75


0.83




6


79.38%


1.17%


4.67%


3.11%


9.34%


0.00%


2.33%
13th Dec
1948
“C” Ale
Strong Ale


1049.0


5.55


1.11


47


52


9.375


1.75


1.36




4


74.64%


1.44%


5.74%


0.00%


15.31%


0.00%


2.87%
15th Dec
1948
BM
Mild


1032.0


5.95


0.78


41


32


5.375


1.75


0.78




2


73.85%


2.31%


9.23%


0.00%


12.31%


0.00%


2.31%
20th Dec
1948
Bot. B
Mild


1030.0


5.26


0.65


108


70


13.313


1.75


0.89




6


83.86%


0.50%


3.99%


0.00%


10.65%


0.00%


1.00%
4th Jan
1949
Bot. B
Mild


1030.0


5.26


0.65


108


70


13.313


1.75


0.89




6


83.86%


0.50%


3.99%


0.00%


10.65%


0.00%


1.00%
7th Jan
1949
K
Mild


1028.0


5.23


0.60


116


70


13.375


1.75


0.83




6


82.62%


0.98%


3.93%


0.00%


10.49%


0.00%


1.97%
10th Jan
1949
“C” Ale
Strong Ale


1051.0


5.40


1.13


46


52


9.625


1.75


1.39




4


75.35%


1.40%


5.58%


0.00%


14.88%


0.00%


2.79%
10th Feb
1949
B
Pale Ale


1038.0


5.79


0.90


111


100


17.266


1.75


0.86




6


86.07%


0.10%


0.00%


0.00%


12.30%


0.00%


1.54%
13th Apr
1950
K
Mild


1028.0


5.75


0.65


113.8


74


12.875


1.75


0.84




6


85.28%


0.51%


4.06%


2.71%


5.41%


0.00%


2.03%
21st Apr
1950
Bitter
Pale Ale


1041.0


5.40


0.90


110.8


100


18.516


1.75


1.73




12


87.07%


0.09%


0.00%


0.00%


11.42%


0.00%


1.43%
31st May
1950
K
Mild


1031.0


5.84


0.73


114.4


84


14.375


1.75


0.84




6


83.89%


0.91%


3.65%


2.43%


7.29%


0.00%


1.82%
20th Jun
1950
Best Mild
Mild


1035.0


5.82


0.84


104.4


88


15.125


1.75


0.92




6


82.22%


0.87%


3.50%


2.33%


9.33%


0.00%


1.75%
29th Jun
1950
K
Mild


1031.0


5.84


0.74


113.2


84


14.375


1.75


0.85




6


83.89%


0.91%


3.65%


2.43%


7.29%


0.00%


1.82%
9th Aug
1950
Best Mild
Mild


1035.0


5.46


0.78


107.6


84


15.375


1.75


0.89




6


80.00%


0.87%


3.48%


2.32%


11.59%


0.00%


1.74%
2nd Apr
1951
“C” Ale
Strong Ale


1053.0


4.27


0.99


40.3


40


9.375


1.75




112




74.64%


1.44%


5.74%


3.83%


11.48%


0.00%


2.87%
6th Apr
1951
K
Mild


1031.0


5.84


0.73


115.4


84


14.375


1.75




28




82.62%


0.98%


3.93%


2.62%


7.87%


0.00%


1.97%
13th Apr
1951
Bitter
Pale Ale


1041.0


6.10


0.98


91.7


90


14.76


1.75




20




86.15%


0.09%


0.00%


0.00%


11.97%


0.00%


1.79%
Source:
JW Lees brewing records

Now Whitbread's:



Whitbread beers 1948 - 1951
Date
Year
Beer
Style
OG
FG
ABV
App. Attenuation
lbs hops/ qtr
hops lb/brl
barrels
lbs hops
qtrs malt
boil time (hours)
boil time (hours)
Pitch temp
colour
pale malt
choc. Malt
crystal malt
MA malt
PA malt
no. 1 sugar
no. 3 sugar
other sugar
2nd Mar
1948
Ex IPA
IPA


1046.8


1013.0


4.47


72.22%


8.91


1.78


320


570


64


1.25


1.25


62º


23


0.00%


0.00%


2.56%


0.00%


79.26%


18.18%


0.00%


0.00%
10th Feb
1948
PA
Pale Ale


1034.4


1011.0


3.10


68.02%


5.66


0.81


743


600


106


1.08


1


64º


32


0.00%


0.00%


9.93%


0.00%


79.47%


10.60%


0.00%


0.00%
24th Mar
1948
IPA
IPA


1032.2


1005.5


3.53


82.92%


9.00


1.18


823


972


108


1.25


1.33


64º


21.5


0.00%


0.00%


9.62%


0.00%


82.69%


7.69%


0.00%


0.00%
24th Mar
1948
XX
Mild


1027.7


1005.5


2.94


80.14%


7.07


0.80


1629


1308


185


1


0.75


65º
12 + 40


55.14%


0.00%


7.57%


25.95%


0.00%


0.00%


8.65%


2.70%
22nd Mar
1948
PA
Pale Ale


1034.9


1010.0


3.29


71.35%


6.42


0.93


728


680


106


1.08


1.25


64º


24.5


0.00%


0.00%


9.93%


0.00%


79.47%


10.60%


0.00%


0.00%
1st June
1950
PA
Pale Ale


1039.9


1012.5


3.62


68.67%


6.63


1.07


707


756


114


1.08


1


64º


26.5


0.00%


0.00%


9.20%


0.00%


80.98%


9.82%


0.00%


0.00%
2nd June
1950
Best Ale
Mild


1031.7


1010.5


2.80


66.88%


7.27


0.89


810


720


99


1


0.75


65º
17 + 40


0.00%


0.00%


7.07%


83.84%


0.00%


0.00%


6.06%


3.03%
2nd June
1950
IPA
IPA


1034.5


1005.5


3.84


84.06%


9.54


1.30


823


1068


112


1.25


1.25


64º


24


0.00%


0.00%


8.33%


0.00%


84.26%


7.41%


0.00%


0.00%
2nd June
1950
Ex PA
Pale Ale


1055.3


1011.5


5.79


79.20%


9.00


2.04


331


675


75


1.08


1.25


62º


25.5


0.00%


0.00%


2.90%


0.00%


79.71%


17.39%


0.00%


0.00%
5th June
1950
Best Ale
Mild


1031.7


1008.5


3.07


73.19%


7.29


0.90


1596


1440


197.5


1


1


65º
15 + 40


0.00%


0.00%


7.09%


84.05%


0.00%


0.00%


6.08%


2.78%
5th June
1950
IPA
IPA


1034.6


1006.0


3.78


82.66%


9.54


1.30


821


1068


112


1.25


1.25


64º


23


0.00%


0.00%


8.33%


0.00%


84.26%


7.41%


0.00%


0.00%
6th June
1950
PA
Pale Ale


1040.1


1011.5


3.78


71.32%


6.63


1.08


701


756


114


1.08


1.25


64º


30


0.00%


0.00%


9.20%


0.00%


80.98%


9.82%


0.00%


0.00%
7th Jul
1950
DB
Brown Ale


1054.5


1012.5


5.56


77.06%


8.32


1.86


317


591


71


1


1.5


62º
19 + 40


0.00%


1.41%


0.00%


0.00%


80.28%


0.00%


16.90%


1.41%
23rd Jan
1951
DB
Brown Ale


1053.6


1012.5


5.44


76.68%


8.38


1.88


315


591


70.5


1


0.75


62º
15 + 40


0.00%


1.41%


0.00%


0.00%


80.57%


0.00%


16.96%


1.06%
22nd Dec
1950
Best Ale
Mild


1030.6


1009.0


2.86


70.59%


7.29


0.94


765


720


98.75


1


1.5


65º
16 + 40


0.00%


0.00%


7.09%


84.05%


0.00%


0.00%


6.08%


2.78%
17th Apr
1951
PA
Pale Ale


1039.8


1007.0


4.34


82.41%


6.63


1.08


699


756


114


1.08


1


64º


30


0.00%


0.00%


8.28%


0.00%


81.90%


9.82%


0.00%


0.00%
Source:
Whitbread brewing records held at the London Metropolitan Archives

Now let's taking a closer look. A ridiculously-detailed look. As warned.

First the 1948 ordinary Bitters:

1948 Lees Bitter 1038, 0.95 lbs hops barrel, 86% pale malt, trace of black malt, 12% sugar, 2% enzymic malt
1948 Whitbread PA 1034.4, 0.81 lbs hops barrel, 79% PA malt, 10% crystal malt, 11% sugar

Surprisingly, Lees Bitter was stronger and more heavily-hopped. Though, taking into account the differing gravities, the hopping level is about the same. More significant is the lack of any crystal malt in Lees Bitter.


Now the 1948 ordinary Milds:

1948 Lees K Mild 1028, 0.65 lbs hops barrel, 80% pale malt, 1% black malt, 4% crystal malt, 13% sugar, 2% enzymic malt
1948 Whitbread XX Mild 1027.7, 0.80 lbs hops barrel, 55% PA malt, 26% mild malt, 8% crystal malt, 11% sugar

These are much closer in profile. The gravities are near identical. The Lees is hopped a little less. And it also had only half of the crystal malt of Whitbread XX. But one of the biggest differences doesn't show up here: the colour. I know from later logs that K was only about 30-35 EBC. Whitbread XX was 80 to 90 EBC.


1950 ordinary Bitters:

1950 Lees Bitter 1041, 0.90 lbs hops barrel, 87% pale malt, trace of black malt, 11% sugar, 1.5% enzymic malt
1950 Whitbread PA 1041, 1.08 lbs hops barrel, 81% PA malt, 9% crystal malt, 10% sugar

The two beers now have exactly the same gravity.The biggest difference remains the lack of crystal in the Lees. Which is also hopped a little more lightly.


1950 ordinary Milds:

1950 Lees K Mild 1031, 0.74 lbs hops barrel, 84% pale malt, 1% black malt, 4% crystal malt, 10% sugar, 2% enzymic malt
1950 Whitbread Best Ale 1031.7, 0.90 lbs hops barrel, 84% mild malt, 7% crystal malt, 9% sugar

Another two very similar beers. Just a few more hops and more crystal in the Whitbread. And, of course, the base malt for Whitbread was mild ale malt.


There are a few generic differences. Like Lees use of a small quantity of enzymic malt. The sugar options differed, too. Lees going for a mix of glucose, invert and proprietary sugars. Whitbread used mostly No.1 and No. 3 invert.

Was that detailed enough? Hang on. I haven't got into the mashing schedules yet. I've already more than enough today. Perhaps tomorrow.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5445569787371915337-4732519290433934689?l=barclayperkins.blogspot.com


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