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24-05-2020, 07:30
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Trawling through Boddington’s brewing records, I noticed that in the later war years the batches of IP were more frequent. Working from the handy totals at the end of each month, I’ve been able to get some idea of the development in the balance between the different beers.
If you’re wondering why 1941 is missing, it’s because the brewery was closed due to bomb damage.
From 1943 on, there’s a significant increase in both the quantity and proportion of total production of IP. Going from 753 barrels and 23% in 1939, to 1,945 and 40% in 1945. A significant switch from Mild to Bitter after 1942. Is this when England started falling out of love with Mild?
What could the reason be? XX dropped down to its bottom OG of 1028º in 1943. While IP was 1041º. Were drinkers trading up to Bitter because Mild was getting too watery for them? Or was it simply that they had more cash and could afford the more expensive option?
I’ve included the 1951 figures to show that the trend from Mild to Bitter continued after the war.
Just one brewery. How typical was it? Certainly, got me thinking.
Boddington output by type in April 1939 - 1945
Year
Beer
XX
IP
St
CC
total
1939
barrels
2,303.22
753.39
93.83
98.33
3,248.78
%
70.90%
23.19%
2.89%
3.03%
1940
barrels
3,390.14
636.83
93.83
94.86
4,215.67
%
80.42%
15.11%
2.23%
2.25%
1942
barrels
3,878.58
1,011.58
0.00
0.00
4,890.17
%
79.31%
20.69%
0.00%
0.00%
1943
barrels
3,520.78
1,477.36
0.00
0.00
4,998.14
%
70.44%
29.56%
0.00%
0.00%
1944
barrels
2,670.69
1,466.39
0.00
0.00
4,137.08
%
64.56%
35.44%
0.00%
0.00%
1945
barrels
2,910.06
1,944.58
0.00
0.00
4,854.64
%
59.94%
40.06%
0.00%
0.00%
1951
barrels
2,681.42
2,108.69
200.06
0.00
4,790.11
%
55.98%
44.02%
4.18%
0.00%
Source:
Boddington brewing record held at Manchester Central Library, document number M693/405/129.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2020/05/boddington-from-mild-to-bitter.html)
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Trawling through Boddington’s brewing records, I noticed that in the later war years the batches of IP were more frequent. Working from the handy totals at the end of each month, I’ve been able to get some idea of the development in the balance between the different beers.
If you’re wondering why 1941 is missing, it’s because the brewery was closed due to bomb damage.
From 1943 on, there’s a significant increase in both the quantity and proportion of total production of IP. Going from 753 barrels and 23% in 1939, to 1,945 and 40% in 1945. A significant switch from Mild to Bitter after 1942. Is this when England started falling out of love with Mild?
What could the reason be? XX dropped down to its bottom OG of 1028º in 1943. While IP was 1041º. Were drinkers trading up to Bitter because Mild was getting too watery for them? Or was it simply that they had more cash and could afford the more expensive option?
I’ve included the 1951 figures to show that the trend from Mild to Bitter continued after the war.
Just one brewery. How typical was it? Certainly, got me thinking.
Boddington output by type in April 1939 - 1945
Year
Beer
XX
IP
St
CC
total
1939
barrels
2,303.22
753.39
93.83
98.33
3,248.78
%
70.90%
23.19%
2.89%
3.03%
1940
barrels
3,390.14
636.83
93.83
94.86
4,215.67
%
80.42%
15.11%
2.23%
2.25%
1942
barrels
3,878.58
1,011.58
0.00
0.00
4,890.17
%
79.31%
20.69%
0.00%
0.00%
1943
barrels
3,520.78
1,477.36
0.00
0.00
4,998.14
%
70.44%
29.56%
0.00%
0.00%
1944
barrels
2,670.69
1,466.39
0.00
0.00
4,137.08
%
64.56%
35.44%
0.00%
0.00%
1945
barrels
2,910.06
1,944.58
0.00
0.00
4,854.64
%
59.94%
40.06%
0.00%
0.00%
1951
barrels
2,681.42
2,108.69
200.06
0.00
4,790.11
%
55.98%
44.02%
4.18%
0.00%
Source:
Boddington brewing record held at Manchester Central Library, document number M693/405/129.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2020/05/boddington-from-mild-to-bitter.html)