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08-05-2023, 07:11
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https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylLfDR8kMI8IJDwDkNBhcaZ1XH29bSRoGX-LD26SXRGC7tAKn2lyVbN74uiNr0W_95MXG8vIvx49q191Uf3EN w4kIGNozVPdpZybbDHOI3alWtcdRxy-5CugrknsIX12KcFJi6Wc34rxVLlFtHXJzLRE0GD0cuyDxyZFGV rZ8g5UM5mEnOApuSmLn/s1600/Higsons_Bitter_beermat.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylLfDR8kMI8IJDwDkNBhcaZ1XH29bSRoGX-LD26SXRGC7tAKn2lyVbN74uiNr0W_95MXG8vIvx49q191Uf3EN w4kIGNozVPdpZybbDHOI3alWtcdRxy-5CugrknsIX12KcFJi6Wc34rxVLlFtHXJzLRE0GD0cuyDxyZFGV rZ8g5UM5mEnOApuSmLn/s300/Higsons_Bitter_beermat.jpg)
We're flipping over to the other side of the Pennines for a look at Bitters in the Northwest. Which I define as everything West of the Pennines from Cheshire to Scotland. Arbitrary, but simple. Oh, and a bit of North Wales, as I had just the one entry from Wales.
I didn't say much about the Daily Mirror scores last time. The last set averaged 9.1 out of 12. Not too bad, given that a 9 qualifies as "good". This is their scale:
The highest mark given is 12—for perfection; 11— excellent; 10 —very good; 9—good; 8—pretty good: 7—acceptable; 6—fair; 5— poor; 4—very poor; 3—bad; 2—very bad; 1—appalling; 0—undrinkable.
Sunday Mirror - Sunday 17 September 1978, page 22. The Northeast average was brought down by quite a few beers scoring an 8 and one, Newcastle Amber, just a 6. While this set has an average score of 9.3, with four 8s the lowest scores. Oddly enough, those two were from well-respected brewers Hydes and Lees. I'm amazed that Wilsons, which I never cared for, scored higher.
Most of the other numbers are pretty similar. The average price is 0.4p per pint cheaper. That's not surprising, as Manchester was known for its cheap beer. Average OG, ABV and attenuation are all a fraction higher, but not by much.
Best vale were Higsons and Oldham, who both sold their 4% plus Bitters for just 26p.
One last point: note how few of the beers have names. Most are simply called Bitter or Best Bitter. How easy that made life. No need to enquire what the hell type of beer "Reflective View" is.
Fascinating to see Pollard included. Which was one of the earliest new breweries founded in the wake of CAMRA. The Theakston brewery in Carlisle was the old state brewery.
Northwestern Bitters in 1978
Brewer
Beer
Price per pint (p)
º gravity per p
% ABV per p
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
score
Flavour
Mitchells
Extra Special Draught Bitter
1045
1009.5
4.62
78.89%
10
Good, strong taste, full bodied.
Robinson
Best Bitter
1042
1009
4.29
78.57%
10
Excellent all-rounder.
Greenall Whitley (Wem)
Festival
1040.2
1006.05
4.45
84.95%
9
Clean bright keg. Pleasant.
Hartleys
Bitter
30
1.30
0.12
1039.1
1010.2
3.75
73.91%
10
Real nutty flavour. Excellent.
Higsons
Bitter
26
1.49
0.17
1038.7
1005.7
4.30
85.27%
9
Lovely, distinct bitter flavour.
Oldham Brewery
O.B. Bitter
26
1.45
0.15
1037.7
1006.9
4.01
81.70%
11
Superb creamy beer. Beautiful and rich.
Wilsons
Great Northern Bitter
29
1.30
0.13
1037.6
1007.7
3.89
79.52%
9
A delight from the wood as per this sample.
Theakston (Carlisle)
Best Bitter
32
1.17
0.12
1037.5
1007.6
3.89
79.73%
10
Nice fruity flavour.
Hydes
Best Bitter
27
1.37
0.14
1037.1
1008.2
3.75
77.90%
8
Sharp, tangy taste.
Greenall Whitley
Bitter
27
1.36
0.14
1036.8
1007.4
3.82
79.89%
10
Good head. Good taste. Nice.
Lees
Lees Bitter
28
1.31
0.16
1036.7
1003.15
4.38
91.42%
8
A qood malty flavour.
Boddington
Bitter
31
1.15
0.11
1035.7
1008.3
3.56
76.75%
8
A real “bitter" drinker’s tipple.
Pollard
John Barleycorn
30
1.19
0.13
1035.6
1006.1
3.84
82.87%
8
A new boy. Malty. Promising.
Matthew Brown
Best Bitter
28
1.25
0.13
1035.1
1006.7
3.69
80.91%
9
Nice, malty, meaty beer.
Jennings
Bitter
28
1.25
0.13
1035
1007.4
3.58
78.86%
11
Creamy, lovely ale.
Yates & Kackson
Bitter
29
1.20
0.13
1034.7
1006.2
3.71
82.13%
10
Good taste. Dry and hoppy.
Burtonwood
Bitter
29
1.20
0.13
1034.7
1005.2
3.84
85.01%
10
Excellent creamy drink.
Thwaites
Mature Bitter
29
1.20
0.12
1034.7
1007.1
3.58
79.54%
9
Hoppy, full bodied flavour
Border
Best Bitter
30
1.14
0.11
1034.1
1008.7
3.29
74.49%
9
Good flavoured creamy topped beer.
Average
28.7
1.27
0.13
1037.3
1007.2
3.91
80.65%
9.3
Source:
Sunday Mirror - Sunday 17 September 1978, pages 22 - 23.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2023/05/northwestern-bitters-in-1978.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylLfDR8kMI8IJDwDkNBhcaZ1XH29bSRoGX-LD26SXRGC7tAKn2lyVbN74uiNr0W_95MXG8vIvx49q191Uf3EN w4kIGNozVPdpZybbDHOI3alWtcdRxy-5CugrknsIX12KcFJi6Wc34rxVLlFtHXJzLRE0GD0cuyDxyZFGV rZ8g5UM5mEnOApuSmLn/s1600/Higsons_Bitter_beermat.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylLfDR8kMI8IJDwDkNBhcaZ1XH29bSRoGX-LD26SXRGC7tAKn2lyVbN74uiNr0W_95MXG8vIvx49q191Uf3EN w4kIGNozVPdpZybbDHOI3alWtcdRxy-5CugrknsIX12KcFJi6Wc34rxVLlFtHXJzLRE0GD0cuyDxyZFGV rZ8g5UM5mEnOApuSmLn/s300/Higsons_Bitter_beermat.jpg)
We're flipping over to the other side of the Pennines for a look at Bitters in the Northwest. Which I define as everything West of the Pennines from Cheshire to Scotland. Arbitrary, but simple. Oh, and a bit of North Wales, as I had just the one entry from Wales.
I didn't say much about the Daily Mirror scores last time. The last set averaged 9.1 out of 12. Not too bad, given that a 9 qualifies as "good". This is their scale:
The highest mark given is 12—for perfection; 11— excellent; 10 —very good; 9—good; 8—pretty good: 7—acceptable; 6—fair; 5— poor; 4—very poor; 3—bad; 2—very bad; 1—appalling; 0—undrinkable.
Sunday Mirror - Sunday 17 September 1978, page 22. The Northeast average was brought down by quite a few beers scoring an 8 and one, Newcastle Amber, just a 6. While this set has an average score of 9.3, with four 8s the lowest scores. Oddly enough, those two were from well-respected brewers Hydes and Lees. I'm amazed that Wilsons, which I never cared for, scored higher.
Most of the other numbers are pretty similar. The average price is 0.4p per pint cheaper. That's not surprising, as Manchester was known for its cheap beer. Average OG, ABV and attenuation are all a fraction higher, but not by much.
Best vale were Higsons and Oldham, who both sold their 4% plus Bitters for just 26p.
One last point: note how few of the beers have names. Most are simply called Bitter or Best Bitter. How easy that made life. No need to enquire what the hell type of beer "Reflective View" is.
Fascinating to see Pollard included. Which was one of the earliest new breweries founded in the wake of CAMRA. The Theakston brewery in Carlisle was the old state brewery.
Northwestern Bitters in 1978
Brewer
Beer
Price per pint (p)
º gravity per p
% ABV per p
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
score
Flavour
Mitchells
Extra Special Draught Bitter
1045
1009.5
4.62
78.89%
10
Good, strong taste, full bodied.
Robinson
Best Bitter
1042
1009
4.29
78.57%
10
Excellent all-rounder.
Greenall Whitley (Wem)
Festival
1040.2
1006.05
4.45
84.95%
9
Clean bright keg. Pleasant.
Hartleys
Bitter
30
1.30
0.12
1039.1
1010.2
3.75
73.91%
10
Real nutty flavour. Excellent.
Higsons
Bitter
26
1.49
0.17
1038.7
1005.7
4.30
85.27%
9
Lovely, distinct bitter flavour.
Oldham Brewery
O.B. Bitter
26
1.45
0.15
1037.7
1006.9
4.01
81.70%
11
Superb creamy beer. Beautiful and rich.
Wilsons
Great Northern Bitter
29
1.30
0.13
1037.6
1007.7
3.89
79.52%
9
A delight from the wood as per this sample.
Theakston (Carlisle)
Best Bitter
32
1.17
0.12
1037.5
1007.6
3.89
79.73%
10
Nice fruity flavour.
Hydes
Best Bitter
27
1.37
0.14
1037.1
1008.2
3.75
77.90%
8
Sharp, tangy taste.
Greenall Whitley
Bitter
27
1.36
0.14
1036.8
1007.4
3.82
79.89%
10
Good head. Good taste. Nice.
Lees
Lees Bitter
28
1.31
0.16
1036.7
1003.15
4.38
91.42%
8
A qood malty flavour.
Boddington
Bitter
31
1.15
0.11
1035.7
1008.3
3.56
76.75%
8
A real “bitter" drinker’s tipple.
Pollard
John Barleycorn
30
1.19
0.13
1035.6
1006.1
3.84
82.87%
8
A new boy. Malty. Promising.
Matthew Brown
Best Bitter
28
1.25
0.13
1035.1
1006.7
3.69
80.91%
9
Nice, malty, meaty beer.
Jennings
Bitter
28
1.25
0.13
1035
1007.4
3.58
78.86%
11
Creamy, lovely ale.
Yates & Kackson
Bitter
29
1.20
0.13
1034.7
1006.2
3.71
82.13%
10
Good taste. Dry and hoppy.
Burtonwood
Bitter
29
1.20
0.13
1034.7
1005.2
3.84
85.01%
10
Excellent creamy drink.
Thwaites
Mature Bitter
29
1.20
0.12
1034.7
1007.1
3.58
79.54%
9
Hoppy, full bodied flavour
Border
Best Bitter
30
1.14
0.11
1034.1
1008.7
3.29
74.49%
9
Good flavoured creamy topped beer.
Average
28.7
1.27
0.13
1037.3
1007.2
3.91
80.65%
9.3
Source:
Sunday Mirror - Sunday 17 September 1978, pages 22 - 23.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2023/05/northwestern-bitters-in-1978.html)