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22-05-2023, 07:11
Visit the Shut up about Barclay Perkins site (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2023/05/southwestern-bitters-in-1978.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISN8UTga3bk47_pTVtxkx3wMbl2XtVmoh7-HEP4kHTiENCXEQ5Ekf5cC93VWZuSr1AJAWCwogIozSCXGyQWPs q-dTTQ1slbcYqnhh79PbsLj_EiMXY07of32oGH7h2PcCOKKnGEJo SM9V_AeKLTaKlaZsdDVMt8PBcXV-xO-l_DEGdI9aJTPTDREb/w316-h400/Arkells_BBB_2.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISN8UTga3bk47_pTVtxkx3wMbl2XtVmoh7-HEP4kHTiENCXEQ5Ekf5cC93VWZuSr1AJAWCwogIozSCXGyQWPs q-dTTQ1slbcYqnhh79PbsLj_EiMXY07of32oGH7h2PcCOKKnGEJo SM9V_AeKLTaKlaZsdDVMt8PBcXV-xO-l_DEGdI9aJTPTDREb/s496/Arkells_BBB_2.JPG)
As we make our way down through the country, we've now got to the bottom left pointy but. Or, put more simply, the Southwest.
The type of beer that I most associate with this part of the country is Boys Bitter. A low-gravity Bitter which often filled the price and strength slot that elsewhere still belonged to Mild. I'm not sure why I brought that up, as no beers of that type appear in the table.
As if to mock me, this set has the highest average OG so far: 1042.8º. Not so surprising, as half the samples are over 1040º and the strongest of all the beers analysed, Kingsdown Ale.
It doesn't come as a shock that the average price is the highest so far, even without the strongest beers included. Generally, beer on the periphery was more expensive. Value for money is also the poorest so far.
On the upside, the average quality score is the highest. There was a seven for Ushers BB, but all the others scored nine or above.
Despite having lived in the region for a couple of years in the 1980s, I've tried quite few of these beers. Wadworth 6X was always a pretty decent pint and a few places in Swindon (where I lived) sold it. I probably had Royal Oak at a festival. Can't be sure and I have no memory of it.
I'm not sure why Kingsdown Ale, which was pretty rare, was analyses, but not Arkell BBB, which was much more common. That was a lovely drop, with an underlying malty richness, which I found typical of the region's Bitters.
Southeast next to bat.
Southwestern Bitters in 1978
Brewer
Beer
Price
º gravity per p
% ABV per p
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
score
Flavour
Arkell
Kingsdown Ale
1059.5
1013.6
5.98
77.14%
9
Clear, strong and sweet. A good winter drink but too syrupy for me
Eldridge Pope
Royal Oak
36
1.31
0.12
1047.3
1013.6
4.37
71.25%
11
Full-bodied malty beer with satisfying flavour
Devenish (Weymouth)
Wessex Best Bitter
1042.2
1006.6
4.64
84.36%
11
Clean, tasty, refreshing with a good flavour.
Wadworth
6X
1041.4
1009.75
4.11
76.45%
10
Golden coloured. Slightly fruity but clean-tasting.
Whitbread (Tiverton)
Best Bitter
33
1.18
0.12
1039
1007.8
4.06
80.00%
9
Clear, light, bitter.
Palmer
IPA
35
1.09
0.12
1038.1
1006
4.18
84.25%
9
A well-hopped bitter with a tangy taste.
Usher
Ushers BB
34
1.11
0.13
1037.7
1004.55
4.32
87.93%
7
Pleasantly light but slightly insipid.
Hall & Woodhouse
Badger Best Bitter
33
1.14
0.11
1037.5
1008.85
3.72
76.40%
10
Pleasant nutty flavour with a hint of sweetness.
Average
34.2
1.17
0.12
1042.8
1008.8
4.42
79.72%
9.5
Source:
Sunday Mirror - Sunday 17 September 1978, pages 22 - 23.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2023/05/southwestern-bitters-in-1978.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISN8UTga3bk47_pTVtxkx3wMbl2XtVmoh7-HEP4kHTiENCXEQ5Ekf5cC93VWZuSr1AJAWCwogIozSCXGyQWPs q-dTTQ1slbcYqnhh79PbsLj_EiMXY07of32oGH7h2PcCOKKnGEJo SM9V_AeKLTaKlaZsdDVMt8PBcXV-xO-l_DEGdI9aJTPTDREb/w316-h400/Arkells_BBB_2.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISN8UTga3bk47_pTVtxkx3wMbl2XtVmoh7-HEP4kHTiENCXEQ5Ekf5cC93VWZuSr1AJAWCwogIozSCXGyQWPs q-dTTQ1slbcYqnhh79PbsLj_EiMXY07of32oGH7h2PcCOKKnGEJo SM9V_AeKLTaKlaZsdDVMt8PBcXV-xO-l_DEGdI9aJTPTDREb/s496/Arkells_BBB_2.JPG)
As we make our way down through the country, we've now got to the bottom left pointy but. Or, put more simply, the Southwest.
The type of beer that I most associate with this part of the country is Boys Bitter. A low-gravity Bitter which often filled the price and strength slot that elsewhere still belonged to Mild. I'm not sure why I brought that up, as no beers of that type appear in the table.
As if to mock me, this set has the highest average OG so far: 1042.8º. Not so surprising, as half the samples are over 1040º and the strongest of all the beers analysed, Kingsdown Ale.
It doesn't come as a shock that the average price is the highest so far, even without the strongest beers included. Generally, beer on the periphery was more expensive. Value for money is also the poorest so far.
On the upside, the average quality score is the highest. There was a seven for Ushers BB, but all the others scored nine or above.
Despite having lived in the region for a couple of years in the 1980s, I've tried quite few of these beers. Wadworth 6X was always a pretty decent pint and a few places in Swindon (where I lived) sold it. I probably had Royal Oak at a festival. Can't be sure and I have no memory of it.
I'm not sure why Kingsdown Ale, which was pretty rare, was analyses, but not Arkell BBB, which was much more common. That was a lovely drop, with an underlying malty richness, which I found typical of the region's Bitters.
Southeast next to bat.
Southwestern Bitters in 1978
Brewer
Beer
Price
º gravity per p
% ABV per p
OG
FG
ABV
App. Atten-uation
score
Flavour
Arkell
Kingsdown Ale
1059.5
1013.6
5.98
77.14%
9
Clear, strong and sweet. A good winter drink but too syrupy for me
Eldridge Pope
Royal Oak
36
1.31
0.12
1047.3
1013.6
4.37
71.25%
11
Full-bodied malty beer with satisfying flavour
Devenish (Weymouth)
Wessex Best Bitter
1042.2
1006.6
4.64
84.36%
11
Clean, tasty, refreshing with a good flavour.
Wadworth
6X
1041.4
1009.75
4.11
76.45%
10
Golden coloured. Slightly fruity but clean-tasting.
Whitbread (Tiverton)
Best Bitter
33
1.18
0.12
1039
1007.8
4.06
80.00%
9
Clear, light, bitter.
Palmer
IPA
35
1.09
0.12
1038.1
1006
4.18
84.25%
9
A well-hopped bitter with a tangy taste.
Usher
Ushers BB
34
1.11
0.13
1037.7
1004.55
4.32
87.93%
7
Pleasantly light but slightly insipid.
Hall & Woodhouse
Badger Best Bitter
33
1.14
0.11
1037.5
1008.85
3.72
76.40%
10
Pleasant nutty flavour with a hint of sweetness.
Average
34.2
1.17
0.12
1042.8
1008.8
4.42
79.72%
9.5
Source:
Sunday Mirror - Sunday 17 September 1978, pages 22 - 23.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2023/05/southwestern-bitters-in-1978.html)