Shut up about Barclay Perkins - Truman Porter and Stout output 1855 - 1856
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It's amazing all the stuff I still stumble across in my archive photos. Like a handy summary in the start of a Truman brewing record. Listing how much of each type of Porter and Stout they brewed in the 1855-1856 season.
It fascinates me for several reasons.
The first is to do with ageing Porter. Especially the balance between unaged (Runner) and aged (Keeper). Almost six times as much Runner was brewed as Keeper. While the classic blend was two parts young to one part aged.
What does this mean? Either they were using far less aged beer in the blend. Or a considerable percentage was being sold as straight young Porter. I'd be included to go for the latter explanation. Though it could have been a combination of the two.
It's no surprise that far more Porter was breed than Stout.Nor that the running versions of both were the most popular. The special versions of Porter - Crimea, Bottling and Export - were brewed in pretty small quantities. As were the stronger Stouts. Mind you, between them the three Stouts over 1080ยบ still amounted to over 12,000 barrels.
There must have been a fair few drinkers getting stuck into draught Stout down the pub, given about a quarter as much Running Stout as Running Porter was brewed. Remember, at this time Porter was by far the most popular drink in London.
The Crimea Porter was destined for the government there, but for British troops fighting the Russians. They were give Porter to stop them killing themselves with rum and other spirits.
| Truman Porter and Stout output 1855 - 1856 |
| Beer |
OG |
barrels brewed |
% of total |
| Runner |
1056.5 |
200,519 |
61.76% |
| Govt. of Crimea |
1059.3 |
5,303 |
1.63% |
| Keeper |
1051.2 |
36,293 |
11.18% |
| Bottling Porter |
1057.1 |
7,413 |
2.28% |
| Export Porter |
1057.1 |
4,190 |
1.29% |
| Running Stout |
1072.3 |
46,648 |
14.37% |
| Keeping Stout |
1073.1 |
9,983 |
3.07% |
| Bottling Stout |
1069.8 |
850 |
0.26% |
| Export Stout X |
1070.9 |
900 |
0.28% |
| Export Stout XX |
1085.9 |
5,781 |
1.78% |
| Double Stout |
1082.5 |
6,774 |
1.78% |
| Imperial Stout |
1087.8 |
| Total |
|
324,654 |
|
| Source: |
| Truman brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number B/THB/C/057. |
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