Shut up about Barclay Perkins - Drybrough PI 1914 - 1919 (part two)

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I bet you thought I'd forgotten about this, the second part of my look at Drybrough PI in WW I. I hadn't. Just got distracted by holidays and the like.

And, yes, the quantity of data to fiddle with put me off, too. At this rate my series on Drybrough's beer will last until judgement day. Or maybe a little longer. We may have devolved back into worms by the time I'm done.

Some general remarks to start with. The recipes for all three beers are generally similar: 80% pale malt, 20% sugar (or sugar and flaked maize). Which is pretty typical for all Pale Ales of the period. It's a point I've made many time before, but I'll repeat it again: crystal malt in Pale Ales was almost unknown before WW I and not common until after WW II.

Note that pale malt (or the closely related PA malt) is the only malt used in any of the beers. Though it's also clear that Drybrough's and Fuller's beers have been darkened with some sort of sugar. I suspect that Whitbread were colour adjusting with caramel at racking time. That's what they did after the war to hit their colour standard.

Which begs the question, when did they stop trying to make Pale Ale as pale as possible and start deliberately darkening it? Looking over my tables, it seems Fuller's started adding caramel to AK in 1902. Barclay Perkins started adding caramel to their Ordinary Bitter, XLK, just before the outbreak of WW I. Interesting, that. I wonder what the reason was? Because it's before the big drop in gravity, which would have been an obvious cause.

Whitbread were the most conservative, or consistent, depending on how you look at. As the "other sugar" is almost certainly No. 1 invert, there's almost no change at all. Except that in 1917 and 1918 the percentage of sugar fell, because it was rationed:

"About this [October 1917] time sugar became rationed and brewers were only allowed to use 25 per cent, of the amount they used in 1915."
Journal of the Institute of Brewing Volume 46, Issue 4, August 1940, page 273.

The effect of sugar rationing is also apparent in the grists of Drybrough and Fuller's. In October 1917 the percentage of sugar in Drybrough's PI grist fell from 9% to 5%. At Fuller's the reduction was even more dramatic, from 10-15% to just over 2%.

As a result of the lowering of the amount of sugar used, the malt percentage in the grist went over 90% at all three breweries. Ironic, that a side-effect of the war should be to increase the malt content of beer. Though it is logical. Barley has limited use in feeding humans, whereas the opposite is true of sugar.

British brewers' love of sugar is demonstrated by the fact that when it became available again, the percentage used went back up to pre-war level, or even a little higher.

Drybrough's use of Poperinge hops throughout the war is a bit surprising. Especially as they weren't all from the pre-war crop. In 1918 they were using ones from the 1916 harvest. While Poperinge was in the corner of Belgium unoccupied by the Germans, it was just behind the front lines and subject to shelling and other disruption.

Fuller's used Poperinge hops, too, but only at the start of the war and after its end. The main attraction of this type of hops was their price. They were amongst the cheapest available. For most of the war, like Whitbread, Fuller's used English hops, mostly from Kent. There were plenty to go around. The reduction in demand for hops caused by falling gravities produced a glut of English hops. Only government intervention stopped most farmers going bust.

Drybrough PI 1914 - 1919
Date	Year	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	pale malt	no. 1 sugar	no. 2 sugar	no. 3 sugar	no. 4 sugar	caramel	glucose	other sugar	total sugar	flaked maize	flaked rice	hops
29th Dec	1914	PI	1044.0	1015.0	3.84	65.91%	82.31%	2.89%	5.78%					0.36%	9.03%	4.33%	4.33%	Californian and English
5th Jan	1915	PI	1044.0	1014.0	3.97	68.18%	82.40%	4.29%	5.15%					0.43%	9.87%	7.73%		Californian and English
8th Jan	1915	PI	1044.0	1014.0	3.97	68.18%	73.93%	2.84%	5.69%	5.69%				0.47%	14.69%	11.37%		Californian and English
14th Jul	1915	PI	1044.0	1013.0	4.10	70.45%	81.28%	4.28%	5.70%					0.18%	10.16%	8.56%		Californian and English
14th Dec	1915	PI	1042.0	1013.0	3.84	69.05%	82.62%	2.62%	6.56%					0.33%	9.51%	7.87%		Poperinge and English
7th Jan	1916	PI	1045.0	1014.0	4.10	68.89%	81.47%	3.67%	5.87%			0.18%			9.72%	8.81%		Poperinge and English
18th Jul	1916	PI	1043.0	1013.0	3.97	69.77%	82.07%	3.70%	5.18%			0.18%			9.06%	8.87%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
4th Aug	1916	PI	1043.0	1013.0	3.97	69.77%	82.25%		9.14%			0.18%			9.31%	8.44%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
18th Oct	1916	PI	1042.0	1013.0	3.84	69.05%	81.47%	3.67%	5.87%			0.18%			9.72%	8.81%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
16th Jan	1917	PI	1041.0	1012.0	3.84	70.73%	80.61%	3.84%	6.14%			0.19%			10.17%	9.21%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
13th Feb	1917	PI	1036.0	1012.0	3.18	66.67%	80.50%	3.35%	5.87%			0.21%			9.43%	10.06%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
14th Aug	1917	PI	1035.0	1010.0	3.31	71.43%	85.09%	0.98%	7.82%			0.24%			9.05%	5.87%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
15th Aug	1917	PI	1034.0	1010.0	3.18	70.59%	85.51%	3.80%		1.90%		0.24%		2.85%	8.79%	5.70%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
16th Aug	1917	PI	1035.0	1010.0	3.31	71.43%	80.98%	4.50%	8.90%			0.22%			13.62%	5.40%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
17th Aug	1917	PI	1035.0	1010.0	3.31	71.43%	85.09%	1.96%	4.89%			0.24%		1.96%	9.05%	5.87%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
17th Aug	1917	PI	1029.0	1009.0	2.65	68.97%	85.09%	1.96%	4.89%			0.24%		1.96%	9.05%	5.87%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
20th Aug	1917	PI	1034.0	1010.0	3.18	70.59%	82.15%	0.98%	5.87%			0.24%		1.96%	9.05%	8.80%		Poperinge, New Zealand and English
19th Oct	1917	PI	1033.0	1010.0	3.04	69.70%	90.85%	1.26%	3.79%			0.32%			5.36%	3.79%		Poperinge and English
23rd Oct	1917	PI	1037.0	1011.0	3.44	70.27%	86.65%	0.88%	3.50%			0.22%		0.88%	5.47%	7.88%		Poperinge and English
6th Nov	1917	PI	1038.0	1013.0	3.31	65.79%	88.68%		2.77%	1.85%		0.23%		0.92%	5.77%	5.54%		Poperinge and English
21st Dec	1917	PI	1037.0	1011.0	3.44	70.27%	84.92%		4.92%			0.31%		2.46%	7.69%	7.38%		Poperinge and English
22nd Jan	1918	PI	1037.0	1011.0	3.44	70.27%	84.03%		4.38%	1.75%		0.22%		1.75%	8.10%	7.88%		English
27th Jan	1918	PI	1037.0	1011.0	3.44	70.27%	83.30%		5.21%			0.22%		3.47%	8.89%	7.81%		English
19th Feb	1918	PI	1038.0	1010.0	3.70	73.68%	83.72%		6.77%	1.69%		0.21%			8.67%	7.61%		English
26th Feb	1918	PI	1037.0	1010.0	3.57	72.97%	84.46%		7.04%			0.29%		1.17%	8.50%	7.04%		English
5th Mar	1918	PI	1038.0	1010.0	3.70	73.68%	83.30%		6.94%	0.87%		0.22%		0.87%	8.89%	7.81%		English
8th Mar	1918	PI	1038.0	1011.0	3.57	71.05%	85.23%		2.27%		2.27%	5.68%		1.14%	11.36%	3.41%		English
23rd Jul	1918	PI	1030.0	1009.0	2.78	70.00%	91.18%		2.94%		3.92%			1.96%	8.82%			Poperinge and English
13th Aug	1918	PI	1030.0	1009.0	2.78	70.00%	85.40%		2.92%		1.46%	7.30%		2.92%	14.60%			Poperinge and English
23rd Oct	1918	PI	1030.0	1009.0	2.78	70.00%	91.18%		6.86%					1.96%	8.82%			Poperinge and English
29th Oct	1918	PI	1030.0	1010.0	2.65	66.67%	85.40%		5.84%			7.30%		1.46%	14.60%			Poperinge and English
24th Jan	1919	PI	1030.0	1009.0	2.78	70.00%	89.61%		10.39%						10.39%			Poperinge and English
28th Jan	1919	PI	1030.0	1010.0	2.65	66.67%	87.88%		8.08%				4.04%		12.12%			Poperinge and English
7th Feb	1919	PI	1030.0	1010.0	2.65	66.67%	85.71%		7.14%			7.14%			14.29%			Poperinge and English
2nd Jul	1919	PI	1029.0	1010.0	2.51	65.52%	100.00%								0.00%			English
3rd Jul	1919	PI	1031.0	1010.0	2.78	67.74%	91.43%			8.57%					8.57%			English
8th Jul	1919	PI	1030.0	1009.0	2.78	70.00%	87.34%			5.06%		7.59%			12.66%			English
Source:
Drybrough brewing record held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document number D/6/1/1/3

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JY4U3J6KxH..._1914_1919.jpg

Whitbread FA 1914 - 1919
Date	Year	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	pale malt	PA malt	no. 1 sugar	other sugar	hops
28th May	1914	FA	1047.4	1013.0	4.55	72.55%	22.28%	57.92%	19.80%		EK
4th Jun	1914	FA	1047.1	1013.0	4.51	72.39%	22.28%	57.92%	19.80%		EK
22nd Jun	1914	FA	1047.6	1014.0	4.45	70.62%	22.28%	57.92%	19.80%		EK
8th Oct	1914	FA	1048.5	1015.0	4.43	69.06%	22.28%	57.92%		19.80%	EK
29th Jan	1916	FA	1045.4	1013.0	4.29	71.38%	23.94%	55.85%		20.21%	EK
18th May	1917	FA	1045.7	1010.0	4.72	78.12%	26.16%	57.56%		16.28%	EK
24th Jul	1917	FA	1033.2	1005.0	3.74	84.96%	22.12%	61.95%	15.93%		EK
11th Oct	1917	FA	1035.2	1005.0	3.99	85.79%	22.73%	68.18%	9.09%		EK
5th Jun	1918	FA	1032.7	1008.0	3.27	75.52%	29.22%	68.18%	2.60%		EK
3rd Jul	1918	FA	1032.6	1007.0	3.38	78.51%	27.86%	60.37%	11.76%		EK
30th Oct	1918	FA	1032.4	1005.0	3.63	84.57%	21.33%	59.72%	18.96%		EK
5th Feb	1919	FA	1032.1	1006.0	3.46	81.33%	21.63%	59.13%	19.23%		EK
19th Mar	1919	FA	1032.4	1007.0	3.36	78.40%	21.95%	58.54%	19.51%		EK
Source:
Whitbread brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives document number LMA/4453/D/01/079, LMA/4453/D/01/080, LMA/4453/D/01/081, LMA/4453/D/01/082 and LMA/4453/D/01/084.

Fuller's AK 1914 - 1919
Date	Year	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	pale malt	no. 2 sugar	glucose	invert sugar	caramel	total sugar	primings	flaked maize	hops
20th Nov	1914	AK	1044.3	1009.1	4.65	79.38%	78.89%	5.84%	5.84%		0.17%	15.26%	3.40%	5.84%	MK, Poperinge, Cobbs and Oregon
8th Dec	1914	AK	1044.1	1009.4	4.58	78.63%	81.38%		5.56%	5.56%		12.36%	1.23%	6.26%	MK, Poperinge, Cobbs and Oregon
2nd Jul	1915	AK	1044.5	1009.7	4.61	78.22%	78.96%	6.68%	6.68%			14.77%	1.40%	6.27%	MK and Cobbs
1st Jun	1916	AK	1043.9	1009.7	4.53	77.93%	79.27%	6.61%	6.61%			15.77%	2.56%	4.95%	MK and Cobbs
3rd Aug	1916	AK	1042.7	1008.9	4.47	79.23%	82.40%	4.85%	4.85%			12.75%	3.06%	4.85%	MK and Cobbs
26th Oct	1916	AK	1041.0	1006.6	4.54	83.78%	80.05%	6.47%	8.09%			15.10%	0.55%	4.85%	MK and Cobbs
3rd Nov	1916	AK	1041.7	1005.8	4.74	86.04%	80.16%	5.73%	5.73%			14.12%	2.67%	5.73%	MK and Cobbs
12th Jan	1917	AK	1041.8	1007.8	4.50	81.44%	80.82%	5.26%	5.26%			13.27%	2.76%	5.91%	MK and Cobbs
19th Jan	1917	AK	1040.7	1007.5	4.40	81.63%	82.98%	5.40%	5.40%			10.95%	0.16%	6.07%	MK and Cobbs
13th Apr	1917	AK	1041.5	1008.3	4.39	79.99%	83.03%	5.40%	5.40%			10.90%	0.10%	6.08%	MK and Cobbs
20th Jun	1917	AK	1038.6	1006.4	4.27	83.51%	86.64%	3.85%	5.78%			13.36%	3.74%		MK and Cobbs
8th Aug	1917	AK	1035.4	1006.4	3.84	82.00%	97.77%					2.23%	2.23%		MK and Cobbs
1st Nov	1917	AK	1035.9	1007.8	3.73	78.41%	92.36%				0.17%	2.42%	2.25%	5.23%	MK and Cobbs
14th Nov	1917	AK	1036.1	1008.3	3.68	76.98%	92.38%				0.23%	2.31%	2.09%	5.31%	MK and Cobbs
2nd Jan	1918	AK	1035.5	1007.5	3.70	78.92%	92.13%	5.94%			0.13%	7.87%	1.80%		MK and Cobbs
16th Jan	1918	AK	1036.1	1011.1	3.32	69.35%	91.58%	3.05%	3.05%		0.16%	8.42%	2.15%		MK and Cobbs
11th Apr	1918	AK	1026.1	1005.5	2.73	78.81%	74.94%	12.49%	12.49%		0.08%	25.06%	0.00%		MK and Cobbs
20th Jun	1918	AK	1026.2	1005.5	2.73	78.84%	74.65%	19.14%	3.83%		0.09%	25.35%	2.29%		MK and Cobbs
7th Nov	1918	AK	1025.7	1005.0	2.74	80.60%	77.55%	18.35%			0.18%	22.45%	3.92%		MK and EK
16th Jan	1919	AK	1026.1	1006.1	2.64	76.62%	78.14%	8.14%	8.14%		0.17%	21.86%	5.41%		MK and EK
15th Apr	1919	AK	1026.0	1004.4	2.86	82.98%	74.21%	6.06%	8.08%		0.26%	21.25%	6.85%	4.54%	MK and WK
19th Jun	1919	AK	1028.2	1004.7	3.10	83.28%	77.72%	6.76%	6.76%		0.14%	15.52%	1.86%	6.76%	MK and WK
25th Jun	1919	AK	1028.0	1005.3	3.01	81.21%	78.01%	8.00%	6.00%		0.27%	15.99%	1.72%	6.00%	MK and Cobbs
27th Aug	1919	AK	1030.5	1006.9	3.12	77.31%	74.03%	8.80%	8.80%		0.16%	17.91%	0.16%	8.06%	English and Poperinge
Source:
Fuller's brewing records held at the brewery.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngMetVZ5UM..._1914_1919.jpg

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