Shut up about Barclay Perkins - London Brown Ale after WW II

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Before the war, most London Brown Ales were in the low-1040ºs, or around average gravity. After the war, most were only around 1030º, which was 4 points or below average OG. Though there were examples around 1034º and, of course, the outlier that was Whitbread Double Brown, a beer far stronger than its local rivals.

There was quite a lot of variation in rates of attenuation – from 60% to 85% – but most Brown Ales were in the range 65% to 70%. That’s on the low side compared to most draught beers, but is probably a result of the way Brown Ale was brewed. Most were Mild Ale recipes which were primed and then bottled. Unlike in cask Mild, there was no chance for the primings to ferment out before sale as the yeast was removed and the beer stabilised either by chilling or pasteurisation.

Much like London Milds, Brown Ales brewed in the capital tended to be at the darker end of the spectrum, averaging over 90. Around 80 would have been typical for examples brewed in the English provinces.

London Brown Ale after WW II
Date	Year	Beer	Price per pint (d)	OG	FG	ABV	App. Atten-uation	colour
1946	Barclay Perkins	Doctor Brown Ale	13.5	1034.1	1011.3	2.95	66.86%	105
1947	Barclay Perkins	Doctor Brown Ale	14	1034.2	1007.4	3.48	78.36%	120
1946	Beasley	Dark Brown	12	1029.5	1009.5	2.59	67.80%	90
1947	Beasley	Brown Ale	12	1030	1007.7	2.89	74.33%	82
1947	Charrington	Brown Ale	12	1028.9	1011	2.31	61.94%	90
1947	Hammerton	Nut Brown Ale	12.5	1027.6	1003.9	3.08	85.87%	80
1947	Mann Crossman	Brown Ale	14	1035.3	1011.4	3.09	67.71%	82
1946	Taylor Walker	Nut Brown Ale	17	1030.1	1007.6	2.92	74.75%	82
1947	Taylor Walker	Brown Ale	13	1030.3	1007.3	2.98	75.91%	85
1946	Truman	Trubrown	14	1035.1	1014.2	2.70	59.54%	115
1947	Truman	Trubrown	14	1033.5	1012.6	2.70	62.39%	105
1946	Watney	Brown Ale	13	1031.2	1011.4	2.56	63.46%	110
1947	Watney	Brown Ale	13	1029.8	1009.7	2.60	67.45%	82
1947	Whitbread	Forest Brown	12	1029.3	1009.1	2.61	68.94%	85
1947	Whitbread	Double Brown	17	1043	1010.1	4.27	76.51%	100
	Average		13.5	1032.1	1009.6	2.91	70.12%	94.2
Sources:
Whitbread Gravity book held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number LMA/4453/D/02/001.

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