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Shut up about Barclay Perkins - Bottled Scotch Ale before WW II
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The First World War had a cleansing effect on Scottish beer, especially amongst the stronger Ales, which were transformed in character.
Before WW I, Scotch Ale mostly consisted of the top-end Shilling Ales. Things like 100/-, 120/-, 140/- and 160/-. These were characterised by a low degree of attenuation and a low level of hopping. Usually, except at William Younger, they were parti-gyled with weaker Shilling Ales. Younger brewed almost exclusively single-gyle.
In the interwar period, most breweries in Scotland heavily rationalised their beer ranges. Shilling Ales mostly disappeared and breweries constructed most of their beers from a Pale Ale parti-gyle. Including Strong Ales, which were just the strongest of the bunch. Much the same way as Golden Pride is the strongest beer from Fullers Pale Ale parti-gyle.
William Younger ploughed a different furrow. Before WW I, they had two parallel ranges of Strong Ales, 120/-, 140/- and 160/- was one, the other the Burton-inspired No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Only the latter survived the war, in the form of No. 1 and No. 3.
They were usually labelled Scotch Ale in England and Strong Ale North of the border. A typically OG was 1080-1090º, though there were stronger examples. The strongest were about as strong as beer could get and had pre-WW I type gravities.
William Younger, who always were a bit different from other Scottish breweries, had two different strength Strong Ales. No. 1 had a similar profile to those from rival breweries. But it also had a weaker version, No. 3, which was also available on draught. In London, it filled the draught Burton Ale slot. Both No. 1 and No. 3 were brewed single-gyle.
Despite being dark in colour, there was no coloured malt in any of these beers. The colour all came from caramel added post-fermentation.
Bottled Scotch Ale before WW II |
Year |
Brewer |
Beer |
OG |
FG |
ABV |
App. Atten-uation |
1933 |
Ballingall |
Strong Dundee Ale |
1083.5 |
1023 |
7.89 |
72.46% |
1933 |
Fowler |
Strong Ale |
1108 |
1034 |
9.68 |
68.52% |
1934 |
Jeffrey |
No. 1 Strong Ale |
1059.5 |
1016.5 |
5.59 |
72.27% |
1933 |
McEwan |
Strong Ale |
1084.5 |
1027 |
7.48 |
68.05% |
1933 |
Usher |
Old Scotch Ale |
1096 |
1022 |
9.72 |
77.08% |
1935 |
Younger, Wm. |
No. 3 Strong Ale |
1053.5 |
1010 |
5.67 |
81.31% |
1932 |
Younger, Wm. |
No. 1 Strong Ale |
1080 |
1026.5 |
6.95 |
66.88% |
1933 |
Younger, Wm. |
No. 1 Strong Ale |
1082 |
1023 |
7.69 |
71.95% |
Source: |
Thomas Usher Gravity Book held at the Scottish Brewing Archive, document TU/6/11. |
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