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More ludicrous detail about Boddington Bitter. Another factor in the evolution of a beer is highlighted: fashion.Remember how the colour suddenly became much paler in the late 1960s. Dropping from 18 in 1966 to 12 in 1968. The change is e easily explained by what happened in the grist. Where a fair chunk of the pale malt was replaced by lager malt. A clear statement of intent there.
Probably related to the change is fashion, when it came to beer. You know, the popularity of the new-fangled Lagers.
How popular was Lager in the 1960s? You should know me by now. Obviously, I have some numbers.

UK Beer consumption by type 1965 - 1971 (%)
Beer type 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971
Ale & stout 98.0 98.0 97.0 96.0 94.0 93.0 90.1
Lager 2.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 6.0 7.0 9.9
Sources:
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1988” page 17
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1990” page 17
Lager very much on the up, but enough to mess around with your Bitter in 1967 or so?
Which brings me back to Boddington's grists:

Boddington Bitter malts and adjuncts 1945 - 1970
Date Year pale malt lager malt enzymic malt wheat malt flaked maize flaked barley
9th Apr 1945 83.48% 2.61% 5.22%
15th Apr 1946 83.08% 2.31% 4.62%
3rd Jan 1947 80.20% 2.97% 5.94%
5th Apr 1948 87.27% 2.73%
1st Apr 1949 85.71% 2.68%
6th Apr 1950 84.91% 2.83%
24th Dec 1951 86.44% 2.54%
6th Jan 1966 80.37% 2.77% 2.77% 2.08%
9th Jan 1968 63.48% 15.11% 3.02% 3.02% 2.27%
20th Apr 1970 63.48% 15.11% 3.02% 3.02% 2.27%
Sources:
Boddington brewing records held at Manchester Central Library, document numbers M693/405/129, M693/405/130 and M693/405/133.
Definitely seems like they were going for a paler look with the lager malt, wheat malt and flaked maize. Was it in response to Lager, though?



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