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I'm hard at work on the recipe section of "Keg!". Which includes a little more than just recipes. I like to have a little introduction about each brewery featured. What follows is part of the introduction for Boddington.

At the start of the 1970s, Boddington was still brewing a fairly decent range of beers. Two Milds, a Light Ale, a Bitter, a Strong Ale and a Stout.

The rate of attenuation for most of the beers is very high. Leaving the draught beers much stronger than you would expect for their gravity. All must have tasted pretty dry. And quite bitter, despite the relatively modest hopping rate.

I know that Boddington also had a Brown Ale. I assume that it was a tweaked version of one of the Milds. Probably XX.

Light Ale, Strong Ale. And Stout were usually exclusively bottled beers. Though Strong Ale was occasionally available in cask form. IP (Bitter) was also sold in bottles as Pale Ale.

Talking of the Stout, marvel at its wateriness. And, because, unlike at the other beers, the rate of attenuation was crap, it fails to reach the 3% ABV barrier. My limit for something being worth fucking drinking.

The rates of attenuation are crazily high. Over 90% for the draught beers. Leaving Mild, Best Mild and Bitter surprisingly strong for their gravity. Almost 4% ABV was very strong for a Mild back then.
Boddington beers in 1971
Beer Style OG FG ABV App. Atten-uation lbs hops/ qtr hops lb/brl colour
XX Mild 1030.5 1003 3.64 90.16% 5.67 0.76 75
BM Mild 1032.5 1003 3.90 90.77% 5.11 0.67 41
Light Ale Pale Ale 1032.5 1003 3.90 90.77% 5.71 0.45 13
IP IPA 1035.5 1003 4.30 91.55% 5.39 0.81 13
SA Strong Ale 1063.5 1011 6.95 82.68% 5.14 1.56 103
WSS Stout 1030.5 1009 2.84 70.49% 5.75 0.74 300
Source:
Boddington brewing record held at Manchester Central Library, document number M693/405/134.




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