Strength of beer?

[mark01]

I would guess ordinary pint of beer these days has a volume of 3.5%

Ive often wondered what the strength of beer (ale) was that our relatives once supped in the early part of the 1900's - say 1920s, 30s, 40s.

Anyone got a definate answer?

[Booldawg]

Beer has always been classified by type and style. This would've been true even back to Victorian days. From strong barley wines up to 12% down to Milds at 3-3.5%(very popular in the 50s but in decline now)

IPA (India Pale Ale) was a beer designed to withstand the long sea journey from UK to India and was usually within the 6-7% range and heavily hopped to fight off infection. This served the colonnials in India from the mid 1700s onwards.

Interesting enough hops were not used in beer before the 1500s as hops were considered a nuiscance weed. These beers wouldve been all malt.

You might want to google the Durden Park Beer circle. Its a brewing association that scour ancient brewery ledgers in an attempt to ressurect beers from the 19th century.

[mark01]

Cheers for that, Booldawg