How strong was beer in the 1960s and 1970s?
A visitor to the website asked me about the strength of John Smith's Bitter in the 1950s. I was able to find out that it was 3.4% ABV in 1960. Today it is 3.6%.
So what about other beers from the 1960s and 1970s?
Draught bitters, 1960
| Beer | ABV% | Original Gravity | Price (½pint) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Brewery Georges Bitter | 3.4 | 1030.9 | 6½d |
| Ushers Bitter | 3.0 | 1031.9 | 6½d |
| Friary Meux Bitter | 3.6 | 1034.9 | 6½d |
| Greenhall & Whitley Bitter | 3.7 | 1034.4 | 7d |
| Carlisle & District Bitter | 3.9 | 1038.2 | 7d |
| Vaux Best Bitter | 3.8 | 1034.8 | 7½d |
| Wilson's Bitter | 3.9 | 1036.1 | 7½d |
| Greene King Bitter | 4.0 | 1037.0 | 7½d |
| Ind Coope Bitter | 3.8 | 1037.7 | 7½d |
| Hammonds United Best Bitter | 4.1 | 1035.5 | 8d |
| Daniel Thwaites Bitter | 3.8 | 1035.8 | 8d |
| John Smith's Best Bitter | 3.4 | 1036.8 | 8d |
| Truman Hanbury Buxton Bitter | 3.9 | 1037.6 | 8d |
| Tennants Best Bitter | 4.2 | 1038.3 | 8d |
| Whitbread Bitter | 3.6 | 1037.4 | 8½d |
| Courage & Barclay Bitter | 3.9 | 1040.3 | 8½d |
| Ansells Bitter | 4.5 | 1045.3 | 8½d |
| Tennants Queen's Ale | 4.3 | 1041.7 | 9d |
| Bass Worthington 'E' | 4.6 | 1041.8 | 9d |
| Bass Red Triangle | 4.5 | 1043.1 | 9d |
| Younger's Bitter | 4.3 | 1043.9 | 9d |
| Charrington IPA | 4.1 | 1044.9 | 9½d |
| Watneys Special Bitter | 3.7 | 1043.1 | 9½d |
| Fremlins Best Bitter | 4.6 | 1044.7 | 10½d |
| Flowers Keg Bitter | 3.4 | 1039.1 | 11d |
Source: 'Beer' published by the Consumers' Association Ltd, in 'Which?' August 1960
Draught beers, 1972
| Beer | ABV% | Original Gravity | Price (pint) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Diamond | 3.5 | 1037.4 | 15-18p |
| Ind Coope Super | 3.5 | 1036.2 | 11-16p |
| Worthington 'E' | 4.0 | 1037.8 | 14-18p |
| Bass Charrington IPA | 3.8 | 1039.8 | 11-16p |
| Courage Tavern | 3.8 | 1037.6 | 14-18p |
| Courage Best Bitter | 4.3 | 1039.9 | 12-16p |
| Younger's Tartan | 3.7 | 1035.9 | 14-18p |
| Younger's Scotch Ale | 4.2 | 1041.3 | 11-16p |
| Watneys Red | 3.7 | 1037.9 | 14-18p |
| Watneys Special Bitter | 3.4 | 1036.0 | 12-16p |
| Whitbread Tankard | 3.8 | 1038.5 | 14-18p |
| Whitbread Trophy | 3.4 | 1034.3 | 11-16p |
| Guinness | 4.2 | 1039.2 | 16-20p |
| Harp Lager | 3.3 | 1032.8 | 17-19p |
Source: 'Keg Bitter' published by the Consumers' Association Ltd, in 'Which?' April 1972
How does beer strength compare to today?
Bitter is a lot less popular than in the 1960s. In a YouGov survey of the most popular beer and cider brands, bitter is behind cider and Guinness. The most popular bitter is Tetley's at number 16 in the survey.
Tetley's is 3.6% ABV. This puts it around the middle of our 1960s and 1970s brews. John Smith's is also 3.6% and Boddington's 3.5%.
We have developed a taste for some stronger brews. Old Speckled Hen (6.5%) and London Pride (4.7%) are at numbers 18 and 22.
Guinness was always popular and it topped YouGov's poll. It is exactly the same strength in terms of ABV today as it was in 1972. Although in 1960, it was 4.4% ABV.
Comments