🥃 Or Should That Be 🍺?
Email newsletter originally sent to subscribers on 19 September 2024
One of the most successful elements of the Pattisons' business - and some might well argue that it was actually the only, real success - was Duddingston Brewery.
Built from scratch and completed in early 1896, the brewery was only in production for a couple of years before the Pattisons went bust.
It was a 45 quarter brewery, meaning it had the capacity to use 45 quarters of malted barley in a single brew. (I didn’t know what this meant until I used the power of Claude AI, who also told me that this apparently works out at approximately 5,900kg).
Image Credit: The Brewery History Society (1)
Duddingston's output was between 600 and 700 barrels per week and there was clearly demand for the beers produced there. Initially, they focused on producing beer for the home market; exporting was on the cards once expansion of the brewery was completed. But, of course, it all went horribly wrong for the brothers before that could happen.
The brewery was managed by the head brewer, Ronald Strang who had learnt his trade with George Younger & Sons in Alloa before moving to Edinburgh and who, with the formation of Pattisons Ltd, had become a director of the company.
After Pattisons had collapsed, the brewery was put up for sale at auction as part of the liquidation process. The first time it was up for the sale, in June 1899, the starting price was £50,000. But there were no takers. A fortnight later, it was up for sale at auction again; this time with a lower starting price of £40,000. But there were still no takers.
One of the conditions of sale was that the buyer was also required to purchase the equipment, machinery and stock at the valuation price. So, perhaps this is what had been putting folk off?
But, the following month, it was third time lucky. The starting price had been lowered to £30,000 and that's exactly the price the brewery went for.
And the buyer? Well, that was Robert Deuchars Ltd.
One question I was asked recently was whether any of Pattisons' brands survived after the collapse of the firm. To my knowledge, none of the whisky brands did continue. But that's hardly surprising given the bad reputation they had gained since Glenlivet Vat-gate.
But it seems as though Deuchars did keep some of the beer brands going, judging by these bottle labels.
Image Credit: Shut Up About Barclay Perkins (2)
Somehow, though, I can't see those medical endorsements appearing today!
On a different note, I just wanted to say thank you to all those who got in touch re Crowdfunder suggestions. I hope to have that set up and ready in the next week or two. Keep your eyes peeled!
Slàinte!
Justine
(1) breweryhistory.com
(2) https://barclayperkins.blogspot.com