Does anyone remember "BLUE CANS"

oldjiver · Sep 1, 2012

I worked in the docks for 35 years and spent many years putting on ships stores. In the 70s-80s ships crews could buy a ration of duty free beer. The most popular by far were "Blue Cans" or Barclays Sparkling Bitter, to give it its correct name. They cost 13p for a 33cl can and I believe they must have been around 7% alcohol as they made your gums tingle!!
Barclays were taken over and then that firm was taken over etc etc. I have been unable to find any information on this wonderful beer, but would love to make a clone. Does anyone have any info on this? ( By the way not only the crew drank them, they were almost currency and you could get jobs done in the workshops for a dozen "Blues" etc. Sailors, Dockers, Managers, and even British Transport police and Customs lined up to buy them each morning).

Sideboard · Sep 1, 2012

Sailors, Dockers, Managers, and even British Transport police and Customs lined up to buy them each morning

They must have been good, I can't look at a can in the morning, never mind buy one.

Haven't heard of em though. Its great to try and recreate memories in this way, hope you find the recipe : cheers:

doyley · Sep 2, 2012

I worked on quays from the early eighties for 25 years. Blue cans, alas, were before my time, but I have heard many stories about them. Wish I could have sampled some!

Monkeybrew · Sep 2, 2012

doyley, I just googled and voila, half way down this page appears to be a recipe:

http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/

"Barclay Perkins brewed three Lagers in 1934: Export at 1049.4Âº, Draught at 1043.2 and Dark at 1057.4Âº. Most Lager was still bottled at the time and Barclay's led the way in offering a draught version as well. I know from later pricelists that it was delivered in metric-sized casks, 5.5 and 11 gallons (25 and 50 litre). It was served on top pressure, as the pricelists also include CO2 cylinders.

It looks like a pretty authentic Lager. I can't say that I understand the mashing details totally. But it is complicated. And it starts at a very low 130Âº F, rising to 175Âº F. It's all malt - something none of their top-fermenting beers was - and uses half German malt and all Czech hops. The wort was pitched at 46Âº F and rose to a maximum of 52Âº F. After primary fermentation it was moved to lagering tanks at 39Âº F."

Also have a look at:

http://www.panzani.com.br/uk_img.html?barclay04b.jpg

http://www.panzani.com.br/uk_ukcones.html

Jon

BarnsleyBrewer · Sep 2, 2012

I'd love to have a dabble with this.. :thumb:

BB

johnnyboy1965 · Sep 2, 2012

Courage ESB was in a blue can, during my time in the RN. Dont know if its the same thing.
The other one was Red Death, which I think was Mcewens Export.

oldjiver · Sep 2, 2012

Monkeybrew said:
doyley, I just googled and voila, half way down this page appears to be a recipe:

http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/

"Barclay Perkins brewed three Lagers in 1934: Export at 1049.4Âº, Draught at 1043.2 and Dark at 1057.4Âº. Most Lager was still bottled at the time and Barclay's led the way in offering a draught version as well. I know from later pricelists that it was delivered in metric-sized casks, 5.5 and 11 gallons (25 and 50 litre). It was served on top pressure, as the pricelists also include CO2 cylinders.

It looks like a pretty authentic Lager. I can't say that I understand the mashing details totally. But it is complicated. And it starts at a very low 130Âº F, rising to 175Âº F. It's all malt - something none of their top-fermenting beers was - and uses half German malt and all Czech hops. The wort was pitched at 46Âº F and rose to a maximum of 52Âº F. After primary fermentation it was moved to lagering tanks at 39Âº F."

Also have a look at:

http://www.panzani.com.br/uk_img.html?barclay04b.jpg

http://www.panzani.com.br/uk_ukcones.html

Jon

Thats fascinating, such a shame we have lost these old breweries and wonderful beers like "Blue cans".

Monkeybrew · Sep 2, 2012

Did you see this bit then?

Sideboard · Sep 2, 2012

That's a lager, was he looking for sparkling bitter?

oldjiver · Sep 3, 2012

Sideboard said:
That's a lager, was he looking for sparkling bitter?

But still very interesting, thanks

Wendy1971 · Sep 3, 2012

il have a go at that sounds great :thumb:

doyley · Sep 3, 2012

Were you by any chance working at/sailing out of Parkeston Quay?

oldjiver · Sep 4, 2012

doyley said:
Were you by any chance working at/sailing out of Parkeston Quay?

Yes, if you were on any of the ships in the 70s/80s you may remember "Moby" the old drunk linen storeman and the big man who worked with him. (I was the big man not the drunk).

doyley · Sep 5, 2012

I worked on the Quay but I don't think our paths crossed, still, small world.

oldjiver · Feb 1, 2013

Here it is.....

rpt · Feb 4, 2013

So was it a bitter? The can is labelled Sparkling Beer and all the other comments have referred to lager.

oldjiver · Feb 4, 2013

Hard to tell, nobody ever put it in a glass to see the colour, and it tasted sort of halfway between. Everybody had a can opener on their keyring in those days and just popped and drank. It was a way of life on the ships and Quay.

Dr Mike · Feb 4, 2013

Is this the right stuff ? Name is correct but doesn't look like 7% ABV

http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... y.html?m=0

oldjiver · Feb 5, 2013

Never saw a can like that, always "BLUE" cans. AS cans werent marked with % alcohol it was hard to tell. I seem to remember export guinness WAS marked 7%. and they seemed similarly alcoholic. Those were the days of light beers such as "starlight" that was I think 2.3%. So perhaps they just tasted better than the rest. I seem to remember they made your gums tingle!!. The man I worked with (or rather the man whose work I did!) bought a case of 24 every day, drank 18 and sold 6 to his mate. Then went round the pub in the evening. Mind you he was dead at 50. :cry:
(p.s. The name "Export" was often used in those days to imply better quality i.e."Export Woodbines" and had nothing to do with exporting them.)

Does anyone remember "BLUE CANS"

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