the company's export trade declined during and after the second world war, and as a result, the abbey brewery in edinburgh, previously the younger's brewery, was closed down in 1956 and converted into offices. by the 1950s, mcewan's had become the dominant party in the mcewan younger venture, and a full merger was undertaken in 1959. scottish brewers continued to increase its market share in the brewing sector, doubling its output after a costly five-year programme of expansion and modernisation undertaken between 1958 and 1963.