Ballantine Burton Ale 2015 – A First Sampling

We brought you an early look at the packaging for this beer, and all of the release details as Pabst revives this classic and historical holiday ale.  Ballantine Burton Ale was first brewed in Newark, NJ in the 1930’s (just after the end of Prohibition) and aged for up to 20-Years in American oak. 

This “Special Brew” was originally reserved for “prestigious friends” of the brewery (including the White House(President Harry Truman) so I was honored to get an early sample of the 2015 version.

Ballantine Burton Ale will be released in limited quantities for the holiday season and I was excited to hear this beer was create under the guidance of our pal Greg Deuhs, Pabst’s Master Brewer.

Burton Ale has a early oaky, hoppy aroma with a touch of sweetness…but the flavor is decidedly sweet, but well balanced.  You can’t help but taste the oak character of the beer, thank in part for the several month aging in barrels lined with American oak.

The sweetness was well balanced by hops, oak and a roasted sweet vanilla flavor we really liked.  As the beer warms, the boozy character of the brew makes is presence known and at 11.3%-AbV, Burton Ale will get your attention.  This beer finishes with big hops that serve to clean up the sweetness and booziness.  Ballantine tells me this beer is 75 IBU and I believe every one of them is in this bottle.

The original beer was never publicly sold, so you’ll be excited to hear that the 2015 Ballantine Burton Ale will be available from Nov through Dec in Major northeast markets (NY, NJ, MA, ME, PA, DE, RI, VT, CT & MD).  Burton Ale is packaged in 12oz 6-packs and draft so get out there and try one for yourself.

This is the perfect beer to share over the holidays and a beer I know my family will see more (and more) of in the next month or so.  Be sure to try Ballantine Burton Ale and as always, be sure to let me know what YOU think!