Styles You Want To Make A Comeback

Well, I'm going by descriptions of Burton Ale by contemporary beer researchers like Martyn Cornell (in his Amber, Gold & Black) and Ron Pattinson, realizing that in the US in the pre-craft era, there was not the strict naming conventions or recipe "authenticity" demands of today. But simply long-aging and additional dry-hopping an IPA would not make a "Burton Ale" by most definitions - although one could say it was an Ale of the sort (or influenced by) the ales of Burton-on-Trent.

(It also doesn't explain how many contemporary articles list the ABV at 10% or higher, which was also the alcoholic level of Pabst's brief recreation).

Some articles published well after the firm's demise on the Ballantine product have suggested that the post-Repeal master brewer at Ballantine was a "Burton (trained) brewer" but no such evidence exists that I've ever found (Archibald F. MacKechnie was a Scot who was educated in Glasgow, and had previously worked in breweries in London, Perth, Glasgow and in Canada, and was a brewery consultant back in the UK when hired after Repeal. Obviously his London experience, though, would have had him very familiar with Burton Ale).

"Cans"? Neither Ballantine India Pale Ale or Burton Ale were ever canned - bottles only - the draught version of IPA seems to have disappeared in the 1950s. Bottles of BBA still turn-up frequently - to me, one of the biggest mysteries around the beer (why were so many bottles "saved" by the recipients? And how were they stored?) Haven't paid much attention to the going rates - I dropped out of the search when it was approaching the $100 mark in the early 2000's.

 

I really appreciate your comments. I love learning about this.

My mistake! There were no cans!

The bottles were saved because the brewery gave them as special gifts. I read somewhere that, at least in some years, Ballantine didn't offer Burton Ale to the public at all, but that the entire run of production was given as gifts. One famous recipient of the gift of a case of the ale was then-President of the United States Harry Truman.

Where would one search for unopened bottles?

 

Yeah, I understand that - the point is why were so many full bottles saved? Were they specifically told that the beer would continue to age? Too strong for some beer drinkers? I've seen the cases that Ballantine shipped to the recipients but have always wondered if there was some literature inside.

Yeah, apparently the President and NJ senators got bottles (Eisenhower sent his back according to Brzezinski) as well as distributors, TV and radio personalities, local union officials, contractors, fraternal organizations, and NY Yankee officials (I've seen labels for both Casey Stengel and Del Webb - I'd imagine Mel Allen had to be on the list, too.) The latter's TV and radio broadcasts, of course, were sponsored by P. Ballantine & Sons.

eBay is where I got mine - after searching for around two decades in the pre-internet era at breweriana shows (the Ballantine Burton Ale labels and empty bottles were around but I used to get a lot of raised eyebrows and guffaws: "You're going to drink 10-40 year old beer?").

 

My understanding is that Ballantine was explicit about the ale being able to age.

 

Maybe you can ‘live vicariously’ via Bob? Or attend his next “Ballantines Day” party at his house?

“Bob

28th September 2011 at 11:32 am

to Jim re: Who is he?

Ballantine usually gave out their Christmas Bottles in sealed boxes to dignitaries or people of special merit (in their eyes) Here is the answer for which you seek:

http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=james-l-warga&pid=151909724

The reason allot of these have been coming to ebay in the last 15 or so years is that these folks, most times, put the beer away for posterity or perhaps forgotten them through the sands of time. Of course upon their deaths, their effects are scoured for the estate sale by surviving relatives and such and low and behold! You are bidding on them. I’ve been lucky enough to have had two bottles of the ’34 vintage that were still sound and the last ’46 I drank was right up to par with a perfect example of a modern day Stock/Old/Burton Ale. I have two more bottles in the fridge of the ’46. Apparently every year they would brew a “special batch” of the IPA and top off the Oak Tuns “Solera Style” to keep the headspace up. There are only two documented brewings of the actual BBA. Both were brewed on May 12th 1934 and 1946. I, being a homebrewer, strive to celebrate those great ales by throwing a “Ballantines Day” party at my house every year.”

http://zythophile.co.uk/2007/10/08/come-back-for-the-burtons/

Cheers!

 

Slowly seeing a resurrection and really stoked to see Kolsch beers popping up with some American craft brewers.

 

Yeah, that's the common wisdom but it always seemed kinda counter intuitive to me.

"Here's a case of a beer we've aged for 10-20 years, you can continue to cellar it more."
"WTF? 10 - 20 years and it's still not ready yet?"

Ballantine operated "brewery branches" (company owned distributorships) in the northeast and a few other states. I've always figured that a lot of the Burton Ale was "hand-delivered" by brewery employees or officials, or local Ballantine distributors (who also were recipients, as well, from a list I've gathered over the years) --- and I suppose that would have been the ideal time to mention the ability to continue to age the beer. I've talked to a number of former employees (mostly production or brewhouse workers, however - not exec's - but they all knew of the beer) but no one ever mentioned exactly how the beer was distributed or what explanation or other info they were given. Just seems odd, too, that so many cases weren't consumed in the 40 or more years after they were given out. I mean, c'mon - even at one bottle a year at Christmas they should have been gone.

I guess I'd need primary source (like a recipient - preferably one of the ones who are still alive ) or, better still, a written statement. I can't believe there wasn't some letter or pamphlet in the case:

but while I've come across several empty cases, labels, crowns, full and empty bottles, etc., I've never seen or heard of any printed material.

 

Black IPAs. I love the style, but they have faded into oblivion, almost.

 

Did you get a chance to drink the recent spring seasonal Kolsch by Von Trapp?

Cheers!

 

yes to this. Just picked up a pack of Kolsch from Almanac that the packaging asserts is in the traditional style. Excited to see how they did

 

I have not! Now I will be seeking this one out!!

 

Don't sleep on the Goose Island kolsch either. At $15 for a 15 pack you can't go wrong.

This thread was also a good read remembered a few styles I haven't seen in ages.

 

Hopefully you will be able to find some next year.

Cheers!