6

light brown, no head: oxidized sherry, wood, old grain 3.1

7.2

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8

Much sweeter,with a heavier palate and more alcohol than the other Burton ales I have had. Low carbonation. Lots of brown sugar, sweet malt and some hops. Palate is very thick making is a slow-sipping beer. It might be the best thing Cold Spring has ever made.

7.2

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

2015 bottle courtesy of Zid. Thanks Chris!

It pours a ruddy brownish red with an inch of off white foam and sticky lacing.

Lots of brown sugar like sweetness in the nose with aromas of really dried fruit, light vanilla.

The taste isn't nearly as sweet. Brown sugar I taste but it's not overwhelming.
Dried fruit like figs, which I perceive to add a butterscotch flavour. I was going to say initially that there's some oxidation, which is quite possible, but I lean more towards the fig explanation. Oh and the alcohol is noticeable.

I get a full bodied mouthfeel.

Just now, I got some woody notes that I didn't get earlier. Warming up brings out more flavours..just like most beers on the planet. I should have pulled the bottle from the fridge sooner.

All in all, I dig this "reproduction" of an American classic. I have had bottles of the original before so it's a real treat to try it with just a couple of years on it. --- Beer merged from original tick of Ballantine Burton Ale on 13 Sep 2015 at 10:06 - Score: 7. Original review text: A blast from the past.

7.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 9

12 ounce bottle thanks to Steve. Pours a dark copper color with a medium white head. A big fruity toffee nose. The flavor is deep dusty malts, caramel, toffee, dark fruit. Very good. Excellent.

6.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle at Doug's Christmas party, thanks SteveO
Pours clear copper with a off-white head, light lacing. Caramel and dark fruit. Toffee, sweet malts and brown sugar
Good

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

12oz bottle thanks to Steveoj. Pours out a copper color topped with a sand head. Nose is rich malts toffee caramel spice. Taste is more of the nice toffee caramel malt sweetness and some light spice.

9.4

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5

Bottle from my brother. Old school rules! What a perfect example of the old brewing recipes. Dark amber, thick body lazy carbonation, lasting head. Caramelly malts dominate the aroma. Taste even more so, beautifully slick feel, caramel and toffee. No sign of the ABV. This is unbelievable!

7.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

12 oz bottle from Don. Nose is toffee, citrus, oaky vanilla, and toasted wheat bread. Clear rusty red with a small beige head. Flavor is lightly sweet with contrasting very light bitterness, fruity with some toffee.

6.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

12oz bottle poured into a tiny Duvel goblet, perfect for barleywine and reinforcing my small glass hobby. I was very interested in this throwback beer, the lure of finding an actual original Ballantine has always been strong in my mind. This is a small consolation prize. Overall, its a decent barleywine, a little astringent, not thick, a little cherry, fortunately low hop. I’ve had better brewers than Cold Spring make worse barleywines. I actually got this in a bargain bin for a buck, wish I picked up more but wont pay the regular retail price.