Vancouver Island Brewing / Gladstone Brewing Company Burton Ale English Strong Ale at 7.5% ABV | 75 IBU (C$6.69 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, packaged on 30-Aug-2017, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 4-Feb-2018)
Appearance: hazy deep amber with one finger of loose beige head diminishing gradually to a thick cap, minimal stringy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toffee, molasses, nuts, apples, leafy weeds. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter warming finish. (4/5)
Huh – so that’s a Burton Ale, huh? Intensely malty, with heavy molasses. How is this is the precursor to IPAs? Oh, wait, there’s the finish. OK, maybe I see it now. Ooh, hang on, there’s the hops. Neat. Yeah, I see it. This is a seriously weird beer: as it warms up, it gets nuttier and nuttier on the nose, with very little hop character on the front end, but the taste and finish are reminiscent of a big old-fashioned DIPA. I have no idea as to its authenticity – the size of my white beard notwithstanding, I wasn’t around for the original – but I like this. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
