Ind Coope Burton Ale

Brewed by Leeds (Carlsberg UK)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Leeds, England

Clear amber with a short head. Hoppy citrus toffee scent. Watery. Bitter-sweet with a smooth mouthfeel. Some toffee at the front, then hops. OK but bland.

Cask (handpump) at the Roscoe Head, Liverpool, April 2008. Bit of a trip down memory lane in more ways than one. Firstly, Burton was one of the more regularly available cask beers back in the dark days, often sitting alongside Bass when they both came from the old brewery in Burton. Secondly, the Roscoe Head was where I did a lot of my drinking when I was at University in the mid 1970s. The Roscoe was widely recognised as selling the best pint in the city, although there wasn’t much opposition back then. Strangely, we went there to drink the Tetleys Bitter (although it was probably the Walkers Warrington brewed version back then) which, somewhat unbelievably, was regarded as nectar of the Gods in those days. Times change, and so has the Burton. It is tough to find nowadays and the sulphurous Burton nose seems to have gone. Nice amber colour with a creamy head. Fruity, with restrained bitterness and a smooth mouthfeel. Decent enough but not what it was.

Cask conditioned - handpump - Coach And Horses - Wellingborough. A copper coloured beer with an off-white head. The aroma has sulphuric notes. Quite fruity and burtonic bitterness in the taste. Pretty acceptable although not a patch on when it won CBOB.

Cask at Bull’s Head, Monyash, Derbyshire. Orange amber with a large white head. Sweet aroma. Malty taste with a grassy hoppiness. Enjoyed this outside in the sunshine which is rare this year in the UK.

1. Cask Handpump at the British Lion, Crewe 02/07/2001 Amber coloured smooth and fruity with a hoppy finish. 2. Cask Handpump at the Lower Angel, Warrington 31/07/2001 Golden and slightly sweet with a full hop finish. 3. Cask Handpump at the Roscoe Head Tavern, Liverpool 02/03/2008 Malt aroma. Golden coloured slightly fruity and malty with some dryness in a crisp and bitter finish. 4. Cask Handpump at the Wynnstay Arms, Llangollen 23/04/2008 Fruity aroma. Golden coloured slightly hoppy smooth on the palate and fruity with a little dryness in a crisp full malt finish.

You know, another bitter more, but not with gellatine consistence like other, this one had character and foam.

[Cask at Volunteers Arms, GBBF 2004] A hazy orange beer with a small white head. The aroam is sweet with primary notes of caramel, while the flavor is sweet malty with a hoppy bitter end.

Sept, 2002 Cask. A very pleasant, nicely balanced beer; but it lacks the characteristic puff of sulphur that used to make it such a memorable drink. [2.9]
Summer, 1977: Pub, Ladbroke Grove. I remember this very clearly. I remember the sulphur - and the drinkability - and the fact that it seemed such a savoury beer. The pub was opposite the wine store where I worked, so I would often come in here after work for a pint. [3.4]