Burton Bridge Empire Ale

Brewed by Burton Bridge
Style: English Strong Ale
Burton-on-Trent, England

Serve in English pint, Trappist glass

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

UPDATED: DEC 15, 2003 Mine is 4 months away from its best before date and it tastes like a traditional pale ale with grapefruit flavours - not much in the way of sweetness, but plenty in the way of bitter hops. A very lively beer (even though it had rested for a month it spilled over in a most spectacular fashion when opened), this is very refreshing and quite tasty. [3.2]
And again... Bottle Conditioned. Best Before May 2003 - that's 7 months ago. Rising foam as before. This had been kept upright in a cool place for a year. I had gently popped it into the fridge to lower the temperature - and it still foamed up. The head settles to a 1/2 inch thickness, and remains there like a foam mattress. Aroma is malty, musty, oaky, sweet, Belgian, a touch of chocolate, some oxidisation, woody - pleasantly attractive without being too seductive. It smells like a vintage ale. Mouthfeel is good - medium to full, but with just too much lively carbonation giving a harshness that is almost unpleasant, but not quite. Taste is very good. Dark tangy flavours. The malt shifts around, not quite settling on a readily identifiable flavour, though chocolate is the most urgent image. Cardboard is there as well, but not unpleasantly - more like a cookie cardboard than a damp, nasty cardboard. There is sweetness moving around amongst the bitterness. The carbonation prevents a detailed flavour journey, though when the final foamy bubbles have died away a lingering licorice is the reward. A very interesting, tasty and rewarding ale that obviously behaves differently depending on age and storage conditions. Though mine was clearly beyond the age at which the brewer felt comfortable, the aging had brought out soft, malty complexities not apparant in the younger version. I upped all points except palate - though I may have given the first sample too many points anyway (4). The more I drink this, the more I like it!

Looks great. Cloudy orange-red. A strong citrus hop aroma with grapefruit. This is pretty darn tasty, even though it seems fruity. Then, it seems to get a bit of oldish flavor to it. A good dry hop bite at the end. Quite nice.

500ml bottle. Bought for its label which is reminiscent of a homebrew. It pours a slightly hazy amberish brown with a big foamy but creamy white head. I am not a huge fan of the scent. It has a spiciness of like anise or something. There is some sourdough, golden raisin, and alcohol. The flavor is boozy and astringent at first. The mouthfeel is prickly and highly carbonated. The flavor has ripe apple, booze, a mild bitterness, and some liqueur-like caramel. It is decent the longer you sip, it reminds me of an amber ale that has sat for a bit, but the hotness makes me think it isn’t that old. It is a pretty decent one in the flavor. Kind of a wonky one.

500 ml bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a cloudy golden/orange color with about an inch off-white head that stays around a while. Not much lacing. Aroma is bready malt, grassy and citrusy hops (lemon peel, oranges), and a bit of apples. The brew tastes mostly like the aroma, with toasted and bready malt, wood, citrusy hops (lemon and orange peel), minerals, and apple flavors all noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it’s a bit slick and has a good amount of carbonation. I thought this was a pretty decent brew, the more I drank it, the more I liked it. I’d buy it again. $5.49 a bottle.

Bottle from Wineways, Harrogate. Pours golden with a dense head. Toffee on the nose. The palate is rich, full and fragrant. Citrus fruit, caramel, floral hop character - it carries it’s 7.5% well and is very moreish. Creamy and some sweetness to finish.

A - dried fruit and Cotten candy A - dark gold with no head T - light sweet and sour with alcohol and controlled bitter P - full and soft O - decent

500ml bottle. Pours dark orange with a thin head. Aroma is earthy, gassy orange. Taste is sweet, some alcohol and cloying orange on the finish. Low carbonation.

Bottle@Home. Grainy aroma with cinnamon and sweet apples, alcoholic. Amber, off-white irregular head, fair lace. Sweet, apples, bitter, very very alcoholic. Off-flavours and unbalanced.

UPDATED: FEB 16, 2012 Not what I expected at all, pours orange with quite a bit of head. Not much aroma - light. Smooth, didn’t find it too hoppy, a little bitter. Wouldn’t buy it again but wouldn’t turn it away either.

Bottle from Beers of Europe poured into a pint glass. Vibrant orange and a bit cloudy. No head at all. Smooth, somewhat hopped, acidic. Hoppy aroma. Quite plain actually, but hides its alcohol content reasonably well.

Bottle from Star Grocery, Berkeley. Pours murky light amber with a thin white head and a floral aroma. There is a sweet pale malt flavor that quickly turns very bitter and slightly sour with a little banana ester. This is quite strong and a bit strange for a British ale, yet quite enjoyable.