Burton Bridge Thomas Sykes Old Ale

Cask@Chelmsford Beer Festival. Unbelievably phenolic butterscotch aroma and flavour. The alcohol isn’t well masked t all. Too much sticky caramel and butterscotch, and way too much alcohol in the finish.

Cask. Dark golden colour, not much head. Alcohol, fruit and berries in aroma. Strong alcohol and fruit in flavour. Quite extreme for being a cask ale, but then again very pleasant. Good beer to have if you sit down and have a chat with friends.

Cask@HBF2006
Copper-golden color, small off-white head. Slightly alcoholic, berry-like aroma. Sweetish, even sugary ale with fruity notes. Very long, alcoholic bitter aftertaste. Berry also there. Cask ale to sip, slowly.

Now this is a barley wine, for sure. You can sense the alcohol from a couple of feet away! Spirity, alcoholic aroma, counterpointed by strong elements of fruity malt. The alcohol hit continues through into the flavour and finish, but all sorts of other complex tones there as well. Very well made and balanced with a mouthfeel that is far less heavy than one might expect, thus drinks very easily. Unfortunately, no matter how I try, I cannot really get to appreciate that candy sugar finish that these strong beers tend to have. Maybe its because I do most of my drinking in a social atmosphere in the pub, rather than sipping at home. No doubt a real aficionado of the style would give it a couple more points. Handpump, Head of Steam, Euston, London NW1, December 2003

Cask Stillage at the Town Hall, Stockport 30/05/2002 Amber mid brown coloured and extremely strong in alcohol. Fruity flavours and a warming malt finish.