Ind Coope Burton Ale

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.