This is a special haul for me. Two little bottles.
Ballantine Burton Ale. Brewed on May 12, 1946. The only other batch I have seen was brewed on May 12, 1934. Burton Ale would spend between 7 and 20 years in large oak tanks. It was treated as a stock ale. See, Burton Ale, was
NOT FOR SALE. The brewery only released this beer as special Christmas gifts to employees, associates, and friends of the brewery. Each bottle was labeled as a
Special Brew: Not For Sale Brewed especially for: with that person’s name appearing on the label festooned with Christmas holly and wreaths and the words:
Seasons Greetings from all of us at Ballantine.
This one was brewed in 1946 and bottled in November 1964 for Jerry Hyland.
This bottle was brewed on the same day as the bottle above, but was bottled 2 years later in 1966 for Romeo Jensen
Here's some info for those who are curious:
http://beersinthehenhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/if-ever-there-was-beer-in-american.html
I'll be drinking them this weekend!