(Courtesy Dogfish Head Craft Brewery)

Some times it takes to time to recognize how unique and special certain beers were, especially those beers that are no longer readily available. So welcome to another “Craft Beer Classics,” a homage to hits from the past that we’d love to hit again…

Beers like Dogfish Head’s terrific Burton Baton Ale…

The History & Legacy of Dogfish Head’s Burton Baton

Dogfish Head first brewed Burton Baton in 2004 as a rare, oak-aged fusion beer specifically for Michael Jackson’s Brewery’s Rare Beer Club  The beer It paid homage to Ballentine’s legendary Burton Ale of the Burton-on-Trent tradition, blending an English-style old ale with the brewery’s iconic 90 Minute IPA, and aging the result in French oak.

(Burton Baton – 2019)

Brewing Process & Flavor Profile

• Two Threads, One Beer: Ferment an English Old Ale and an Imperial IPA separately, then combine and age them for about a month in large oak foeders
• Alcohol & Bitterness: At 10% ABV and 70 IBU, it’s was a bold, resinous brew, featuring citrus-forward Pacific Northwest hops, softened by oak-infused vanilla and woody notes
• Sensory Experience:
  • Aroma: Pine, citrus, caramel, raisins, cinnamon, and clove
  • Flavor: Rich malt, dark fruits (fig/grape), hop bitterness, oak tannins, with subtle whiskey-like warmth
  • Mouthfeel: Slightly dry, coating, with lingering bitterness—ideal at cellar temperature (around 55 °F)

Evolution & Reception

• From Rarity to Core Lineup: Initially a limited-rarity release, Burton Baton became a year-round offering in 2012 due to growing fan demand. But the beer disappeared as a core offering near the end of 2019
• Critical Acclaim: Rated 100/100 by Beer & Brewing (aroma 12/12; flavor 20/20), lauded for being “complex but not overwhelming… rich but not cloying”
• Fan Adoration: Beloved by Untappd users (over 6,000 ratings, 4.06 avg), regularly praised as “An oak-aged gentle giant”

Legacy & Variants

• Cultural Core: Its inclusion in the permanent lineup elevated Dogfish Head’s reputation for innovation—merging hop-forward styles with wood-aging techniques.
• Variants: In 2019, Dogfish introduced Double Dry-Hopped Burton Baton, boosting Simcoe and Amarillo hops post-aging for extra stone fruit, pine, and citrus punch
• Homage to the Original Burton Ale: Burton Baton itself pays tribute to the historic Burton Ale, even inspiring cult fascination— Dogfish Head once tracked down an original bottle on eBay and put it though some chemical analysis which they brought to their own beer

Bottom Line

Burton Baton endures as one of Dogfish Head’s most unique expressions—a trailblazing oak-aged IPA that bridged modern hop intensity with traditional English ale complexity. And if you are one of those craft beer collectors that are still cellaring a bottle, we suggest you hit it now.

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Want more craft beer classics?

American Craft Beer Classics: The Brown Ale