Ballantine and Sons Brewing Co.

I knew this logo looked really familiar but I was having a hard time placing it. Ballantine India Pale Ale is a revival of an old recipe from Ballantine and Sons Brewing Co. The brewery located in Newark, NJ, closed in 1972 when it was acquired by Falstaff Brewing Co. It was later bought over by Pabst in 1985. Ballantine is considered one of the nations oldest breweries, founded in 1840.

I originally learned about the company after purchasing this serving tray at a garage sale for a nickle. This tray with an older logo  (circa 1950) can be found on ebay selling for ~$30. It's nice to own a piece of history, and glad that they are back to brewing.

In 2014 they re-launched the Ballantine India Pale Ale. It's a 7.2% ABV, American style IPA. It's a bitter, complex beer with hints of citrus and caramel. It has been described as an intense beer, but is well balanced.



This is what the brewery looked like in 1906.