Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

ESB Tasting April 2nd - 8th 2012

• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 1, 2012

  The ESB (Extra Special Bitter, Extra Strong Bitter) Ale Tasting runs from Monday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 8th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Some choices might include; Fuller's ESB, Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin, Three Floyds Lord Admiral Nelson, Blue Point Extra Special Bitter, Climax Extra Special Bitter Ale, Great Lakes York Street Bitter, Central City Red Racer ESB, Elysian The Wise ESB, Deschutes Bachelor ESB & Rogue XS Imperial Younger's Special Bitter.

  The ESB (Extra Special Bitter, Extra Strong Bitter) Ale Tasting runs from Monday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 8th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Some choices might include; Fuller's ESB, Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin, Three Floyds Lord Admiral Nelson, Blue Point Extra Special Bitter, Climax Extra Special Bitter Ale, Great Lakes York Street Bitter, Central City Red Racer ESB, Elysian The Wise ESB, Deschutes Bachelor ESB & Rogue XS Imperial Younger's Special Bitter.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 4, 2012

  Ska Brewing ESB Special Ale
  Ska Brewing Company, Durango, Colorado
  12 ounce can, 5.7% ABV, 58 IBU
  
  The ESB Special Ale from Ska Brewing Company in Durango, Colorado pours out a deep copper in color with a little bit of haze and is topped with a one finger, off-white head that reduces down to a film and leaves a nice trail of sticky lacing. On the nose, aromas of spicy hops, some floral, orange and a little caramel sweetness. Quite crisp in the mouth with good flavor. Nicely bittered, zesty citrus and a decent amount of caramel sweetness. Medium bodied easy drinker. Splotchy lacing on the glass. Moderate carbonation. Almost a little creaminess to the mouthfeel. Nice length on the finish with lovely bitterness that is very understated and lingers.
  
  A very true to style ESB that has balance, flavor and drinkability.

  Ska Brewing ESB Special Ale Ska Brewing Company, Durango, Colorado 12 ounce can, 5.7% ABV, 58 IBU The ESB Special Ale from Ska Brewing Company in Durango, Colorado pours out a deep copper in color with a little bit of haze and is topped with a one finger, off-white head that reduces down to a film and leaves a nice trail of sticky lacing. On the nose, aromas of spicy hops, some floral, orange and a little caramel sweetness. Quite crisp in the mouth with good flavor. Nicely bittered, zesty citrus and a decent amount of caramel sweetness. Medium bodied easy drinker. Splotchy lacing on the glass. Moderate carbonation. Almost a little creaminess to the mouthfeel. Nice length on the finish with lovely bitterness that is very understated and lingers. A very true to style ESB that has balance, flavor and drinkability.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  April 5, 2012

  Olde Hickory "Wilson Creek ESB"
  Olde Hickory Brewery - Hickory, North Carolina USA
  ESB (ABV 5.8%) (IBU 31)
  
  [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass]
  
  Rating: 3.5/5.0
  
  Aroma: 6/10
  Appearance: 4/5
  Taste: 8/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 14/20
  
  The pour was a hazy medium reddish brown with a large off white frothy head that had decent retention, reducing after a while to about a semi thin layer of film and a large collar which did allow for excellent sheeting of sticky lace.
  
  The aroma was of a biscuit malt, an herbal hop and an earthy yeast with notes of a mild caramel, honey and a bit of dried fruit (raisins).
  
  The taste was sweet and boldly malty with a hint of caramel and honey early on and progressed into a decently pronounced hoppy flavor with just a mild note of dark fruit at the end. The flavor stuck around for an average duration after the swallow with a moderate harsh hoppy ending.
  
  Mouthfeel was just a tad above light in body and extremely creamy and yet a little dry in texture with nice mild carbonation.
  
  Overall a very full flavored and smooth ESB, one that I enjoyed immensely...
  

  Olde Hickory "Wilson Creek ESB" Olde Hickory Brewery - Hickory, North Carolina USA ESB (ABV 5.8%) (IBU 31) [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass] Rating: 3.5/5.0 Aroma: 6/10 Appearance: 4/5 Taste: 8/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 14/20 The pour was a hazy medium reddish brown with a large off white frothy head that had decent retention, reducing after a while to about a semi thin layer of film and a large collar which did allow for excellent sheeting of sticky lace. The aroma was of a biscuit malt, an herbal hop and an earthy yeast with notes of a mild caramel, honey and a bit of dried fruit (raisins). The taste was sweet and boldly malty with a hint of caramel and honey early on and progressed into a decently pronounced hoppy flavor with just a mild note of dark fruit at the end. The flavor stuck around for an average duration after the swallow with a moderate harsh hoppy ending. Mouthfeel was just a tad above light in body and extremely creamy and yet a little dry in texture with nice mild carbonation. Overall a very full flavored and smooth ESB, one that I enjoyed immensely...
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  April 6, 2012

  Empyrean LunaSea ESB Ale
  Empyrean Brewing Company, Lincoln, Nebraska
  12 ounce bottle, 6.3% ABV, 31 IBU
  
  The LunaSea ESB Ale from Empyrean Brewing Co. in Lincoln, Nebraska pours out a rich copper in color with some reddish hues, good clarity and a one finger, cream colored head that reduces down to a film quite quickly. Pungent on the nose with aromas of biscuit, caramel and grass. In the mouth, this is quite malty at first with a distinct breadiness to it, some toffee sweetness and a nice earthy, bittering hop bite that shines mid palate. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Sheets of lacing on the glass. Slightly slick mouthfeel. Medium length finish that is mostly bitter in a pleasant way.
  
  A nice ESB that is a treat to drink. Nice balance with a slight slant to the bitter side as it should be. Recommended.

  Empyrean LunaSea ESB Ale Empyrean Brewing Company, Lincoln, Nebraska 12 ounce bottle, 6.3% ABV, 31 IBU The LunaSea ESB Ale from Empyrean Brewing Co. in Lincoln, Nebraska pours out a rich copper in color with some reddish hues, good clarity and a one finger, cream colored head that reduces down to a film quite quickly. Pungent on the nose with aromas of biscuit, caramel and grass. In the mouth, this is quite malty at first with a distinct breadiness to it, some toffee sweetness and a nice earthy, bittering hop bite that shines mid palate. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Sheets of lacing on the glass. Slightly slick mouthfeel. Medium length finish that is mostly bitter in a pleasant way. A nice ESB that is a treat to drink. Nice balance with a slight slant to the bitter side as it should be. Recommended.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  April 7, 2012

  Samuel Smith's "India Ale"
  Samuel Smith's Brewery - Tadcaster, England
  ESB (ABV 5%)
  
  [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass]
  
  Rating: 3.5/5.0
  
  Aroma: 8/10
  Appearance: 3/5
  Taste: 7/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 14/20
  
  The pour was a clear carmel copper with an average sized (1-2 finger) cream colored rocky head that dissipated slowly, leaving a nice big collar of foam and some really good sheets of streaky lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a toasted bread malt, a grassy hop and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of caramel, toffee, honey and a mild fruit scent.
  
  Taste was boldly malty and a tiny bit sweet with a note of caramel early on and mildly hoppy with a big dose of dark fruit towards the end. The flavor lasted a decent duration proceeding the swallow with the hoppy fruity taste being there right up till the end.
  
  Mouthfeel was a shade or two below medium in body with a velvety creamy texture and a nice soft carbonation.
  
  Overall a very enjoyable, tasty brew, but what else should one expect from a brewer of this caliber…
  

  Samuel Smith's "India Ale" Samuel Smith's Brewery - Tadcaster, England ESB (ABV 5%) [Best served in a Nonic Pint glass] Rating: 3.5/5.0 Aroma: 8/10 Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 7/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 14/20 The pour was a clear carmel copper with an average sized (1-2 finger) cream colored rocky head that dissipated slowly, leaving a nice big collar of foam and some really good sheets of streaky lacing. The aroma was of a toasted bread malt, a grassy hop and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of caramel, toffee, honey and a mild fruit scent. Taste was boldly malty and a tiny bit sweet with a note of caramel early on and mildly hoppy with a big dose of dark fruit towards the end. The flavor lasted a decent duration proceeding the swallow with the hoppy fruity taste being there right up till the end. Mouthfeel was a shade or two below medium in body with a velvety creamy texture and a nice soft carbonation. Overall a very enjoyable, tasty brew, but what else should one expect from a brewer of this caliber…