Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

ESB Beer Tasting - June 1st - June 15th

• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  May 29, 2009

  Time to find some Extra Special Bitter to end our spring tastings. Be it from the US or abroad, we want to know about it.

  Time to find some Extra Special Bitter to end our spring tastings. Be it from the US or abroad, we want to know about it.
• mr1mcbeerface

  

  Member
   

  June 1, 2009

  RedHook esb some liquid goodness full body 5.8% abv bitter finish not one of my favorites but still a good beer.

  RedHook esb some liquid goodness full body 5.8% abv bitter finish not one of my favorites but still a good beer.
• lost

  

  Member
   

  June 3, 2009

  ESB is pretty specific! :)
  
  -Lost

  ESB is pretty specific! :)
  
  -Lost
• mr1mcbeerface

  

  Member
   

  June 3, 2009

  I ordered some beers online and picked up this one from one of my favorite breweries, Avery brewing Boulder Colorado 14'ER ESB brewed straight from the rocky mountains, and no "Coors light". a copper color with a sweet on the tongue taste and a hoppy after taste as complex as the 14000 foot mountains this beer is born from hence "the name 14"er." so take a hike other ESB this one is extra special not extra bitter try any beer you can by Avery Brewing!

  I ordered some beers online and picked up this one from one of my favorite breweries, Avery brewing Boulder Colorado 14'ER ESB brewed straight from the rocky mountains, and no "Coors light". a copper color with a sweet on the tongue taste and a hoppy after taste as complex as the 14000 foot mountains this beer is born from hence "the name 14"er." so take a hike other ESB this one is extra special not extra bitter try any beer you can by Avery Brewing!
• BaronBill1

  

  Member
   

  June 5, 2009

  My Favorite ESB is Alaskan ESB from the Alaskan Brewing Company. Every couple of years, a friend of mine goes down to Alaska on business and always brings back about 20 cases or so of this awesome ESB. Unfortunately, they don't distribute the ESB here in Denver, so I can't have it all the the time.
  
  It's malty and hoppy with a very crisp finish. This is by far my favorite ESB as it is very drinkable and not an overwhelming bitter. If you can get you hands on some, definitely give it a try!
  
  Baron Bill

  My Favorite ESB is Alaskan ESB from the Alaskan Brewing Company. Every couple of years, a friend of mine goes down to Alaska on business and always brings back about 20 cases or so of this awesome ESB. Unfortunately, they don't distribute the ESB here in Denver, so I can't have it all the the time.
  
  It's malty and hoppy with a very crisp finish. This is by far my favorite ESB as it is very drinkable and not an overwhelming bitter. If you can get you hands on some, definitely give it a try!
  
  Baron Bill
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  June 6, 2009

  Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB), 6.80% ABV
  Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Booneville, CA
  
  The Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB) from Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Booneville, CA pours out a deep, golden orange in color with some cloud, streams of lazy bubbles and a foamy, cream colored head that wants to hang around. On the nose there are some citrus hops and malty biscuit but it is very clean. In the mouth flavors of toffee and caramel provide good sweetness on a malt backbone that is balanced by a leafy hoppy bitterness and a dose of spice. Moderate carbonation. Nice lacing. Medium bodied. Creamy, round mouthfeel. On the finish you get the hops and malt along with a little honey. A fantastic beer. Probably a good bit bolder than your typical ESB which makes this ESB stand out
  
  

  Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB), 6.80% ABV
  Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Booneville, CA
  
  The Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB) from Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Booneville, CA pours out a deep, golden orange in color with some cloud, streams of lazy bubbles and a foamy, cream colored head that wants to hang around. On the nose there are some citrus hops and malty biscuit but it is very clean. In the mouth flavors of toffee and caramel provide good sweetness on a malt backbone that is balanced by a leafy hoppy bitterness and a dose of spice. Moderate carbonation. Nice lacing. Medium bodied. Creamy, round mouthfeel. On the finish you get the hops and malt along with a little honey. A fantastic beer. Probably a good bit bolder than your typical ESB which makes this ESB stand out
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  June 7, 2009

  Bitch Creek ESB Ale, 6.50% ABV
  Grand Teton Brewing Company, Victor, Idaho
  
  The bottle conditioned Bitch Creek ESB Ale from Grand Teton Brewing Company in Victor, Idaho pours out mahogany brown in color, with a good bit of cloud and a large, tightly knit, tan head that sticks around. Aromas of candied apple, roast malt and green hops on the nose. Caramel sweet malts come first in the mouth followed by citrus hops that wipes out the sweetness leaving a very neutral, balanced beer that is packed with flavor. Full bodied. Moderate Carbonation. Excellent lacing. Pretty clean mouthfeel with just a touch of oil in the mouthfeel for such a dark, heavy beer. Good bitterness on the finish. A very different ESB but a good one.
  
  

  Bitch Creek ESB Ale, 6.50% ABV
  Grand Teton Brewing Company, Victor, Idaho
  
  The bottle conditioned Bitch Creek ESB Ale from Grand Teton Brewing Company in Victor, Idaho pours out mahogany brown in color, with a good bit of cloud and a large, tightly knit, tan head that sticks around. Aromas of candied apple, roast malt and green hops on the nose. Caramel sweet malts come first in the mouth followed by citrus hops that wipes out the sweetness leaving a very neutral, balanced beer that is packed with flavor. Full bodied. Moderate Carbonation. Excellent lacing. Pretty clean mouthfeel with just a touch of oil in the mouthfeel for such a dark, heavy beer. Good bitterness on the finish. A very different ESB but a good one.
  
  
• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  June 7, 2009

  
  Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB), 6.80% ABVAnderson Valley Brewing Company, Booneville, CAThe Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB) from Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Booneville, CA pours out a deep, golden orange in color with some cloud, streams of lazy bubbles and a foamy, cream colored head that wants to hang around. On the nose there are some citrus hops and malty biscuit but it is very clean. In the mouth flavors of toffee and caramel provide good sweetness on a malt backbone that is balanced by a leafy hoppy bitterness and a dose of spice. Moderate carbonation. Nice lacing. Medium bodied. Creamy, round mouthfeel. On the finish you get the hops and malt along with a little honey. A fantastic beer. Probably a good bit bolder than your typical ESB which makes this ESB stand out
  
  
  I'm drinking this beer right now and am really impressed with it. Definitely both hops and malt are present. A very nice representation of the style. Great sweetness to balance it all out.

  [quote=Mark]
  Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB), 6.80% ABVAnderson Valley Brewing Company, Booneville, CAThe Boont Extra Special Beer (ESB) from Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Booneville, CA pours out a deep, golden orange in color with some cloud, streams of lazy bubbles and a foamy, cream colored head that wants to hang around. On the nose there are some citrus hops and malty biscuit but it is very clean. In the mouth flavors of toffee and caramel provide good sweetness on a malt backbone that is balanced by a leafy hoppy bitterness and a dose of spice. Moderate carbonation. Nice lacing. Medium bodied. Creamy, round mouthfeel. On the finish you get the hops and malt along with a little honey. A fantastic beer. Probably a good bit bolder than your typical ESB which makes this ESB stand out
  [/quote]
  
  I'm drinking this beer right now and am really impressed with it. Definitely both hops and malt are present. A very nice representation of the style. Great sweetness to balance it all out.
• BaronBill1

  

  Member
   

  June 8, 2009

  The Wise ESB by Elysian Brewing Company
  
  
  
  Pours as a deep copper with a big tannish head and great lacing. The aroma is malty and fruity with some slightly nutty overtones.
  
  It has a creamy, caramelly, malty taste with fruity characteristics (especially grapefruit which supplies a good amount of bitterness). You can also readily identify a decent hoppyness which balances the tastes quite well.
  
  Overall, it's a very drinkable and above average ESB.

  The Wise ESB by Elysian Brewing Company
  
  
  
  Pours as a deep copper with a big tannish head and great lacing. The aroma is malty and fruity with some slightly nutty overtones.
  
  It has a creamy, caramelly, malty taste with fruity characteristics (especially grapefruit which supplies a good amount of bitterness). You can also readily identify a decent hoppyness which balances the tastes quite well.
  
  Overall, it's a very drinkable and above average ESB.
• SuperG

  

  Member
   

  June 8, 2009

  I don't have a pict... yet. But I took the tast test... I sat down with Fuller's ESB and Rogue Brutal Bitter. Both highly recommended and high scorers (is that a word?) at BeerAdvocate.com. Fuller ESB ROCKS! Creamy, Nutty, Dark. When cold it has notes of citrus, when warm (over 58f or so) wonderful spices and aromas. A wonderful experience. Now for the Rogue Brutal Bitter - um... no. It just tasted like a Strong Pale Ale to me... no where near the complexity or crafting of the Fuller's. It was bitter I will give you that. On the good side the finish and after taste was interesting and not so bad.
  
  I would say you should try both and see what you think.

  I don't have a pict... yet. But I took the tast test... I sat down with Fuller's ESB and Rogue Brutal Bitter. Both highly recommended and high scorers (is that a word?) at BeerAdvocate.com. Fuller ESB ROCKS! Creamy, Nutty, Dark. When cold it has notes of citrus, when warm (over 58f or so) wonderful spices and aromas. A wonderful experience. Now for the Rogue Brutal Bitter - um... no. It just tasted like a Strong Pale Ale to me... no where near the complexity or crafting of the Fuller's. It was bitter I will give you that. On the good side the finish and after taste was interesting and not so bad.
  
  I would say you should try both and see what you think.