Alcatraz ESB

Formerly brewed at Alcatraz Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Serve in English pint

Weird malt flavors, and very lightly hopped as an ESB should be. Forgettable. Nice brewpub though.

Had this on tap at the Alcatraz brewpub Circle Center in Indy. It paired nicely with the San Fransisco Crab Melt that I highly recommend. This "meaty" brew has a mild nose of flowers, spices, medicine, and caramel. The brew is a dark garnet with ruby highlights. The average frothy beige head has good lacing. The flavor has nice balance and fair depth. The spicy & citric middle has moderate acidity. The long finish is abruptly bitter balancing with more than adequate malt input. The full dry body is lively and finishes chalky. A nice brew, but not as bold as some of the better ESB's. A special thanks to my server Jessica T. for providing me with a blue crayon for my notations!

From a sampler: This beer is a dark brown color with an amber hue. It has a thick and foamy vanilla ice cream colored head and sticky lacing. The aroma is a nice pairing of hops and caramel. Medium-bodied and bitter throughout, with a nice malt backbone. The finish is bitter and lingering. This is one of Alcatraz's better beers.