AleSmith Anvil ESB

(Bottle 65 cl) Beautiful dark amber with a small, off-white head. Fat, flowery and slightly perfumy aroma hops in the nose. Body is dominated by sweetish caramel and toffee. Quite light and very drinkable with a faint, dry, bitter whiff from the aroma hops. Doesn’t at all remind me of a British-style ESB, more like a watered-down American Barleywine. And that’s not a bad thing.... 160106

My first Alesmith offering. Citrus smell and taste but the bitterness is well balanced by a sweet malt flavor.

22oz bottle thanks to Fly. Reddish copper color, floral hop nose, very smooth going down with a juicy citrus hop taste that is not over the top, which is not what I had expected. Floral bitter finish.

Bright copper color, sparkling clarity, and good foam retention just like it says. White lacy head subdued malt aroma. What you taste it it has a big malt for and ESB. Much more full malty than a usual ESB. I liked it may be more than a typical ESB Good use of bitter hops. An excellente brewski

Clear, dark copper color with smallish fluffy off white head. Aroma has caramel, cherry, hints of vanilla, with a subtle, dry oakyness, not much detectable hop aroma. Flavor is malty, carmelly, mildly oxidized tasting, touch of hop flavor, with a firm but balanced bitterness. A bit too carbonated for the style.

This is definitely the best ESB I’ve ever had. It is so smooth and easy to drink. The flavor is very subtle and very good.

On tap as the "hpuse" ESB at the Liar’s Club in SAn Diego. A fine ESB, but I preferred their Red ale brewed for the bar.

I’ve never really had an ESB before and I’ll assume that this is a one of the best of the style. However, I’m not that impressed. It’s all well blended together but it has a stale bitterness that takes me nowhere.