3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Rated 5/5/07: Clear copper color with a diminishing 2" thick head and good lacing. Biscuity aroma coupled with a touch of bitter hops. Smooth and medium bodied, I was impressed with the mouthfeel expecting it to be watery. Flavor had a good maltiness kind of sweet with flavor of caramel and bread. Hops are quick to be recognized and contribute more of a mild bitterness rather than much flavor. It’s nicely balanced yet the flavor still seemed a touch too bland to really make this one stand up and be noticed. Overall I liked it, would make a good "anytime" beer.
2.8 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Nothing very special about this one. It looked alright: clear dark orange with a somewhat firm offwhite head. The aroma was quite subdued - a bit of floral hops evident but not pronounced by any means. The taste was disappointingly low on hops as well. Drinkable but not something I’d go out of my way to try again.
2.9 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 13/20
ESB? Not quite - displays all the characteristics of an american pale ale - is it a good APA? yea, pretty much - nothinhg stand out, but it has everything in the right places - nothing to get excited about.
2.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 11/20
12 oz bottle. Light, clear amber with a thin white head. Very grapefruit hop nose, a bit of resiny pine. Sweet orange and lemon flavors, lightly bitter lemon zest. Clean, crisp body and finish. A nice, beer, but, um, an ESB? My ass. Rated as a beer, not as an ESB.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Bottle. Sweet malty aroma with floral hops. Clear orange body with a huuuuge foamy rocky beige head and strong visible carbonation. Crisp mf, floral hops and biscuity malt with light grapefruit. Bittersweet medium body. Seems lightly spiced. Slightly unbalanced in favor of the yeasty herbal hops, which are a bit off-putting after a few ounces. Aftertaste is dry and bitter. Good one.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
This is one of the best ESBs I’ve ever encountered. The hops are fresh and floral with some piney notes and a bitter, bone dry finish. The aroma was spicy and aromatic. It was like sparkling grapefruit juice. The acidity was a little intense, but the malty backbone provided enough of a balance to counter the citrus flavours. This was great to look at too, pouring an effervescent hazy orange with a massive white head that retained well, leaving 3-dimentional lacing. This beer is highly underrated.
2.8 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20
A very watery and thin ESB. Pour was a dark gold with no head. Taste was lightly hoppy with a thin malt backbone. Nothing exciting and blandly average.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Fresh floral nose that hints at spicy and piney hops. Pours a sparkling orange. The huge stiff rocky head is fully lasting with gobs of lace. This is a perfect spring offering; who am I kidding this style is perfect year round. It’s been way too long since I’ve had a good ESB. Well balanced with moderate acidity. Nice front with a nice bitter follow through. The medium body is soft to lively and dry.
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