Callys Bad Dog ESB

Formerly brewed at Cally’s Restaurant & Brewing Co. (formerly Calhoun’s)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Harrisonburg, Virginia USA

Serve in English pint

Name: Bad Dog E.S.B.
Date: 07/17/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

clear amber, thin fine off white head, lots of lace, light sweet carmel malt aroma, nice sweet carmel malt flavor with a touch of toasted, nice bitter finish,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Clear copper body with an ok. Slightly malty aroma, not a lot of hops. Caramel in the flavor is reminiscent of the Amber, but not quite as big. Hops show up in the finish in a moderate bitterness. Fairly tasty.

Meh.. it’s alright, not amazing, but not terrible. Its got a nice bitter backbone, but it is also fairly watery. This is a beer to gulp, it isn’t one that you will savor. Very well suited for bar food, and Calhouns serves up some of the finest to go with it.

UPDATED: SEP 29, 2006 On tap at the brewpub. Light copper colour. Rather restrained aroma, but that could have been down to the serving temperature, which was a touch on the cold side. Lots of hop presence, but its more bitter than aromatic. A bit low on malt character, which perhaps means the balance is not quite spot on. Still an enjoyable and interesting drop.

Surprised to find I hadn’t rated this yet, even more surprised it wasn’t even in the database. Thanks to Rob for the growler of this at the race! Coppery amber with a decent, small tan head that slowly faded. Aroma was slight pine hops and a bit of caramel malts. Flavor was biscuit and caramel, with a good, balanced hop bitterness, mostly pine with a hint of grapefruit. Enjoyable, drinkable stuff.