Deschutes Bachelor ESB

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Bend, Oregon USA

Sometimes you miss pour. It just happens. Luckily this time no one was around to witness. However, even though the pour was too slow, a moderate sized big bubbled white head managed to show up. It frowned at me I’m pretty sure, letting me know it was capable of much more. Embarrassed, I quickly jabbed my nose into it hoping to catch any fleeting aromas. Grapefruit and other citrus notes greeted me. I went back for more. This time I got slight chocolate and floral aromas. Not a lot of hop aroma but what there was came across as spicy. I pulled my nose out leaving a small puncture wound in the white foam. I held the ESB up to the light and was delighted to find a beautiful copper hue with orange notes and a slightly reddish center. Beautiful! The first sip brought nothing but a bitter lingering aftertaste. Damn, was my beer fridge too cold again? It was a very pleasant, not overly assertive bitterness, one that I could become friends with. It was accompanied by a zingy carbonation. Maybe we would all become friends? I wanted more flavor and took several more sips of this medium bodied brew. This time I was able to pick out some lemon notes at the end and a little sweetness up front. True to style, this Extra Special Bitter makes for a great semi-session beer. Share a pitcher with a friend if you can find it on draft or order a few pints for yourself. Deschutes delivers again despite my miss-cue on the pour.

bottle, nut amber color with strong foam, nose is malty and sour, flavors are bitter florals, malts and caramel bitter finish

Golden beer with orange shine, good yellowish head. Nice bitter nose, hoppy, fine noble hops. Fine bittery taste, some malt cookie sweetness, impression of corn. Medium bodied, slick. Warming up, the sample shows some oxidation. Very good golden ale.

Bottled at SBWF08. Clear amber with a low white foam. Rather clean aroma of caramel, flowers, spicy hops and red berries. Medium-bodied with fruity notes of berries, figs, caramel and butter. Clean mouthfeel. medium-bitter finish of grass, spices and grapefruit.

Big malty head with a slight hint of fruit and spice to balance it out. Could use a little more hoppiness, but not a bad brew.

(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 27 Sep 2008) Amber colour with frothy, beige head. Malty, fruity nose with orange peel, blood oranges and caramel. Malty, fruity taste with notes of dried fruit, orange peel, blood oranges and earthy hops in the finish. Not very bold, but really tasty and fresh. Well made stuff.

Bottled@SBWF2008. Amber colour, small white head. Aroma is grass, hops and mild notes of fruityness. Flavour is hops, grass and quite boring.

(Bottle 35,5 cl) Clear deep amber golden with a rough, off-white head leaving laces. Fresh and a little peachy aroma. Medium body with burned caramel and a rather distinct bitterness. 180908