Elysian The Wise ESB

A dense, thick, well-sustained, off-white head on top of an orange-hued amber body. A nutty, toasty aroma dominates with some sweet milk and subtle caramel. This bottle may be old or infected. There is a definite sourness in the flavor that overwhelms most of the other components that exist. This sourness coupled with the lack of hop in the aroma leads me to think this is over the hill. I feel compelled to rate it anyway, because if it is contaminated it shows problems at the brewery.

Bottle ala DocLock. Bright clear copper color with a mellow foamy ecru colored head. After the initial pour the aromas subside. Light toffee with pine, grapefruit and light floral hops. Needs a bit more malt in the nose. Very smooth on the tongue. Clean flavors. Mild dark caramel, lead to a general sweetness that is taken captive by the hops. Hops are pine-like , to citric, floral to lightly herbal. To me this is a touch to "american" Happy for an EB. A good brew. My initial impressions of this just being a Happy amber have been assuaged. The linger is most pleasant, with malt and more floral hops bounding about. Thanks Jeff.

This beer pours an ambery copper color with a small white head and very little lacing to speak of. The aroma is filled with caramel, pine cone, grass, hay, and citrus....smells pretty bitter and extra acetic. The flavor is medium bodied and fairly sticky. Fairly dry bittering finish as would be expected with a mid-sip pirckingling level of carbonation, but not overwhelming. Citrus, pine cones, oak, wood, twigs and grass predominate with drying caramel, vanilla and coconut finish. Tons of Cascade representation..this says pacifc northwest all the way. Sessionable but highly acetic.

Well done. Tried this one after a Stone Ruination. This obviously toned it down but awoke my senses for sure. I could drink a case of u baby. On tap at Bardenay in Boise by Sept. ’05

Pours deep copper/amber with medium off-white head. Aroma of big hops, floral spices, caramel malt, toffee, brown sugar, some tannins. Tastes medium bodied on the palate, very smooth, with hints of caramel malt, solid hops, apricot esters, and some tannic acid as it warms. Fairly complex and well balanced. I consider this to be a top notch ESB.

Ok pours a very attractive dark and slightly hazy amber with a small tan head..that leaves loads of lacing down the glass. Very spicy hop aroma to this one almost on a scale with most American IPAs. taste is a delicious long semi-sweet maltiness, slightly caramel in flavour followed by a very large bitter, citric hop bite and a long lasting hoppy aftertaste. Very nice on the palate the two halves of the mouthfeel balance each other well. Very drinkable stuff, wish I could get it in 6 packs.

Original rating (one of my first) 8/4/05: From the bottle.

Pours a clear copper with a small head. The nose offers orange peel, hops, and a hint of yeast. The flavor is mellow and refreshing, though not the least sweet - the caramel roasted malts quickly yield in fine balance to a well-poised hop bitter. The mouthfeel is soft, almost a bit watery, but not unpleasant in any way.

This is a fine beer that goes down easy with a lovely, though in no way brash, hop bitterness --- a great session ale for those who love hops. Well worth visiting and revisiting. 8/4/8/3/17 = 4.0

Re-rating 6/4/06: This is a seriously c-hopped interpretation of an ESB, so much so that ventures well into IPA territory by British standards if not by West Coast standards. Plenty of rich malt, quite buttery, standard c-hop profile, nice bitter finish, not much sweetness. Well done, and a pleasure to drink, but not quite the 4.0 that I gave it the first time around. On the other hand, at $2.50 for a 22oz bomber at Whole Foods, the quality to price ratio here is hard to beat.

Nice clear, deep copper body with mild carbonation and a frothy, off-white head. Balanced nose of earthy, woodsy hops and spiced caramel malt with brown sugar highlights. Spicy, hoppy flavor with abundant malt balance. Medium chewy texture. This is a good, strong bottled ESB.