RateBeer
Sign Up or Login : Advanced Search

Fuller’s ESB (Cask)

Score
8997
OVERALLStyle
Brewed by Fuller’s
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
London, England
Serve in English pint

bottling
unknown

on tap
common

Broad Distribution

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag | edit barcodes |
RATINGS: 199   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.4   EST. CALORIES: 165   ABV: 5.5%
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Cask: Regular.
First brewed in 1969 as Winter Bitter - renamed Extra Special Bitter in 1971.
Ingredients: Pale Ale and Crystal malts; Target, Challenger, Northdown and Goldings hops. Dry hopped in the brewery.
CAMRA Supreme Champion 1978, 1981 and 1985.
Brewed at 5.5% ABV in cask and 5.9% ABV in bottle, ESB is a true liquid legend, and should be savoured as such.
ESB has a wonderful rich mahogany appearance. Taking in the nose, the beer is bursting with cherry and orange, balanced by soft malty toffee and caramel notes. The flavour delivers everything you would expect from such a full-bodied ale. The unique blend of Northdown, Target, Challenger and Goldings hops imparts grassy, peppery notes on the tongue along with intense citrus fruit characters of grapefruits, oranges and lemons. The blend of Pale Ale and Crystal malts in the brew give a biscuity, toffee element to the beer. A smooth, mellow bitterness lingers on the palate to give a superbly satisfying finish.

NOTE: Most Fuller’s beer in the US is served by handpump kegs and not a cask. Ask your server.

3.2
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
ianwelby (2) - SCOTLAND - FEB 3, 2012 does not count
Had this in a Glasgow Wetherspoons. A nice-looking pint with a decent head. Wasn’t sure about the aroma and it was a bit sweet for my taste but it was a good pint.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
OleR (3510) - Oslo, NORWAY - JAN 18, 2012
Full pint from cask @Barrow Boy and Banker, Southwark, London. Deep amber brown. Virtually no head. Fine rounded aroma of juicy dark fruits and lightly toasted malts. Taste is fully balanced. A smooth and rounded malt character, a fine fruitness, and a gentle underlying bitterness. Very soft on the palate, quite mellow actually. Soft malt-accented finish. This is very good, but I think a fresh bottle version is even better.

3.7
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
PotjeBier (425) - Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS - DEC 30, 2011
Gravity cask @ In De Wildeman. Copper color, soapy head (not much). Aroma is fruity, grainy/malty, a bit sweet and yeasty. Flavor is medium (malty) sweet and lightly bitter. Light body. Finishes medium bitter.

4.2
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
jackl (388) - London, Greater London, ENGLAND - DEC 18, 2011
Deep brown with a small eggshell head. The nose is playful and fruity - cherries, chestnus, strawberry and maple syrup. The taste is moderately sweet with a smooth bitter finish. The palate’s nicely balanced, medium with a slick mouthfeel. Great subtle carbonation. Overall, Fullers ESB is a fantastic ESB, one of my favorites. Having it from a well-tended cask is a great pleasure. I have a real soft spot for this beer.

3.4
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
tombyars (679) - Saltcoats, SCOTLAND - DEC 15, 2011
First tasted this in some wee pub in Farnham, August 1984. Cask, handpump dispense. Crystal clear orange amber in colour with a thick off white head. Robust malty aroma with yeasty bread notes and orange oil. Creamy mouthfeel and good lacing. Pale malts deliver a juicy maltloaf base with sweet treacle, marmalade and barley sugar. Spicy dry hops full in the mouth and these compliment the malt well in the long aftertaste. Finish is robust and full in the mouth with warming orange liqueur notes and vinous oak cask. This is what I would call a traditional English ESB and a superb short session ale.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
crossovert (2545) - Wisconsin, USA - DEC 15, 2011
A creamy one. But not too much there is still a nice body to it. Really fruity but with some nice toffee notes.

3.1
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
EdKing (772) - London, Greater London, ENGLAND - NOV 20, 2011
Cask in Surbiton Flyer. Brown bitter with bubbly off white head. Nose is crystal malt caramel and fruity English hops. Taste is same with sweetish caramel malt, fruity notes and a bit of spice and pepper. May not be as fresh as it should be.

3.6
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
neuromatt (610) - Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - NOV 7, 2011
On cask at Cask Days 2011 at Hart House, served in an English pint glass. Pours cleanish caramel with a small rocky head and a few clumps of flocculent yeast. The head fades slowly and leaves trace lace. On the nose, there are notes of caramel malts, grains, biscuit, flowers and a hint of English hops. The flavour is balanced between moderately sweet and moderately bitter. Caramel malts are paired with delicate hops and flowers. The finish is average in length and caramel malty. On the palate, it is light-medium in body with a watery texture and soft carbonation. Overall, this is a great, classic ESB. The cask version is much more delicate than the bottle version. 2011-10-30


We Want To Hear From You



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

Join Us »



View Page
1 2 3 4 » 20
Tick this beer
  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5



Rating Notecard:
Beer: Fuller’s ESB (Cask) Rating Avg: 3.4 No. of Ratings: 199
Copyright © 2000-2012,
RateBeer LLC. All rights
reserved.
about us
About RateBeer
FAQ
Feedback?
New Beers
 add
Advanced Search
Add A Beer
Add A Brewer
Add A Place
membership
Log In
Edit Personal Info
Premium Membership
Your Messages
 the best
100 Beer Club
The Top 50