3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 12/20
A very authentic english bitter - a light metallic character accompanies the mineral flavor, but otherwise the bready malt is the star of the show - but it never becomes heavy enough to squash the quaffability factor - the hops taste a bit stale at the end, but to me that just makes it even more authentic - decent.
3.1 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 11/20
Name: Wooden Ships ESB
Date: 06/22/2007
Mode: Firkin
Source: Brewpub, Madison
clear amber, creamy off white head,
light caramel malt aroma,
creamy body,
rich caramel malt flavor, touch of sweetness, nice bitterness leads to a long bitter finish
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
On tap at brewpub
According to the waiter this was one of the cask options. I didn’t see it on the board at the downtown location as such so I am taking his word for it. It certainly had some characteristics which would lead me to believe it was possible. Overall it was very well done for a bitter - very sessionable yet still flavorful.
Aroma / Appearance - A murky caramel body reminded me of darkly stained wood cabinets. A thin beige head sheltered the top from harm. Creamy vanilla and oak were the strong points of the aroma. I was simultaneously reminded of Vanilla Coke and an aged yellowing paperback novel stored in an antique cedar chest.
Flavor / Palate - The bitter (obviously) mouthfeel carries a potent amount of hops. While it is not as strong as an IPA it still packs a mild punch. A dry woody followup is analogous to a mothball smoothie. The finish of dry tea leaves completes the experience which lasts about four minutes in all. This is easy to drink, easy on the palate and very sessionable. If no new beers were ever released I could see picking up a growler of this from time to time.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask at the brewpub (downtown location). Poured a clear copper color. Head was thick, white, and left some decent lace behind. Aroma was of resiny/grapefruity hops. Smooth cask pulled mouth feel. Delicious biscuity malt flavor with ample citrusy hops and moderate hop bitterness. Good beer, and a bit underrated in my estimation (62nd percentile the day I rated it).
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
On cask at GD - Madison. Poured a lightly hazy reddish-amber with a short, creamy beige head.. lots of sticky lacing behind. The aroma was of sweet floral and pine at first, followed by some caramel and light fruits.. sweet and enjoyable overall. Flavor was also led by pine and floral bitterness with a sweet, candied caramel core.. lightly-toasted.. sweet, bitter finish. Lighter-bodied and slick from the cask treatment.. higher bitterness. Decent brew.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Growler, filled same day. Nice ruby red with an amber tint. Minimal head (a few big bubbles). Light aroma... flowers and sugar cookies. Taste has sweet flowers with stale crackers. Nice balance and good flavor.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Growler sample: Pours a clear still dark copper with a thin off-white, short-lived head. Sweet caramel and toffee maltiness with a nice hoppy presence in the aroma. Starts rich, malty and sweet with good hoppy bitterness. A well-balanced, smooth, and enjoyable bitter. Thanks hezron!
2.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 11/20
Caramel, ruby red appearance with no head and no movement. Smells of rye, nectar, caramel and cedar panels. Flavor holds a few surprises - lime, rye, caramel and pecans. Bitterness manifests in the finish. Rather flat and dissipates quickly. Thanks to hezron for bringing this growler.
3.1 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
From a 3 hour old growler. Aroma of caramel, sweet an malty with some woody notes. It has the lightly fruity Great Dane house smell to it. Mahogany brown with no head. Flavor is fruity caramel with some woody notes. While this is very sweet overall, I did notice a slight hint of bitterness in the finish. Lighter body, watery but almost creamy, and super soft carbination. It may have lost some carbination in the growler, but overall I think it fits the style.
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
From a growler brought by herzon. Poured a very deep burgendy color w/ a little tiny bubbled head. Smells of a nice clean hop lightly citrus not much else coming out. palate is very light coats slightly. Flavor is a light bitter w/ a touch of carmel very light overall. An ok beer but not much to it. I woudl like to try it fresher as it felt like it had lost some carbonation.
|
