Hales Moss Bay Extra

Brewed by Hales Ales
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Seattle, Washington USA

Serve in English pint

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(12 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with derekarent, thanks Derek!) I’ve been looking forward to trying this ESB, and it isn’t disappointing me at all. Half an inch of light-tan head covers the hazy, dark ruddy-amber body. The nose is very aromatic, boasting a darkly toasted, lightly roasted maltiness and a fair amount of hops too. Toasty and roasty malts dominate the flavor as well. Sweetness is very light, and a moderately bitter grapefruity hoppiness adds perfect balance initially and really kicks it into gear in the bitter, long-lasting finish. Along with the gregarious hoppiness, a solid dryness and very good carbonation levels keep the palate lively and refreshing. Medium-full body, yet fairly crisp in the finish. Head retention is actually pretty decent, as it takes the full session for the head to recede to a wide ring. Lacing is modest, but a few patches do remain behind. Very tasty and enjoyable, I think this ESB deserves the accolades it receives and is one of the better offerings I’ve sampled in this category.

Moss Bay Extra Ale--1998 12 oz. Bottle. 5.75% ABV. (3.75 / 5.0) ESB. 1st Released March 1998. Rich amber Color. Hoppier balance to fruit flavor commonly found in amber ales. Medium body. Light easy finish. Sampled 9/1/1998. Moss Bay Extra Ale--2003 22 oz. Bottle. 5.75% ABV? (4.5 / 5.0) Amber ESB Ale? Lightly hazy rich bright amber color. Nice head with rich lace. Malty very floral hop front. Crisp spicy light toasted sweet caramel biscuit fruit hop body. Rich clean balanced hop citrus spice end. 8/10/2003. Moss Bay Extra Ale--2003 12 oz. Bottle. 5.75% ABV? (4.25 / 5.0) ESB? Clear bright thin amber red color. Light lacy head. Toasted malty floral hop front. Sweet earthy doughy biscuit toasted crisp dry caramel fruit ester BC body. Clean dry citrus hop spice earthy end. Sampled 11/5/2003. Moss Bay Extra Ale--2007--12 oz. Bottle. 5.80% ABV. 35 IBU’s? (4.0 / 5.0) Devolved O’Brien’s Hop Harvest Recipe without fresh hops. ESB? 6- Pack $6.49. Light tight bottle conditioned sediment. Mild lace light head. Cloudy dark amber red brown color. Toasted floral bottle conditioned fruit ester hop front. Mild sweet toasted caramel biscuit fruit creamy earthy hint body. Cloying bottle conditioned ester mild hop spice clean smooth end. Malty Amber ESB. Sampled 7/1/2008.

Bottle. Pours a hazy iced tea color with a half finger beige head. Nose is caramel malt for the most part with very light hops. Taste is caramel, ripe dark fruits and earthy hops with some bitters in the finish. Medium mouth feel. Not a bad representation of the style.

12 oz. bottle from Plaza Liquors - Pours a hazy deep amber color with a 1/2 finger thick light tan head. Very light spotty lacing. Aroma is esters and caramel malt with a hint of perfume. Flavor is toasted malt and fruity esters. Medium body. A pretty nice beer.

Pours a deep amber mahogany color with a tall lasting head. Hops on the aroma with a bit of caramel. Full nectar with mellow residual effers creating a soft round mouthfeel. A juicy malt backbone supported by a defined hop bittering component. Flavors of citrus, caramel, leather, and biscuits. The finish is long with lingering caramel and hop bittering.

Sweet aroma on top a clear, amber body - zilch head. Cloying fruit sweetness with a bit tart component. Sweet caramel malt backbone that it altogether too thin and boring.

sweet caramel malt aroma. Pours a copper brown, minimal head. Burnt fruit, light hop finish.

12oz bottle-pours a dissipating light tan head and amber/mahogany color. Aroma is medium malt-caramel/sweet molasses, dark fruit, faint hops. Taste is medium malt-caramel/molasses/a bit of chocolate comes through, some fruit, faint hops. On the thin side. Comes across like a light English mild or Dunkel Bitter. Mild carbonation.

(12oz bottle) Sampled at the Post-Great Canadian Beer Festival 2007 in Victoria on September 8th, 2007. Mild butter. Smooth malt. Boring.

Vibrant dark amber. Bright and beautiful. Caramel/chocolate aroma with minty, grassy notes. Moderate bitterness. More herbal hop notes and similar malts.

Bottle shared at CapFlu’s tasting after GCBF. Almost no head on copper. Light sugary malt nose. Mouth drying but still a big malt flavour with light sweetness.