Hammer & Nail Extra Special Bitter

Formerly brewed at Hammer & Nail Brewers
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Watertown, Connecticut USA

Serve in English pint

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UPDATED: JAN 8, 2003 RERATE-- Found probably the last sixer of this great beer I"ll ever find, and I"d have to say it"s probably one of the best bitters brewed in the US, if not the world. Perfection for me. OLD--Not bad at all. The beer poured nicely, with a thick head that generated an awesome smell. The actual taste didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but it was very tasty and drinkable. This one is a little harder to find than the rest of the H&N styles, but I think it’s their second best, after their oatmeal stout. Pretty classic ESB, in all respects. A little rough around the edges, but quite enjoyable.

Please note that on my older reviews I used a 100 point scale. To make up for any scoring discrepancies, all palate and apearance scored are assigned a neutralized 3/5.

09/01/02: This beer looks great in the glass. The bubbles cascade up and down the side revealing a nice clear body. The flavor on this is on the bitter side but has some nice sweetness underneath it all. This smells like a fresh stream that has some wildflowers growing near by. I definitely need to buy more of this.

Mildly fruity caramel aroma is somewhat stale. Clear copper coloured body is topped by a low white head that recedes to partial cover and ring. Fruity caramel flavour has mild finishing bitterness with some floral and lavender hops still apparent in the aftertaste. Medium light body with somewhat low carbonation. Seems like we got here too late. Bottle sampled at the Country Inn with beerbuzzmontreal, MartinT, Rastacouere and Yowie.

The Lure:
Some shy fruitiness amidst the caramel. Hops have left the aroma, but it’s overall unpleasant.

The Festivities:
Flowery hop bitterness rises behind the fatigued maltiness. Big bubbles do not affect the flavor display, but the subdued nature of it all recalls amber ales more than ESBs.

Transcendence:
Time is a quirky concept.

Diminishing white head covers the caramel coloured ale. Faint bready and caramel scents emanate from the mostly malty nose. Irregular flavors peak up here and there, disturbing the global balance, the peak of which being those awful plastic notes that kick in just before the soapy hops confirm your lack of desire for another sip. Not very hoppy at all and for that matter, not very tasty either. Light bodied, fair carbonation, rather astringent. Too old obviously.

Sunset orange; Medium dense head; The aroma is whacked- spearmint!. Mint and chocolate on the first sip- f-ed up man, but not offensive, just very, very strange. Became cloying at 1/2 mark. Nice bit of malt across the tongue.

Wow, never would have guessed the alcohol content at all. Malty, slightly perfumey aroma. Smooth palate. Pleasant slightly bitter finish (very slightly) to a pleasantly fruity beer.

orange hazy color, sweet aroma very well balanced malt and hop flavors. It’s quite good, I would call this an English Pale, rather than an Englsih bitter. I don’t find it very bitter frankly. It’s tasty though.

A decent ESB. The malt was great while the hops were only OK. I wouldn’t have guessed this was 6.7% that was a surprise. Thanks VENOM!

Why don’t we see more ’ESB’S’? It’s a great style, not to mild, not to strong (OK for Weenies}. This style is well balanced (malts vs. hops), not a high ABV, clean and refreshing. H&N’s ESB, is a nice dark copper color, with a generous beige head and fine lace, and many ’Tiny Bubbles’ to denote a well brewed beer. Malt sweet at the start, friendly carbonation, and a decent hop dry spicy finish that leaves you saying AAAAHHHHHH! I found it a great thirst quencher after a day of shopping with my daughters in this 108F dry Arizona heat and the bazillion idiots that populate the wide straight streets, that are most always baracaded due to water main breaks and or just general idosy of the City Street Department, all graduates of the Mickey Mouse School of Highway Engineering! Not the least of my complaints as I think my VISA Gold Card sustained some serious dents!