Heavy Seas Winter Storm (2005-) (Imperial ESB)

Brewed by Heavy Seas Brewing Company
Style: English Strong Ale
Baltimore, Maryland USA

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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What’s an "Imperial ESB"? I don’t know that, but this beer is very nicely bittersweet, kind of a floral caramel taste. Coppery color with a small creamy head, a slight bit of which persisted, leaving a small amount oc cream-colored lacing.

Deep amber color with a white thin head. Some nice lacing. Aroma is almost candyish. Attractive. Flavor is well balanced between the bitter hop bite and the sweet malty backbone. Very enjoyable.

UPDATED: JAN 1, 2007 Nice hoppy aroma and coppery colorwith reasonable white head and perfect carbonation. Perfect bitter sweetness and mildly detectable alcohol, make this very drinkable. $2/12oz

I’m pretty sure this is the 2005 as the "drink by" date says March ’06. Supposedly an "Imperial ESB". Not sure what that means. Fits right in with American Strong Ale though. Some nice bitter from the hops but the malts are equally represented. It is nice.

12oz bottle pours copper with a thick tan head that stays well and laces down the glass. Aroma is big citrus grapefruit hops, some pine, and just a touch of yeasty bread. Flavor is a nice smooth blend of caramel malts and grapefruit hops. The hops seem to overpower at the finish and orange and pineapple seem to be the lingering aftertaste. Palate is medium bodied, smooth and easy to drink. A unique flavor for a winter brew.

Bottle. Copper colored body. Small tanned head. Nose is citrusy and floral hops, toasted bread, and light spices. Taste is very hoppy and citrusy along with some hefty spicy flavors. Some earthy pine coming through at times as well. Very fruity overall. Body is medium with mild carbonation and an overdone lingering bitterness. Finishes with more of a hop blast - orange rind, grapefruit juice, light pine and a hint of pineapple. Lots of caramel coming out during the finish. Not too bad, but it’s really a hop bomb.

Copper pipe color to this brew. I got some serious dark fruits goin on in the aroma. Red apple bitterness in the body. The best of the CC beers ive had.

This Imperial ESB pours a orange gold color from a 12 oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is sweet, grapefruity and piney. Medium bodied Ale. Malts are fruity and sweet. Hops are grapefruity. Lots of spiciness. A little estery and very smooth. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet. Thanks to the Atlanta crew for sharing this one.

Bottle and served in my GL snifter:

Pours a nice rusty ruby hue with a initial large fizzy head which fades leaving good lace in it’s wake. The aroma has notes of both piney grapefruit and classic aromatic hops, bready malts, and a hint of white pepper. The taste is rather staright forward but not boring, citric and acidic with a level bitterness than has a good amount of pale malt backing. Finished with some pepper and a metallic touch. The feel is lively yet soft as well, moderate carbonation and a very mild astrengent property. A solid brew but not something I would run out to get. Spicy enough to be qualified as a winter warmer.

hmmm... imperial esb, will the wonders of that adjective ever cease? clear copper small lasting off-white head. aroma is a bit plasticy with hints of pine and lots of flowers. defintely british in character. flavor wise it a bit of a bummer. lacks crispness that i like in an esb, but all that malt to get up to 7.3% probably causes this. pretty damn bitter especially at the end. not bad but last year’s (2004) was better and a modifed version of last year’s batch is now brewed with the name Loose Cannon and is the best beer Clipper City brews.