LaConner ESB

Brewed by LaConner Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
LaConner, Washington USA

Serve in English pint

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(12 oz bottles: Bottleworks in Seattle, WA) Here’s yet another example of the obvious decline of this once-great brewery (the brewer is what makes the brewery). This ESB is fairly fruity, lightly malty, a bit nutty, and modestly bitter, but there’s a citrusy tartness that’s strong enough to push aside anything positive about this beer. The tartness is also rather prevalent in the nose, and along with some odd vinegar and green pepper smell, totally masks any other aroma that might be more appropriate to this (or any) style of beer. Light-medium bodied, chalky mouthfeel, and well-carbonated, but at least with the tartness, the palate is refreshed with each sip. Bright orange-amber in color and somewhat hazy, the body has an off-white crown that rises to an inch and settles to a thin but complete layer. Ratty cheesecloth lacing covers about half the glass. Overall, I say, lose the tartness and maybe this could be an acceptable ESB, but at least with the fresh bottle I’m sampling today, this is disappointing. So I opened my second bottle, and it’s even more tart. Arlan, they must really miss you.

Draft at the brewpub. Came in the glass a cloudy amber with an off-white head and light lacing. Nose of caramel malts and bitter hops. Medium body and mouthfeel Flavor is malty with lots of good bittering hops that continue into the finish. Great session ale.

EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER--12 OZ. BOTTLE. 1999--6.00% abv. (4.5 / 5.0) Clear thin light amber golden color. Rich malty hop front. Doughy earthy rich malt body with balanced sweetness and light toasted character. Finishes with good bitter bite and dry mouthfeel. Sampled 10/21/1999. 2002--5.50% ABV. (4.5 / 5.0) Dark sediment. Light head. Medium lace. Burnt floral hop front hints at toasted biscuit caramel light dry sweet earthy malt body. Mild earthy light hop spice end. Mild yeast citrus notes. Clean. True ESB. Sampled 10/10/2002. 2003--5.50% ABV. 35 IBU’s. (4.25 / 5.0) Hazy tan amber color. Mild lacy head. Malty mild floral hop front. Creamy thick sweet doughy biscuit toasted fruit earthy malty body. Citrus hop notes in earthy end. Chewy Classic ESB. Sampled 3/27/2003.

On tap at the brewpub. Red-amber color in pint glass with almost no head. Smell fresh and fruity, light caramel, bread and pine hops. Tastes of sweet red fruit with a lightly bitter and crisp finish. Body is extremely smooth with a soft effervescence. This beer can easily be gulped rather than sipped.

Date: September 05, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub
Appearance: hazy copper, fine off white head, scattered lace
Aroma: sweet caramel malt aroma with earthy woodsy hops
Flavor: sweet caramel malt flavor, nice balancing hops, lots of the woodsy character, light lingering bitterness
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Tap@Brewpub. Light malty and light herbal aroma with a hint of bread. Light hazy, dark yellow colour, off-white head, good lace. Sweet, bitter, light fruity, hint of caramel. Average body. Great session ale.

Fruity nose on this hazy dark amber brew. Why are bitters called bitters? They aren’t bitter at all but sweet! This one was anyway. You can taste the hops but they are more for flavoring then anything else.

Decent, but a little on the grainy side. Rich maltiness, a little chewy on the palate, with a lot of caramel sweetness, along with some earth dried fruitiness, just the slightest bit of burnt toast in the finish.

Draft at the brewpub. Crystal clear medium amber with burnished copper overtones. Dense, creamy tan head. Mild, caramelly, toasty nose. Medium, somewhat watery body. Caramel and toast come through, joined by a tiny hint of strawberry ester...probably fermented a little hot. Mildly sweet finish.

on tap-pours an off white head and yellow/gold color. Aroma is medium malt-caramel, clove, spicy hops. Taste is medium malt-caramel, clove, secondary spicy hops. Interesting. Mild/minimum carbonation.

12oz bottle-An amber body with a thin white head and an aroma of grains and hops. Taste the same but a little watery.