 jhumphries69 (656), Tyrone, Georgia, USA
Apr 19, 2008
12oz bottle. Pours mostly clear (slightly hazy) copper with gold highlights and a soft, pillowy, medium-sized, off-white head. The head laces the glass in thick, egg-white rings and a few pockets of foam floating on the beer never fully subside. The aroma is very malty with a touch of caramel. There is a touch of roast (very subtle chocolate character) and a light note of earthy hops (disappointingly light). The flavor starts malty and bready with a touch of residual sweetness around mid-palate. I think it has a bit too much crystal malt character and not enough hop flavor for an ESB, but it is still tasty and drinkable. The breadiness takes on notes of toast by mid-palate and a touch of fruity esters and some hops begin to become evident. The finish is malty with a balancing level of earthy hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is slick and medium in body. The carbonation is relatively low, but just right for bottled examples of the style (which is to say more than a cask-conditioned example of this style). Overall, a decent, drinkable ale, but not up to the same standard of most of Left Hand’s other beers (which tend to be fantastic).
hophead21112 (58), Louisville (LEWISville), Colorado, USA
Jun 26, 2009 Clear copper pour with a medium off-white head. Good looking lace and average retention. Grainy/caramel malt sweetness and low hop aroma, a little diacetyl. Flavor has medium bitterness, moderate earthy hops, sweet malt at the beginning that leads to the hops and finishes dry. Medium body with medium-low carbonation. Good balance. Not much complexity. Decent beer.
badwhale (51), Bitterville, Pennsylvania, USA
Jun 22, 2009 Had this one a while back, Bottle to glass. I just wrote down my ratings.
Small head, spare lacing. Amber Color. Flavor of mollasses, and light hops.
michfan00 (4), Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA
does not count  Jun 19, 2009 Bottle. Aroma sweet from malts. Poured amber with off white head. Initial notes of toasted almond. Nice on the tongue. Goes down easy.
boFNjackson (1011), Portland, Oregon, USA
Jun 19, 2009 Bottle... Poured an amber tone with an off-white head. Bready malts on the nose. Toasted caramel tones with a mild hop presence and a malt finish. Good feeling on the tongue and a soft finish.
deyholla (185), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jun 19, 2009 Bottle. Poured amber with a white head. Aroma was bitter from hops with an undertones of sweetish malts. Flavor was nice balance of sweet malts and bitter hops.
durhambeer (989), Durham, USA
Jun 11, 2009 Bottle from Sam’s. Pours bright copper with thin white head. I tend to forget how much I like this style and often wonder why I don’t see more ESBs around. Crisp bitter hops but with a nice caramel malt presence. Great clean, crisp, light mouthfeel. It’s pretty average, but I like this beer.
vtafro (212), , New Jersey, USA
Jun 9, 2009 Tap. Beer was quite good, aroma ranged from malty to hoppy, and flavors matched aroma.
WakeandBake (366), Greenville, Michigan, USA
May 31, 2009 Bottle. A nice bright copper color body with a thick lasting off-white head leaving some lacing. Aroma is slightly malty,a bit bready,hints of floral hops,slightly sweet. Flavor is malty up front some nice caramel,a touch of bread dough, a little spicy hops and hints of lemon at the finish,lightly bitter,medium body and lively carbonation, grainy,malty aftertaste. Quite drinkable.
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