Redhook ESB

ben came back to the republic of texas squawking about the glory of this beer. for my friend, i want to like it. he gave me a bottle. i like the retro red and gold bottle cap, the simplistic label design. it pours into the pint glass coppery, burnt orangy. very few bubbles. no dimensional pizzazz. i become nervous. my friend was so sincere. there is little to no aroma - small hints, as if from another person’s campsite over the ridge, waft up in the glass of maybe sweetish malts? the flavor confirms the possibly sweet aroma. perhaps some chocolate here. perhaps some harsh toffee. metallic hopheads spin from the malt edges like pennies on a tabletop betting ring. i feel chagrinned looking ben in the eye: i did not like this beer so much. perhaps it needs to saddle up beside a spicy sausage pizza slice. that’s what i’m feeling here. this is not a stand-alone beer.

Watery ESB, not very good. There are hints of hop, malt, but just a flat slop of stuff.

Cask at GBBF 08. Slight hazy amber. Thin beige head. Not a great ESB, some good fruit, but no body to back it up. I expected it to be darker to reflect the style. Some US hop on end. Bit of grapefruit. Still a bit murky as I’m not sure it was 100% ready to be served.

Bottle pours amber with medium tan head. Light aroma is of sweet caramel. Taste is fairly sweet with hints or honey, caramel, and malts.

Pours a nice copper color with minimal head. Has a sweet honey flavor with a somewhat bitter dry finish. Not bad, but not outstanding.