River Horse Special Ale ESB

12oz from Once Upon a Vine, Richmond. I hate to say that when you put the word "special" in your beer’s name you’re setting yourself up for harsh reviews, but . . . well, there it is. Anyways, a decent looking beer, amber and nicely carbonated. Moderate head. Nose is soft and fruity, and these elements combine with strong malts in the taste. Bready without feeing washed out, but there’s still not a whole lot of piquancy to the flavor. Average amber more than a solid ESB. And no, not special.

Beer pours an amber color, good aroma, good taste (malty), and pretty smooth. Good Ale

good aroma, hoppy and malty. After that, hoppy start; watery, malty middle and metallic aftertaste.

This beer pours a clear orangeish-amber colour with a medium size off white head. Aroma is hard to pick up on because it is such a strong unusual scent. I notice mangoe, pear slices, carrots and aspirin. Mouthfeel is very bubbly- in fact the whole beer is crazy bubbly. Most of the RH products I’ve had recently have been like that. Initial taste is like a roass between a brut sparkling wine and a sparkling cider. MINERAL WATER! Flavor trails off into an astringent, juicy, ginger like taste. One thing is for certain, it is unlike any ESB I have ever had.

Beautiful copper color but absolutely no head - NONE. The aroma is faint but what is there is nice and malty. The palate lacks a little. Where it really matters in taste it does just all right.