2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
(Bottle) Pours a brownish-amber color with a large foamy protein enriched beige head, which has great staying power. Interesting flavor for an ESB. Average bitter, but not "extra special".
2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Pours transparent ruby brown with foamy beige head that is mostly lasting. Aroma is somewhat fruity, with some malt and alcohol coming through. Weird. Not my favorite and I'm not really sure how to rate it.
2.2 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 7/20
Clearly not your typical ESB. Very dark ruby brown color. Big fizzy head out of the bottle. Aroma is sharp and the alchohol jumps right at ya. If you love strong ales, certainly give this one a try. If you prefer more typical, mild ales, skip this one!
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
This is certainly a surprise for a bottle labeled ESB. Dark, reddish brown with a creamy off-white head. Nose is spicy and vinous with a touch of oak. Creamy mouthfeel. Extremely vinous with a pleasant bit of alcohol warmth. Slightly sweet. Notes of candi sugar, toffee, raisin, and molasses. A slight bitterness makes itself known in the lingering, sweet finish. I'm going to have to echo everyone else and say that this is absolutely not a standard extra special bitter but much better than what I ordinarily expect from the style.
3.1 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Pours a solid mohogany color with a very nice thick head but very little lacing. The scent is interesting: almost brandy-like, but definately alcoholic. Fruit esters are *very* strong. It smells more like a lambic than an ESB. Taste is...odd. I *like* it, but it's not to ESB style, IMO. It's very fruity, with a nice subtle malt/hop balance. There's also a good mineral mouthfeel to it. I'd like to try and clone this for a homebrew.
Again, I like this, I just don't think it falls within the guidelines of the style. It's definately worth trying, though.
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
This was interesting. Dark brown body with a medium, even tan head. Nose is roasted malts with some hops bitterness in the mix. The taste was malt and hops but with a fruit taste mixed with a rauchbier. Finished with a hops and a smoky hint. Surprisingly good beer as I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was.
3.1 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
not hard to notice the alcohol in the aroma and in the first sip. interesting - some caramel and a touch of rye and sultanas. alas, finishes in nothing
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Clear chestnut body topped by medium beige head. Aroma is malty -- caramel, scotch, lightly earthy. Taste is much the same. Finishes with a mild alcohol burn. Medium watery body. Too malty for what I want in an ESB, but a good beer just the same.
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