Anderson Valley Boont ESB

Brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Boonville, California USA

Cask pull at the PP Real Ale Fest. Deep golden, transparent colored pour with a thick head of foamy white. Lots of fresh, floral west coast hops in the aroma that carry a lot of lemons, white grapefruit, and white pine. While the hop bouquet is distinctly west coast, it doesn’t get too carried away with bitterness or herbal pungency; instead it allows the light citrusy characters to contribute a clean, refreshing fruitiness. Light bodied, creamy mouthfeel with a delicate carbonation. Extremely drinkable and refreshing. The hops don’t play nearly the dominant role on the palate that they do in the nose. It’s pleasing to have such a fragrant hop aroma without the overpowering bitterness on the palate. This allows the fresh, doughy, bready, biscuity malts to really stand out. Liquid form of an herbal artisan french baguette. Great hop utilization and west coast incorporation to enhance this example of the style rather than destroy it. Finish is dry, clean, and refreshing with a twist of lemony hops. Excellent cask beer.

A bit of a floral aroma. This looks great. This has much more of a hop bite than you’ll ever find in an English ESB, bit’s quite nice. It’s true that the hops seem to be mostly bittering, and I can disagree with those who feel this is closer to an APA or even an IPA then an ESB. That said, oh well. I like those styles more anyway. A little too much alcohol in the very finish.

Little aroma in the several I’ve had. Marginal fruitiness or maltiness noticeable in any way, just bitters. Really lacking any complexity.

Bottle courtesy of Plucier: Poured a deep brown color ale with a big nice foamy head with good retention. Aroma of PNW hops is well balance with caramel malt. Taste is a well balance mix between some caramel malt with light toffee and some great hops presence with provide mild bitterness and a great floral aspect to this beer. Great carbonation with a full body which really fit the style. I really like and enjoy the balance in the beers from this brewery.

What I like about ESBs is the subtle, sweet flavors and the lingering, but not overpowering, bitterness in the finish. Anderson Valley’s rendition of this style is all about bitter and not a lot about subtlety. In fact, this bordered on an American Pale Ale for me. The hops are just too big and out of whack with the malts. Beautiful pour with a large, frothy, sticky and lasting head. Amber, clear body. The aroma is mostly malty with notes of grain and nuts, but there are hints of flowers and perfume. The flavor is heavily bitter with only a slightly sweet underbelly. Somewhat soapy, flowery. Medium body with a sticky texture. Average carbonation.

From a 12 oz. bottle with no freshness date, a blurb and temperature serving suggestion on the back label, in a pint glass. Poured a clear golden orange with frothy, foamy white head, good retention, a good deal of laced sticking. Aromas of grain crackers, a touch of caramel, fruity and floral leafy, citrus hops. Good steady carbonation and a crisp, dryish, slick, creamy smooth medium bodied mouthfeel. A nice Bitter taste, grainy, sweet malty and fruity, spicy, leafy and citric hops that have a good cutting bitterness that lingers on the tongue, estery alcohol that provides a low warmth during the taste, and a dry fruity, spicy leafy, grainy finish. This was very enjoyable, easy quaffability, one of my favorite American ESB’s.

on tap at the brewery in september 2006: nice dark golden color, small head leaving laces. Fizzy carbonation. Medium but long lasting not very sharp hoppyness. Not much in the nose.

Flowery nose, dark orangy-gold color, sticky creamy head. Woody, nutty notes throughout, with a hint of berry sweetness. Spicy end. Lingering gritty grassy bitterness, though very faint. Lively carbonation--too much for a classic UK ESB. Still a good beer.