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Arbor HXL


 Percentile 
79
overall
Brewed by Arbor Brewing Company Pub & Eatery
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB

Ann Arbor, Michigan USA

bottling
unknown

on tap
available

Local Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
133.63/5.03.35/5.0Special8.3%88.7English pint

Commercial Description:
Our 16th centennial batch is a full-flavored, high gravity version of our Huxell. We used twice as much malted barley to hike the ABV to 8.3% and added boatloads of Centennial hops for a lasting tangy bitterness. Merry Christmas Hop Heads.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 deyholla (507), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/104/515/20
Oct 18, 2009  
On tap at the brewpub. Poured gold with a slightly orange hue. The aroma had both notes of malts, grainy, and hops, citrus. There was a bit of alcohol on the nose. Flavor was nice with a nice combination of the citrus hops and the grainy malts. The hops were more present and again there was a bit of alcohol burn towards the end.


 flatmatt (221), Northville, Michigan, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/515/20
Mar 3, 2009  
On tap at the brewpub, advertised at 10% ABV. Pours lightly orange amber with a white head. Mild aroma of citrus hops. Flavor is pleasant citrus hops with a moderate bitterness. A few fruity esters seem to be present at first, but that sensation goes away after the first couple sips. Flavor is about right for a nice IPA and the 10% alcohol isn’t detectable at all, but given the 10% that was listed, I was hoping for some stronger flavors more akin to a double IPA.


 jcwattsrugger (5223), Florida and, New Jersey, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Sep 3, 2008  
@ Michigan Beerfest-on tap-pours a rich off white head and cloudy dark amber color. Aroma is nice pine/oak/some citrus hops (centennial), secondary medium malt-caramel. Taste is nice pungent/pine/oak/citrus hops, balance with rich medium malt-caramel. Quite sessionable, with this being a crossover to a very malty PA. mild carbonation.


 jvmiller (532), Bel Air, Maryland, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/515/20
Jul 7, 2008  
Tasted much more along the lines of a IIPA to me, with the hop characteristics being quite strong. Much more than bitterness, there was citrus and resin flavors. Body was sweet, almost a belgian like sweetness. Overall, nothing spetactular but ok.


 BeerBaron617 (306), Novi, Michigan, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/510/103/518/20
Jun 21, 2008  
Just had this tonight, June 20th, 2008, the bartender said it was the last batch, so i consider myself lucky to get a taste! Very hoppy and citrusy like a good IPA should be.. A little smokey, reminiscent of the sacred cow, but a little stronger, A very tasty brew nonetheless. I’m also very proud to say that this is my 50th beer rating!! only 50 more to get that crown!!


 Tmoney99 (4656), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/104/515/20
Mar 4, 2008  
MBG Winter Fest 2008. Poured hazy copper color with an average fizzy white head that was mostly lasting with excellent lacing. Moderate to heavy sour citrus aroma. Medium body with a slick texture. Medium to heavy bitter flavor with a medium to heavy bitter finish of moderate duration. My expectations where met with a Double IPA.


 BBB63 (4199), La Porte, Indiana, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/103/514/20
Feb 24, 2008  
2008 MBG Winter Fest: Listed as a Double IPA (why is this an ESB?). Golden hued with a long lasting frothy head and good lace. The aroma has notes of grassy and resiny hops, grapefruit and clove esters, a hint of white pepper and biscuity malts. The taste has twangy citric fruit upfront supported by moderate bitterness and pale grains. The finish is a bit minty, leafy, and astringent. The mouth feel is lively and dry, chalky finish. A good brew but nothing spectacular.


 muzzlehatch (4427), Burlington, Vermont, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jul 6, 2007  
10 ounce draught mug at the brewpub on June 19, 2007. A creamy, lasting touch of head tops the dark, near-opaque and dusky amber body, lacing well...very fresh, predominantly earthy-piney aroma, citric hops show up asa well, nicely balanced acidic/loamy character.....wonderfully juicy-sweet flavor, light biscuity malts, lots of cherry and bitter orange, earthy with toasty graininess gaining prominence on the back end....beautifully carbonated and expertly judged; a truly fine ESB.



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