Arbor HXL

Brewed by Arbor Brewing Company Pub & Eatery
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Ann Arbor, Michigan USA

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!!

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.

Draught. Cascading gradient orange colour with a small creamy white head and plentiful lacing. Smells of orange/grapefruit hops and bready biscuit. Pretty nice amped up IPA body with noticeable alcohol character and lots of citrus hops up front. The caramel and bready flavours follow for the balancing act. Very good.
Tasted at the brewpub on December 27, 2006.

@ 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.

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.

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.

On tap: I was at the right place at the right time for this one, one of the brewers gave everyone sitting at the bar a sample of this a couple days before release. If it wasn’t 7.5% I wouldn’t have any problem having a couple of these with lunch everyday. Bready malts. Not too much carbonation, citrus on the palate. Another tastey selection from ABC.

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.