Atlantic SOB Special Old Bitter Ale

Brewed by Atlantic Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Bar Harbor, Maine USA

22oz bottle, courtesy of wickedpete. Thanks, Pete! Pours a slightly hazy, bright orange-amber color; thin light tan head. Tea-like malts and light, indeterminate fruits in the aroma. Average carbonation; medium mouthfeel: tea-like malts and some very light caramel; a mild citrus hoppiness, but a bit watery overall. Medium, biscuity and bitter citrus in the finish.

Bottle; poured a brownish copper with medium to large light brown head. Head had some creaminess to it; lacing. Aroma was a nice balance of caramel/toasted malt and fruit; also some grassy and citrus notes. Flavor was about average for the style; there was a nice balance between the malt backbone and the hop bitterness in the finish. Malt was caramel and fruity; had a slight chewiness to it. Some woody and nutty flavors as well, that didn’t work too well for me. Finish was on the dry side. Hops were mostly grassy and floral. Overall it was slightly above average for the style.

Brown with little head forming. Toasty aroma, with a slight touch of fallen autumn leaves. Flavor is refreshing with a strong bitterness at the finish that lingers. Nice malt flavor of caramel and toast to balance the bitterness. A nice change of pace from the usual IPA hop bombs.

Pours deep copper with nice deep malted notes. There are some tree fruit hints and the beloved malt sweet candy flavor. The palate shows a dense malt note that finishes with a light bitterness.

Pours a lovely shade of dark copper with a pillowy & rocky tan head. The aroma has well toasted malt, hints of cotton candy, sassophras and passion fruit. It’s like a cross between and ESB and a root beer. Medium body on the course harsh side with some soft carbonation. The flavor started with very woody flavors, toasted pine cones and a strong dry malt presence. The finish is more harsh with a dark hoppy taste. An interesting beer.

Bottle from Dad consumed on 9/10/07. Thanks Pops! Dark amber body with a small white head that leads to a nice ring of lace. Nose of bitter hops, toasted and crystal malts. Flavor is bitter as expected, but its a little bit overwhelming in the finish.

22 oz. Consumed at fridge temp. Pours an amber color with a fluffy white head. Aroma was of strong hops. Taste was very hoppy with some mild caramel. As the beer warmed the hoppy taste calmed down a bit. This beer left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth that lasted for hours. It was ok, but I won,t go looking for it.

Cold 22oz bottle: Pours a clear, dark amber color with a big, persistent, fluffy off-white head. Aroma is of rich malts and notes of caramel, fruit and flowers. Taste is of a nice blend of rich malts with a burst of floral hops. Medium to heavy bodied, crisp and overcarbonated. Ending is astringent with flowers and tiny notes of caramel that can’t save it. Aftertaste is dirty.