Blue Ridge (MD) ESB Red Ale

Brewed by Wild Goose LLC (Flying Dog)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Frederick, Maryland USA

Fresh bottle - Sparkling orange, creamy light tan head. Nice aromas of toasted butter biscuits, rich caramel, with subdued tones of florals and fruity hops. Somewhat complex for a low abv brew. Flavor has a rich spicy floral hop tone that’s balanced nicely with sweet biscuity and caramel malt notes. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, bittersweet finish. Surprisingly good and nice for a session...

(12 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with slob, thanks Bert!) I’ve always been a fan of this beer; it used to be one of my staple beers to have on hand when I lived back east. Now I have to trade for it if I want one. This is one of those big, malty American ESBs, fairly sweet, caramely, bready, and lightly roasty, but I like the mild fruity overtones, and the moderate bitterness lends a modest balance. I’ve let this bottle sit a bit, so not surprisingly, it’s slightly earthy and the hops are a bit subdued, although the "best if enjoyed before" portion of the label is blank, like always. The nose is mostly earthy and bready. Body is medium-full, with a long-lasting flavor. A bit more hops would keep the palate fresher. Dark amber body shows a lot of very fine particulate suspended in the beer. The off-white head shrinks to a thin ring, leaving no lacing. Good stuff.

Pours transparent copper red with a large froathy head that stays around for a while. Aroma is of grassy slightly spicey hops and a mild toasted malt. Flavor is of earthy, grassy, slightly spicy hops with a nice toasty, biscuity malt playing second fiddle. Solid medium body with a firm but smooth palate. Finish is quite bitter and leaves a load of earthy hoppiness and a waft of toasty malt. Nice bitter.

Out of a bottle. Aroma of a light roast malt and hops, a light caramel or vanilla noted. Poured a hazed amber with a nice off white head. Flavor really wasn’t that bitter, mainly floral and piney hops. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Overall a good starter beer for the day.

Amber body, pretty much no head. Aroma is mild and slightly bitter. Flavor is not al that bitter for an ESB; there are some flowery hops, bready malts, and a somewhat roasted character. Drinkable but average.

This is an average beer, of most noteworthy it wasn’t really bitter enough. Tasted similar in style to scotch ales I’ve had. Kinda sweet with a mild hop character. Good beer, but far from excellent.

Bottled. Beer of the Month. Was a little to hoppy for an ESB for me but I’m not complaining. Wasn’t that bitter.

Medium amber color. Medium to large sized white foamy head. Aroma is caramel and sweet with a touch of floral hops. A medium bodied ESB/bitter. Malts are fruity, caramel, toffee and sweet. Hops are floral and piney. English style bitter. Nice balance. Smooth taste. Nice sweet malt finish. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and dry. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.