Climax Extra Special Bitter Ale

Brewed by Climax Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Roselle Park, New Jersey USA

Cask (gravity) @ Great British Beer Festival, GBBF 2008, Earls Court, London, England SW5.
Light unclear medium amber orange color with a small, virtually none head. Aroma is moderate malty, hay, moderate hoppy, old apples, rubber. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is flat. (050808)

On tap a Baracade in New York City. I nice example of a ESB, fruity hoppy and malty only 142 of Michael Jackson’s 500 Classics to go.

Beautiful ESB. It’s aroma has a nice balance of hops, medium malts, and some fruit esters. It’s appearance is reddish in color, with a thin white collar, and very nice lacing. It’s flavor is great with a Golding hops, some nice medium-bodied malts, and some fruity tartness at the end. It’s smooth, and perfect for session drinking.

Dark amber body without a head. Smell of dark citrus fruits. Fresh and dry palate flavoured by grapefruits and honeyed malt. Lingering bitter endnotes. Well bodied and a pleasure to drink (half pint shared with Geir, at Bieres Sans Frontieres, GBBF 06.08.2008)

I brought this growler to the PSU Brew Fest 2008 with the hopes of showing Ryan that NJ brewers aren’t sleeping in the shadows of their Pennsy counterparts... cloudy orange brown bosy with slow effervescence... thick and chunky head that settles to a thin stable white line... slightly aromatic, softly malty balanced bouquet... bubbly, medium-bodied crunchy body--yet drinkable in this basement bar environment... smooth with suggestions of soft nuts and butter... pleasant and peaceful witht the hints of spruce and honey--reminiscent slightly of the Polish mead we partook in at the Fest... capping off another successful Brew Fest, this cushions the palate and encourages another... tough to critique this interpretation...

Cask, GBBF 08... copper colour ... wattery woody hop ... light druit and dry fruity bitter finish

Cask, GBBF 08. Aromas are caramel malts with spices. Citrus with floral notes and a light soapiness. Flavours are toffee malts with citrus. Slight honeyed sweetness with pine hops. Decent.

Cask at the GBBF 2008, gravity dispense. ABV was 5.5%. Golden brown colour, no head. Moderate aroma of fruity hops, notes of blackcurrants. The flavour is first malty with notes of honey and caramel, then a hoppy bitterness takes over and lasts through the aftertaste - fruity hops first, then a "dusty" finish.