Flying Fish ESB

Brewed by Flying Fish Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Cherry Hill, New Jersey USA

Alright there was nothing offenisve about this one, but there was also nothing special. It delivered a crips hopiness, but it was kind of bland on the finish and overall just didn’t have that bite. It was kind of like biting into a bad apple.

12oz. right from the bottle. Nice hop flavor mixed with a smooth malt balance. Nothing to get excited about but an awesome session brew.

12oz bottle. Pours a golden amber with a good amount of carbonation. Head bubbled up a bone white. There is a decent amount of lacing left on the glass. Slight caramel malts and piney hops. Not a big nose here. Taste is of clean, crisp malts and a very light hop backbone. Crisp, clean and light on the tongue.

Bottle courtesy of Jabic. Pours copper with a rocky white head. Smells of wildflowers, citrus, hay, dry malt. Tastes dry and spicy with a peppery finish.

12 oz bottle courtesy of eaglefan538. Pour is hazed golden orange with a two inch off white head. Nice streaked lacing left behind as the head falls. Aroma of toasted malt, some light biscuit sweetness. A bit of earthy hops present as well. Taste is the toasted slightly sweet maltiness from the nose. The earthy hops are a bit grassier in the taste. Nice mineral finish. The palate is unfiltered yet smooth, though perhaps a bit watery. Overall, a nice session beer. Thanks Brian.

The ESB, Extra Special Bitter, is originally an English beer style, though many American craft brewers have tried their hand at brewing their very own ESB. When done well, the ESB is a much underappreciated beer with a lower ABV and yet tons of hop and malt features to create a very quaffable and flavorful brew. Coming to me today is Flying Fish Brewing’s interpretation of the ESB which they have dubbed their ESB Amber Ale. I have yet to be blown away by a Flying Fish brew so maybe this will be the one which captures my heart.
A vivid amber and orange body she is graced by a tightly packed head of luxurious foam which fades rather quickly into a scattered array of clouds. Little lace to speak of, though her nose graces me with a rich and toasty array of malts, caramel, nuts, crunchy bread crust, honey, fresh peaches and some more honey; maybe melon. Quite an impressive start to what is building up to be a hopefully impressive ESB. Not one to keep a good beer waiting, I delve into her bright depths and am greeted by a fizzy carbonated mouthfeel which lingers with a faintly sweet honey coating. Caramel, toasted malts and bread crust right up front followed by hints of bitter lemon peel in the finish. The honey mingles throughout her palate and mouthfeel, adding some weight to her clean quaffability. I am reminded of fresh honey eaten right off the honeycomb with just that faint hint of crunch. Her head clings stubbornly to the sides of my glass in a miniscule ring even as I near the end of my ESB Amber Ale. Faint notes of cinnamon and spice come into play as she warms slightly, complimenting the growing presence of peach and melon. She finishes with a perfectly toasted malt flourish.
Flying Fish has done it. Their ESB Amber Ale is the best brew of theirs I have tasted and maybe even one of the best American ESBs I have tasted. While Fullers is still the epitome of English style ESBs, Flying Fish has truly crafted a lovely ESB which is very faithful to its heritage while at the same time giving her just a bit of an American edge. I could easily keep her as a staple in my fridge.

Bottled. Clear Amber in color with a thick cream head. Aroma is malt and cereal, somewhat caramel and coffee. Nothing noticeably bitter. Flavor is somewhat complex in that several malts are apparent, specifically chocolate. Finish is citric and barely bitter. Bland beer.

Bottle. Pours an amber body with a light head. Very malty with caramel sweetness and a bitter citrus finish. Lightly hopped with little etoh to finish. so so.