Fullers ESB (Bottle/Keg)

Brewed by Fullers
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
London, England

500. These square-shouldered Fuller’s bottles look great. Homebrew would look great in them, too, if I had the patience to collect enough of them to bottle a batch in ’em. But I don’t think my love for Fuller’s, outside of the 1845 and the London Porter, goes that far. This one pours a crystal clear medium amber, maybe a little closer to a dark amber. Sweet bready malt nose; gingerbready and a bit molassesy. Smells like a sweet brown bread you’d serve with a stew. Body’s a bit watery and light, very little carb showing. No doubt this is rather in the style tradition for many devoted fans, but it seems rather indifferently presented compared to the full-bodied ales with spectacular, picture-perfect aspects that have proliferated in the last 20-30 years. Very cookie-ish mid-palate with raisins, caramel, a bit of toffee, and some molasses. Definitely too sweet for me to session, and, given my sweet tooth, that’s going some. Fairly neutral finish.

12oz. Generic brown color, perfectly clear (left some sediment behind in the bottle.) Low carbonation, no head. Nose is mature hops, slight toffee/round sugar. Some butterscotch up front, then spicy hops. Hops flavor is wicked complex, must be because of all the types used. Finish is some bitter but still very balanced. Last flavor note is malty and oh so round. Totally drinkable and complex enough to be great on its own. Yay beer!

16.9 oz bottle. Pours a thin off white head of short duration, but attractive lacing over a clear orange brown (SRM 15) body.....nose rich in sweet, toffee, caramel malt, some floral honey tones....taste initially is heavy biscuit, cereal, then light hop bitterness......mouth feel is thick, chewy, nice body, medium to low carbonation. This is a pleasant beer, but alas, not in a favorite style of mine.

I am a big fan of ESBs and this one doesn’t disappoint. From start to finish, this beer demands attention. Very malty that is balanced by the hops that can only occur from dryhopping. Highly recommended!

Pours dark golden, almost honey colored with a foamy white head. Smells sweet, with toffee, raspberries and other red berries. Taste is full, but not very complex. Caramelized sugar, white grapes and some hops make up the flavor. gives a full, rich, foamy mouth feel.

Bottle. Pours clear amber with a medium off-white head, ropey lacing. Nose is big and full for a bittter, spice, ginger, cake, fresh hops, pine. Palate is big and malty and rich, but also has a very fresh and cleansing hoppy aspect. I wasn’t expecting to like this so well, but this was an excellent bitter.

By far the best premium bitter ever.. I wish I could live in London to have my happy hour in a Fuller’s Pub, drinking London Pride and ,of course, Fuller’s ESB...

On tap. Pours a golden amber with a small off white head. Aroma of light fruits, bready malt, plums, prickly pear, and very floral. Flavor starts pretty mild and sweet and quickly puts forth that seems big burst of fruits and light breadiness. Just a bit of spiciness adds to the overall flavor and smooth finish. Medium body and a soft but tickling carbonation. A nice ESB, very complimentary to my meal and refreshing.