 Gregis (923), Shawnee, Kansas, USA
May 10, 2008
After rating 16 ESBs, I have finally gotten around to rating the original. It pours a pale iced tea copper with a creamy ivory head that laces well. The nose is of fruity, bready malt backed by grassy, earthy and lightly spicy hops. Light to medium-bodied and creamy with a flinty, mildly dry finish and a touch of hop bitterness to cap things off. Toasty, fruity malt up front, it transitions to a lightly dry finish featuring lightly spicy and earthy hops. The aftertaste lingers just slightly bitter and flinty. This is a very nice session brew, and at 5.9% ABV, what a happy session it could be. Certainly among the best ESBs that I’ve sampled, I can see why it has spawned a steady stream of imitators.
KnN (311), Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
Oct 11, 2008 Pours a nice amber color. Not much in the way of head. A little carbonation. Aroma is malty with a hint of hops. Kind of sweet smelling as well. A little alcohol on the nose? Flavor is good. Nice and smooth with just enough bitter kick at the end. The malt and hops play nicely together. Good beer. Nice ESB.
blipp (818), Grand Island, New York, USA
Oct 10, 2008 Bottle. Pours clear amber with an off white head. Sweet caramel malt aroma with a touch of hops. The flavor is sweet caramel/honey/toffee. This beer relies way to much on general malt sweetness, but doesn’t have much going on otherwise. A little too sweet for my tastes.
Whiskeyjack (10), , Massachusetts, USA
Oct 4, 2008 A sweet floral aroma. Clear amber red. Very minimal head. Mild hop flavor, some earth tones & a slight bitter aftertaste. An uncomplicated version of an ESB, lacks the potency I expect with extra special bitter.
patricks110 (172), Alberta, Canada
Oct 2, 2008 Aroma of nutst, hoppy hints, and sweet honey and fruit. Appearance is mediocre. A brigtht yellowish golden colour with a small head. Interesting flavour full of hops and sweetness. For a bitter, this is perfect for me. Overall, the best bitter i have had so far, and another great beer from fullers.
Pinball (595), Allerød, Denmark
Sep 30, 2008 aroma : nutty, raisins or plumes,
clear dark golden , thick small offwhite head,
flavor : nice bitter indeed, complicated and balanced, aftertaste also with good bitterness, i get lots and flavors, also hop flavors, the sensation from beginning to end is amazing - flavor changes a lot during a sip, and it’s all good. great brew, probably best english beer i ever had.
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