Grand Teton Bitch Creek ESB

Brewed by Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Victor, Idaho USA

Thanks to Isaac for hauling this all the way back to Texas on a burro through sleet and tornadoes past bandidos and federales. Mohogany pour, thin head, woody nutty notes. Alcohol seems very up front, robust and sweet. Well balanced with a hint of citrus. Hoppy floral notes stretch the style parameters, but hey this is an American ESB.

Excellent finish, frothy dense head. While not particularily bitter it is one of the best ESBs I’ve tasted.

Wow, this is one really really good ESB. Taste is a little hoppy and grainy. Not really bitter but quite nice. Best beer I found on my trip to Zion National Park.

12 oz bottle via trade with Indiana_red (thanks ken!).Pours a hazy dark copper color with an average size foamy head. Fruity aroma with notes of orange, yeast and citrus hops. Nice medium to full body. Sweet orange flavor, followed by lemon, pine and grapefruit in the finish.Lots of undertones here. Very complex and a very nice use of the hops. Well balanced with just enough malt backbone. Nice lingering bittersweet aftertaste. This is a bitchin’ good american take on an ESB! ***********11/22/06 rerate-because i did not know i had already rated it, lol...original rating 8/4/9/5/17=4.3***** 12 OZ bottle via Malt of The Earth Beer Club. Pours a clear dark reddish brown with a very small head. Nose is mostly floral hops, some malts, and some toffee. Flavor starts out sweet, some caramel, orange, vanilla, berries..then turns to some citrus and grassy hops. A long bittersweet aftertaste. Medium body. Definately an American style ESB as opposed to British style.

Burgundy in color. Wilting, uneven collar of light beige foam. Earthy, pinewood, and blackberry jam aroma. Hint of diacetyl and dougy yeast. Big bubbles prickle and scrub the palate. Initially airy, slightly acidic, and slickly fruity with chalky roast and burnt caramel undertones. Aggressive acidity robs much the body’s appeal, but the firm Crystal sweetness remain strongs. Harsh blood orange acidity creeps in and taints the latter half of the flavor. Finishes with resounding caramelly and nutty malt expressions, along with salted red licorice and a fuzzy earthy bitterness that lingers. Citric hop flavors ensue with each burp. This is still too hoppy and acidic, and the aroma is overly yeasty, but it’s nice to see an American ESB that’s appropriately malty and estery. Would greatly improve if they replaced these high-aplha hops with something less brash.

Bottle courtesy of Secret Santa. Dark ruby brown, small creamy tan head (3+). Interesting hop aroma, mild green character like lush vegetation. Light bitterness, similar mild hops to those in the aroma, earthy malt notes, very light caramel malt. Light hints of citrus as it warms? Average palate. Nice. Doesn’t blow me away but I would definitely seek this out on tap for a longer session if I was in the neighbourhood.

via trade with Buck Dich - Pours a brown color with a good size off white head. Has a light caramel malt aroma. Has a mild sweet, light roasted malt flavor. Has a slight bitter aftertaste. Light to medium body. Not bad. Thanks Jordan.

A really huge malty sweetness dominates a rather clean, simple nose. Hop aroma is lacking as are esters. Carmal aromas emerge as this example sits. Apperance is rather dark for an ESB. Huge, frothy, tight, tan head. Some chill haze noted. Balance front quickly fades to a more bitter hop flavored middle, caramel and dark malt flavors emerge. Lactic notes mingle with bitter dark specialty malt flavors through the finish. No alcohol noticable in the flavor. Medium bodied with medium carbonation combine to produce a fuller than expected chewy mouth yet due to lactic sourness this beer finishes a bit drier than expected. Overall, a good drinking beer and a unique interpretation of the ESB Style. Really more of a English Pale Ale and Porter hybrid.