Hereford & Hops ESB

On draught at the Hereford & Hops in Escanaba, Northern Michigan. Pours a clear golden amber brew with a creamy off-white head that slowly dissipates and leaves behind some excellent lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, some crystal malts, citrus zest and a touch of apple. Taste is medium bodied, dried roasted caramel malt, some citrus zest and a touch of pepper. Finish is semi-dry, mild fuggles hop texture with a light tobacco and pepper aftertaste.

On tap at the brewery. Aroma was close to nothing. Some stale hops take the front, but nothing to write home about. Pour was a flat deep amber with no head and no movement. Taste was flat and boring. Very balanced in the fact that there were a little hops and a little malt to even out the nothingness. No aftertaste. Blah.

Sampled on draft at the Cranberry PA location this beer poured a dark red-caramel color with a small red-khaki head. The aroma was dry and crisp fruity hops. The flavor was bitter, tart and crisp floral and vague fruity hops. The finish was long, bitter and harsh.

Dark mahogony color with faint off-white head. Faint chocolate malt cuts through the bitter nose. Body wasn’t as bitter as I’d hoped.

Anniversary ESB, celebrates one years of continuous H&H. On tap in Cranberry. Nice people there! The pour is a big alabaster head and the color is orangish brown. It has a wonted beer aroma of yeasty uncooked bread dough. It also has some of that perfume quality I find so prevalent in H&H brews. This may be the dishwashers fault. Fairly malty bitter on the first taste. Barely any carbonation, if any. Not much sweetness is detected but there certainly is some malty bitterness on the back of my throat. I think I can feel some East Kent Golden Hops! The alky content seems to be much higher than the 5% listed on the bar data card. Says the IBU is 52 and I would agree with that. Finish is a bitter linger that hangs for a few minutes on the back of my throat.

Sample at the Wausau, WI location in early August 2006. Clear copper with a lasting creamy off-white head and thick lacing....citric hops, cider notes, caramelized malts in the quite strong, perhaps slightly over-hopped aroma, bit peppery....somewhat funky, rather bitter and dry flavor with subtle alcoholic notes, bit of burnt toffee....less sweet than most examples but very interesting, if closer to an IPA than anything English.

ESB with generous hops. Lace. Hoppy citrus aroma. The 3c hops plus Tomahock hops. Some balance, but definately on the bitter side and meeting the hophead demand.

On tap GABF 02: Huge pine citrus aroma, clear orange color with a large head. Oily mouthfeel, ends bitter. The aroma on this beer was awesome.