Middle Ages Beast Bitter

Brewed by Middle Ages Brewing
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Syracuse, New York USA

12oz bottle: Sunny amber pour with a huge white head that settles into an even, one finger head. The ivory foam grasps the sides of the glass all the way down. The nose is a nice intro - very bright and hoppy. Notes of fresh oranges, sweet pink grapefruit and rose petal perfume meet the nose. The hops turn slightly soapy as the beer warms. A chunky bitterness dominates the thin body. Mild flavors of caramel and straw push back against the bitterness, but the balance falls to the hops.

Nice taupe head, which leaves a pleasant lacing. Reddish/orange color. Malty, bready, fruity aroma. Pretty bitter taste. Toffee and plenty of it. Leaves some aftertaste. Overall, it tastes really British.

12oz bottle-pours a rich off white head that alces and amber color. Aroma is nice resin/citrus hops, secondary medium malt. Taste is dry lemon/resin/citrus (northwest and English) hops with some bitter, secondary medium malt. Light/medium body. OK effervescence. Thanks to Joe-jwc215 for picking this out.

12 oz bottle, vis BA BeerTruth. Pours a bright clear copper body under a nice fizzy beige head that had decent retention. The nose is a mix of nice British hops and some toasted malt, but with slight undertone of diacetyl. There’s a good bit of diacetyl in the flavor as well, luckily ESBs are one of the few styles where I find a touch of it to still be acceptable. It seems to work with the dry toasty malt and flowery hops. Minimal bitterness on the finish. Mouthfeel is lighter bodied with a slightly clingy finish and moderate soft carbonation. All in all, not the ideal beer of the style for me, but it was good enough to finish off 12 ounces worth.

Bottle. Pours hazy orange with a thick beige head. Aroma is hoppy with earthy and grassy notes. Light body. Flavor is caramel malt and flowery hops, with earthy and grassy noted. Dull, just didn’t do it for me.

Cloudy amber color with a thin white head. Hops on the nose and prevalent aroma. Taste of a little citrus, but strong but not biting bitters on the back end. Very enjoyable.

Bottled. Porued hazy sunset orange with a short cap of off-white head. The aroma picked up toasty grains, caramel, and a touch of cardboard.. deeper sweetness left the final impression. The flavor had the same toasty grains and some vegetal notes at the core, with dry grassy and wheaty bitterness surrounding.. citrus bitterness joins in at the back.. dry, mildly bitter finish. Lighter-bodied on the palate with OK balance.

(cask @ The Old Toad - Rochester, NY) Dark copper pour with a soapy white head. Aroma is light and malty with some doughy notes and some caramel. Light floral notes underneath it all. Flavor is very smoothly balanced with a smooth malt and hop flavor at the beginning and a malty and bready middle with a smooth and sweet finish. Very nicely blended and easy to drink.