Middle Ages Beast Bitter

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

This beer is a beast, but no, its not Milwaukee’s Best, commonly know as THE BEAST among college co-eds. This special beer is an ESB(Extra Special Bitter) by style, and comes from the Middle Ages Brewing Company, of Syracuse, NY. Middle Ages is know as a Ringwood brewery, and specializes in British beer styles. They use a very unique strain of yeast called ringwood, that oringinated in England, and use a Peter Austin designed brewing system. Ringwood is a unique strain in that when fermenting, it produces a by product called diacetal. Diacetal gives the beer an earthy aroma and "butter" like flavors. Some beer drinkers can not detect this, some can and find it off putting. Others, myself included, enjoy hints of diacetal in British ales, where proper amounts of it, are appropriate. Middle Ages does a wonderful job with this unique strain, all the beers that I have sampled from this brewery have been delicious. I’ll be visiting the brewery in Syracuse next month, and will be sure to stock up on Beat Bitter and all other Middle Ages offerings. Beast Bitter pours to a deep copper color, with a firm white head, and a good bit of carbonation. The nose on this beer is very fragrant. Vibrant hop aromas pair with that distinctive "earthy" ringwood yeast aroma. The palate is firm, good pale and caramel malt notes waltz on the tongue. There is also a slight touch of butter scotch flavor and "buttery" mouth feel, again a result from the ringwood yeast strain. This beer finishes malty at first, a touch earthy, mushroom like, but then ends with a long, dry, bitter hop bite. This is a really well done ESB, from a really great micro brewery. I would pair this with red meats such as beef, lamb, or even venison.

The bottle lies, as a beast should. This ale is not monsterous in hops, instead, it is extremely smooth and creamy (or buttery even). Body is light and the carbonation, subtle. The only beast that this awakens is my inner self telling me to have six more. Very very drinkable. An excellent offering from an exceptional brewery.

Bottle: Thanks to BeerBeast! This is one of my favorite beers I’ve had in a long time. I was suprised by the palate of this beer, it was very smooth and easy to drink had some carbonation feel and tiny bite at the finish by not brut dry/bitter in any way. The aroma wasn’t spectacular but there was some hops, citrus, floral, caramel scents. I thought that the caramel was nicely incorporated in the tastes, as was some spice notes, and the finish of this beer is difficult to explain but I liked the way the complexity played with my tastebuds upon the finish.

Unfiltered peach. Resilient mound of white foam clings to the glass. Aroma of airy phenols, floral hops, and nuts covered in melted butter toffee. Enticing herb and mineral whispers. Soft, fuzzy carbonation. Earthy hop acids and a moderate level of airiness briefly inhibit the beefy malt emergence. Juicy hops resound at the center, but continue to impart acidity more than anything else. Firm and impeccably conditioned, but softly floral and sweet peach fruity, as well. Malt eventually blossoms to take on a breadier flavor, richened by a tongue coating toffee and nut bedding. Ever-present peppery phenols continually lurk, however, and lift much of the malt sweetness from the palate. Finishes appetizingly dry with chalky accents, and vividly underlined by a reawakening load of toffee drenched Crystal and a subtle, yet effective, earthy hop brush. Exemplary version.

Great US - British Bitter! Could be served in a UK pub.

if ya like hops this is for you. nice lasting bitter finish. better than there ImPaled Ale. if ya ask me.

Orangey-gold pour with a satisfying head. The taste was sweeter than i expected for a bitter, but probably just about par for an american bitter. drinkable, unquestionably.

Decently flowery-hoppy aroma. I thought this brew had a very complex taste, there was noticeable parts nutty matls, the bitter hops, and an underlying fruity (apples?) taste. The finish was not very beastly, as the hops were fairly subdued. Quite nice