Olde Hickory ESB

On tap in the brewhouse at Olde Hickory. A really great place if you ever get the chance to visit. Unfiltered and dry-hopped. Pour is a cloudy orange with a persistent, off-white head. Aroma of soft, citrusy hops, hints of light berry (English yeast) and biscuity malt. The flavor is more of the same, with the maltiness really shining through and just enough hop flavor to balance it out perfectly. Hints of caramel and toast in there too. A really great session beer. Low on the hop bitterness, making for a very smooth body and flavor, showcasing excellent balance and English character.

Date: February 07, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Taproom
Appearance: hazy copper, big frothy off white head, layers of lace
Aroma: light floral hop aroma, light caramel malt with a hint of sweet breadyness
Flavor: sweet bready caramel malt flavor, balancing earthy bitterness, nice lingering bitterness in finish
Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Draught at Union Jack’s. Pours gold with soapy white head. The aroma is very mild and slightly fruity, maybe with some herbal tea notes. The flavor is honeyish malt, some distant spicy hops, and graham crackers. The finish is a hint of salt and some mild bitterness. Overall it is bland but graceful.

On tap at Union Jack’s. Clear red-orange with a finger of creamy off white head. Aroma is caramel apples, very toasty malty. Taste is fruity sweetness, toffee, caramel with a light bittering finish. Re-rate: Orange-red, beige head. Aroma is dry, grassy hops, apples, caramel, herbal finish. Taste is again dry grassy, herbal hops, sweet apple character, caramel. Much nicer than I remembered. Original rating 6:3:7:3:14

Cloudy dark orange, with a decent sized rocky white head. Prounounced bready, doughy, toasty aroma. Nicely sweet at first, then subtle, slightly dryish, bitter, finish. Nice and quaffable. Seems to make a pretty good session beer. Tap at Union Jack’s, Knoxville.