Otter Creek ESB

Brewed by Otter Creek Brewing
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Middlebury, Vermont USA

Not too impressive. A sourness that takes away from a perhaps too hidden malt profile. Drinkable, but not again unless it is free.

Pretty tasty, but not a real traditional ESB, nor something that could pass as a real ale. A bit hoppier, as an Amercian attempt would be, but generally a nice malty ESB. Pours quite bland, with a nice orange copper color. Light white head upon pour. Slightly sweet as well, but I’d have it again if I could get it on tap. (Bottle Pour 6/2/2007)

Poured a good dark amber with some consistency. The head was thin, off white, and frothy. The aroma was sour corn, slightly sweet, maybe some caramel maltyness. The flavor was slightly offensive, a very sour corn taste. The palate was crisp and thin. Not too hot.

Bottle. A lot of grain dust and husks in the nose. Light neutral fruit and a bit of hops bitterness. Biscuit and musk melon. Mildly sweet. Brilliant amber clear with thin off-white foamy head. Medium bodied with light-medium carbonation. Starts with medium sweetness, a bit of biscuit and caramel flavor. A bit of dusty grain and light metallic tinge. The finish is predominated by some fairly dry but bitter hoppiness, leading into a dry and mildly chalky bitter coating on the tongue. Good bitterness. Has a bit of carbonic gaseousness to it that weakens the taste just a bit - seems to be an element missing, though I’m not sure what it is.

(12oz bottle, bottled 12/21/06) Small off-white head atop crystal clear amber body. Aroma is moderately sweet, toffee, some caramel, floral, light earthy. Taste is medium sweet, caramel, some chocolate, earthy, bread, melon, light floral. Medium body, light acidity.

12oz bottle. Ruby amber hue. Spotty bone white head. Soggy bready caramel aromas. Toasty with a good nose. Full bodied with nice malt character. Good dose of bitter and burn finished wup with a sticky lively citrus pine jumble. Apple notes mixed with caramel and a lively 7-Up citrus note. Off-putting musty aroma. Detracts just a bit. Nice little bitter.

Pours a clear, crisp cherry-orange. Head is long lasting, thin and white, leaving lots of lacing. Aroma is of fresh rye bread. Mouth feel is watery on initial sip. Then follows with a powerful assertion of hops, malt and barley. Full force fresh grass, caramel, butter, tangy lemon. Aftertaste is spot on peanuts and Brasil nuts. Really a fun sort of quirky brew, and suprisingly made drinking a bitter fun (it never is for me).

Not bad, just pretty boring. I love ESBs, but this really is more like a pale ale. Too bad, I wish more American breweries in the east made good bitters.