Redhook ESB

Brewed by Redhook Brewery
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Woodinville, Washington USA

Meh, at least it is in fact bitter. No other redeeming qualities, but not disappointing, just okay.

12 oz. bottle purchased at Total Wine in Kennesaw, Georgia. Bottled: 05 05 08. Appearance: Pours an amber body with a smallish, white head. Smell: Malty nose laden with caramel tones and a note of grainy bread. Decent spicy hoppiness in the nose. Taste: Maltiness tasting of a blend of grains and caramel with the faintest, and I do mean faintest touch of roast. Sip of cool spring water. Lightly fruity. Spicy, lightly floral hops with a restrained bitterness. Bittersweet finish with a minor touch of lingering fruitiness and spice. Mouthfeel: Just barely medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: Paired with the film "Karate Kid", though I’ll refrain from singing the song that goes "you’re the BEST around" to this brew. Certainly not the be all and end all of ESB’s, but you can definitely do alot worse.

Pours golden amber with a smallish off white head. Aroma is malty, but the taste as a nice hop flavor and bitter aftertaste. Not bad.

Cask at GBBF08. Weak fruity aroma. Almost clear amber colour. Very small frothy white head. OK fruit flavour, some alcohol. Has a hint of plastic, but nothing to worry about.

Bottle. Pours light amber with frothy head that quickly vanishes. Light, clean, almost metallic aromas of some malt and hops. The palate was heavier than I expected with medium carbonation. Flavor is somewhat one-note flavor of a mixture of hops, caramel, and some malt that aren’t bold enough to either offend or impress. If this beer were a little lighter it would be more refreshing, but the heaviness of the palate and the light flavors seem somewhat incongruous. Finishes quickly with a little hops, caramel, and spice perhaps. Overall interesting but not enough there.

On Draft. Amber pour with a small dissipating head. Aromas are faint, a bit of malt a bit of a coppery aroma. Mouthfeel is not as bad as i thought, a bit watery but not too bad. Flavor is a bit muddled, caramel malt is present. A little under average and forgettable.

Draught. Small and quickly disappearing white fluffy head. Clear amber body. Mild caramel honey aroma. Honey caramel flavor mildly hopped, low carbonation, long sweet aftertaste.

Pours an amber color with minimal tan head. Flavors of caramel, lightly sweet but somewhat tangy. Decent beer.