Sweetwater ESB

Too bad they retired this one. This was one of the only micro’s we could get on draft in Birmingham in the early 2000’s and this beer was my intro to craft brew. I’m very grateful and have fond memories.

This was a tasty Malty ESB. Nothing lept out at you. Was a shame to see it go.

Date: 09/09/2000
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Cumming

Appearance: clear amber, frothy white head,
Aroma: sweet malt aroma with citrus hops,
Flavor: sweet carmel malt flavor with long lingering lip smacking hop bitterness,
Overall: a good move to rename it to an esb

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Score: **4
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The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

The CAT made me miss this beer. Brown and some red highlights. Was a great session beer. Sigh.....memories.

I hate to see that a local brewery discos a decient style of theirs. The first time I had this beer it was Sweetwater Ale. Then they changed it to ESB. IT was amber in color. very nice maltiness, good hop finish. Too bad.

Glad I got to have this before leaving the ATL. Thanks Kp! This drinks like an English style ESB. Nothing screamed out insanity about this beer, but it had some good solid hoppy, bitter flavors, along with some complimentary malts. There was a hint of citrus flavor, but nothing overpowering or crazy, just a hint so you know it’s there. SOme good biscuit-y malts too to top this one off. Nicely done.

much thanks to kp for breaking this old school brew out of his celler fridge. this was a very easy to drink moderately flavored brew. i got a decent amount of malts in the body witha citrus accent. decent brew, but damn glad i had it.

This beer is an Extra Special Bitter by style, and it is a very good example. ESB is a British beer style, that has a touch more malt and hop character than Bitter, which when bottled in Britain is called Pale Ale. This is a medium bodied beer, with some really nice balance of flowery hop character, paired with some good biscuity and slightly sweet malt character. ESB is an excellent session beer, a beer to drink if you feel like having more than one, and Sweetwater ESB is the type of beer you could drink a few of, enjoy the flavor, and not feel too full or bloated. Sweetwater ESB pours to a bright, deep amber color, with a tight white head that fades, and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose in this beer is inviting with flowery hop aromas, paired with subtle aromas of pale and stewed malts. The body is lean, with some nice pale and sweet malt flavors, paired with some estery fruit flavor. Sweetwater ESB finishes with more malty and estery fruit flavors up front, then ends with a slight, dry, hop bitterness that rounds this beer out. When fresh, this beer is a very drinkable, very quaffable ESB, that would make a great session beer. This is especially so, as Sweetwater ESB is a little thin in body for the style, but this is not a major flaw. It makes the beer all the more drinkable. It is also very food friendly, and would work with anything from barbecue, to deep fried fish and chips.