Thames Welsh ESB

Brewed by Felinfoel
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Llanelli, Dyfed, Wales

Earthy dusty hop aroma. Moderately bitter with solid caramelly malt. Much better as it warms, as the malt and hops come together as a less disjointed flavor.

Pours mahogany/ruby with a quickly fading head. Bizarre aromas of plums and raisins, bubble gum, figs, bananas. Tastes just like it smells, with hints of chocolate and root beer. Sweet syrupy malt. Any bitterness seems to come from dark malts- I can't find hops anywhere. What the hell?!? This would make a fair belgian-style dubbel, but putting "ESB" on the label doesn't make it one. Imaginative interpretation of the style, yet ultimately disappointing.

beautiful bottle and label. and from this august packaging comes it's visual equivalency in a gorgeous radiant brew: terra cotta and saddle-bag leather, with edges in knotty pine yellow, heartwood of chestnut brown and deep plum reds mingling throughout, all flashing in competitions of fiery exuberance as i rotate the glass in the flattering embrace of a setting sun. ax handle tan head was plump and stoic. aroma won my heart like meg ryan in the last scene in 'sleepless in seattle'; yep, all things sweet and gentle and lovely and auspicious: black cherry, waffles and wheat berries, a touch of anise, vanilla extract. good body and soft carbonation coaxes all the rich aromas into becoming vivid living incarnations of flavor. i'm with aurelious on this one: i don't give a livid fuck what it's called, esb or scotch ale, call it ranch dressing for all i care, it's fabulous.

Tasted more like an amber ale than ESB, but nice. Malty with strong alcohol finish.

Under bright sunshine, this is one red bitter. Small head and clear body with low carbonation. Aroma of caramel, dates, and delicate hops. Light sweetness, fruity, and moderate bitterness. Alcohol is apparent in the finish.

I was a little hesitatn at first and put this one off for awhile. In the pour, dark amber-brown, with a nice thick head which impressed me. The aroma reminded me of Fuller's and slightly in the taste but the first aftertaste told me otherwise. A nice amount of hops with a nicely balanced malt not really complex but slightly buttery in the the aftertaste. Very dry and bittersweet, through and through , with a slightly subtle malty finish.

It's a Sunday afternoon, what to drink? While looking through my 2nd beer cellar, known as my frig, I again had to move this bottle of ESB out of the way to see behind it, then an idea, I'll have this one. A surprising brown hue with a large off-white head and good lacing. An ESB right? Anyway the aroma was pretty malty and had a undertone of fruit (blackcurrent?) A sweet and toasty taste with an slighty hoppy presence on the finish. Dry and soft, chalky feel. Unique whatever it is, just don't expect a ESB style beer.

Not an ESB; or an ESB married to a Scotch? Dark for a bitter, and deeply malted with hi alch in the nose too. Hmmm. Zero head retention. But, not at all spoiled, as it smells and tastes quite fresh and crisp. Far too much alcohol for the style; in itself that wouldn't be a problem but it masks the hops. I like my bitters more subtle. The malt is high quality here. Perplexing.