Weyerbacher ESB

Formerly brewed at Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Easton, Pennsylvania USA

Date: 04/06/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Trade

clear dark copper, dense beige head, drippy lace, sweet caramel malt aroma with light earthy hops, lots of rich caramel flavor, nice sweetness that eventually dries out and leads to a light bitter finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

12oz bottle. Poured a medium and slightly hazy amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, flowers and a little nutty. Tastes of flowers, caramel (lighter than the aroma), nuts and light toffee. The light bitter finish balances out the sweet start.

Pours a clear bright copper with a thin-lacing, puffy off-white head. Grainy, sweet crystal malty aroma has a touch of English hoppiness and some mustiness. Body starts with a semi-sweet, dry, grainy maltiness, a thick palate and a bittersweet hoppy finish. A decent, fairly authentic ESB. Thanks to IMtheOptimator for the bottle!

Copper pour with an off white head. Grassy and earthy with some tea and spicy elements on the finish.

Clear bright copper color with a modest head of beige bubbles. Caramel aromas, similar to the start of making caramel with the butter and brown sugar. A light floral nose as well. Floor malt flavors dominate with some earthiness, dry toffee, and a touch of peat. Alcohol seems to be quite noticeable. Quite a lively palate. Long malt and mild licorice linger. I like the maltiness, seems a bit closer to an Irish ale.

Very light haze tag along to the auburn color. Decent retentive head and lots of lacing. Nose of metallic musky hops and a bit of acidulated malt and some various stale melanoidins. The flavor is tart with some spoiled hop and very unbalanced malt body. This just really doesn’t do it for me. Harsh insect taste on the finish. Maybe this is one of those cases where the brewer excels at only a certain range of styles.

I like this ESB, but I don't seek it out. It seems to lack balance, and tastes a little sour to me. It has a nice aroma, and is definitely bitter, but is not near the top of my ESB list.

Bottle: Pours hazy deep amber with some floaties, large initial off-white head and good lace. The aroma has notes of caramalized malts, bread, lemon-lime, orange zest, aromatic hops, and dusty yeast esters. The taste starts surprisingly mellow and sweet, lots of fruity character and bready background. More bitters and a zesty undertone are dominate on the finish. The feel is crisp, very lively (burp!), and dry. Slightly metallic as well. A good ESB with some character, worthy of a try. Thanks DocLock.