Our ESB (Extra Special Bitter) may have the word “bitter” in its name, but the key to this style is balance. The combination of malts and hops creates a toasty, fruity flavor. Our ESB is dry hopped with a US grown hop varietal called Williamette, which has a pronounced spicy, lemon flavor.
In the early 1970’s, brewers in London and the south of England expanded the range of beers available in pubs, reacting to the wave of European lagers moving into the British pub scene. In addition to the ordinary bitters and pale ales, brewers developed recipes for stronger premium ales like ESB, special bitter and special pale ale. These beers contributed to the English traditional ale revival of the 1980’s, making their way into the beer portfolios of many American craft breweries. (Description provided by company)
Comments
English Ale from Saint Louis
Pours a cloudy copper, with a half finger of a bubbly head. The head dissipates within about 45 seconds.
Aroma is spicy and floral with the typical English hop aromas - although generally less bright than American varieties, they have a very nice slightly spicy aroma here. A crisp malt helps keep the aroma balanced.
Although the aromas are nicely assertive, the taste is quite a bit more subtle and nuanced. The malt is bready with light caramel sweetness, and the earthy and floral hops are balancing with fairly low overall bitterness. A quick and dry aftertaste.
A medium body and carbonation.
Schlafly's ESB is a nice example of some of the nuance and balance that you can find in good English ales.