Ale Street News Online

A fresh pint of copper colored ale with what I know now was a beautiful malt and hop balance was placed in front of me, although all I thought back then was that this beer was great, and I wanted more.

That beer was Fullers ESB, or Extra Special Bitter, and the bar I first had it in was the Waterfront Ale House. After that visit I became a regular, and met people who actually brewed their own beer, and encouraged me to try it also. Because of that chance meeting, I became a homebrewer, professional brewer, beer judge, and beer writer. It is all due to that wonderful pint of Fullers ESB that I am now writing this article for Ale Street News for you nice people to read. So how fitting is it then that the most recent Ale Street News beer tasting was held at the Waterfront Ale House, and the beer style that we tasted was Extra Special Bitter. Talk about coming full circle…As always, the entries were blind tasted, and panelists had no information about the beer until the tasting was concluded.

**** Fuller’s ESB, 5.9%, London: That the first place beer of the tasting was the original and still king, Fuller’s ESB, was no surprise to anyone. Even though some panelists commented that this bottle probably was a bit long in the tooth, it still epitomized the style and garnered top prize. The color was crystal clear light copper color with a small, tight head. A malty, toasty, toffee-ish aroma, with faint hops underneath. "Very malty flavor with some biscuit and caramel. Hops come in for the middle, and linger in the finish. Great balance." "Nice, great English malt flavor, very well balanced."

**** Big Sea ESB, Free State Brewing Co., Lawrence, KS: This beer was second place of the tasting, just one point away from the first place Fuller’s. Deep copper color with a slight off-white head. A tasty malt aroma with hints of caramel and biscuit. "Beautiful dry, fruity yeast start, good body, caramel and chocolate. Nice balanced bitterness. Classic English style." "Round, full bodied maltiness but quickly followed by bitterness. Touch of fruitness. Rich, butterscotch malt profile. Nice balance between hops and malt."

***1/2 The Wise ESB, 5.9%, Elysian Brewing Co., Seattle, WA: Awarded third place of the tasting. Bright copper color, very clear, with good head retention. Malt dominated aroma with some fruity esters. "Nice English malt character, hops noticeable but still within style. Hops linger a bit, along with roasty toasty flavor." "Honey, sweet grain bread, apricot/plums, hazelnut butter. Clean, floral hop finish."

***1/2Scarlet Lady Ale, 5%, Stoudts Brewing Co., Adamstown, PA. Clear bright copper with garnet highlights, nice head and head retention. Malty sweet, some roast grain, coffee, and butterscotch aromas. "Toasty, slightly roasty malt flavor, not too sweet — nice! Clean, really good balance. Dryish finish." "Biscuity toffee malt flavor with stone fruit notes, and then hop bitterness that lingers through the finish. Some roastiness. Very drinkable and true to style."

*** Well’s Bombardier, 5.2%, Charles Wells Brewery, UK: Copper reddish brown hue, long lasting fine beaded head. Aromas of toasted malt, light fruity esters, slight earthiness. "Clean, toasty malt flavor up front, eases into hop flavor. Dry finish and a bit astringent in finish. Nice, drinkable beer." "Nice complex malt and hops. Very rich toffee pulls you towards a balanced hoppy finish."

*** 14’er ESB, 5%, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO: Bright, and deep gold color with nice long lasting white head. Sweet malt aroma with honey and floral notes, and some hops. "Very drinkable, but light for an ESB." "Nice, drinkable beer, but more like an ordinary or special bitter."

**1/2 ESB Special Ale, Ska Brewing Co., Durango, CO: Deep golden color, tight small head. Malty, grainy aroma with spicy hop notes, and slight DMS. "Malt up front, clean and nice, bit of hop at end. Slight astringency." "Could use a bit more hops. Very clean and drinkable, but not quite ESB."

**1/2 Organic ESB, 5.4%, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI: Dark honey color, very clear with good head. Malty, caramel, bready aromas. "Nice, clean, but needs more hops. A bit too much roast malt." "Malt sweetness, but a bit cloying. Lacking in bitterness."

** Sawtooth Ale, 4.48%, from Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO: Golden copper color with bronze highlights. Grassy, clover, sage, sweet, earthy nose. "Drinkable, but not a lot of ESB attributes — toasty English malt, etc. Could use more hops." "Seemed a bit off — old bottle perhaps? A bit light for style."

Beers were ranked by stars: **** Top notch, example of style; *** good example of style; ** average example of style; * below average example of style.