Velvet ESB - Hopworks Urban Brewery

KDawg

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured from tap into a pint glass. Pours a nice amber color with a small head.

Very good good aromas of toffee, caramel and some malts. Nice depth and has all the classic esb aromas that I want.

Very good balance with a nice and smooth medium feel. Lacking some depth but with good flavors of malts, toffee and some bitter notes.

An enjoyable ESB. Has the right amount of bitterness and malt flavors that I want. Very drinkable and good ESB.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2012 04:59:33 | More by KDawg

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at St. Augustines.

A: 1/4" tan head over deep amber liquid.

S: Floral , citrus hops and clean yeast.

T: lemon, floral hops, caramel malt and a clean yeasty finish

M: Medium mouthful and carbonation

O: a good and drinkable esb, but not a great esb.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2012 01:28:03 | More by DaftCaskBC

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at HUB, Portland, OR

One of the more standout beers I sampled at HUB. Poured a mahogany color, clear, with a white ringlet on top. Mild aroma of toasted grains, sweet malts, caramel. Taste was bready, sweet caramel, mild floral hoppage, and a touch of earthiness; lightly bitter in the finish. Smooth, mild, and easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2012 16:22:13 | More by Rifugium

MsRif

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on-tap at HUB in Portland, OR. Poured an amber color with a ring of bubbles for a "head" that left VERY fine lacing...almost no lacing at all. Had an aroma of sweet malts, toffee, floral hops and caramel. Tasted of sweet malts, toffee, floral hops, caramel and light grains. Very smooth.

Medium bodied with light carbonation. Overall a good beer and a good representation of the style...another one I enjoyed from HUB.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2011 23:34:44 | More by MsRif

dgilks

Australia

3.43/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear copper colour with a long-lasted creamy white head. Great head retention.

Dull aroma with very little going on here. There's a touch of slightly nutty malt but it lacks the depth of hop and malt of the best ESBs.

Smooth, malt combines with some toffee notes and is balanced by a great earthy hop character. Where was this in the aroma? Good flavours but a little bit dulled.

Medium body with moderately-high carbonation. A bit over carbonated.

A smooth, ESB which could do with a bit more intensity of flavour. Close but no cigar.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2011 11:30:25 | More by dgilks

ccrida

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On cask at HUB, Velvet ESB is mahogany with a small off-white head leaving scattered, foamy lace.

Smell is a sweet cereals, but there's also a somewhat soapy citrus quality to the hops.

Taste is pretty complex, there's a strong hop presence, sour citrus, firm bitterness, a little herbal. The malt has a touch of coca and light caramel, but mainly a really nice bready taste which is well showcased.

Mouthfeel is soft but there's a dry snap from the hops.

Drinkability is pretty good, a tasty NW version of the style, with the hops cranked up, but still showcasing a high quality base malt so critical to the style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2011 00:30:07 | More by ccrida

Docer

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had lunch today at Hopworks... had a glass of the imperial ipa.. sampled the cask ipa.. and filled a growler of Velvet ESB...

- Nice clear and dark.. butterscotch, dark bourbon colored... red.. fluffy white head down to some nice sticky lacing...

- Wonderful roasted malt character in the scent along side a great bitter hop flare... can clear your nose! Slight pepperishness... complex grain.. slight sweet notes..

- Sugary sweet grain, oats.. honey, and bitterness from a pine-like hop with some killer dryness.. a very flavorful session brew.

- Bitter dry.. leaves the mouth feeling the same as after chugging that diet mtn. dew you bought by mistake. Grainy aftertaste..

- Great robust flavor, with just the right balance of bitterness.. recommended if you like the style.

Serving type: growler

08-26-2009 23:51:35 | More by Docer