Cool Grand ESB - Hopworks Urban Brewery

projhex

California

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Had this free pint at Hopworks on August 15, 2011 when they first opened the kegs on their 1000th batch (hence the name).

Appearance: Golden clear with thin very carbonated head.

Smell: Fresh malty smell with a hint of hops.

Taste: Very hop-forward with a bitter aftertaste. Clean taste that was a bit watery (something I noticed with many of Hopworks beers).

Mouthfeel: Thin and a bit watery. Very carbonated with a fine film. After smelling a malt smell I was surprised how thin and un-malty it felt.

Overall: Well, they gave everyone in the restaurant a free pint to celebrate the kegging of their 1000th batch. I can't complain about that at all. It was a decent beer. I don't have a ton of experience with ESBs, and some of their other beers were better. Probably would not order again if given other Hopworks options.

From my notes: 28 IBU | 3.9 ABV | 10.3 Plato OG

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 21:36:54 | More by projhex

nomomentwasted

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this last night while browsing at Belmont Station. $3 pints, gotta love that. Served from the tap into a pint glass.

Appearance: Golden pour with lots of carbonation, forming quite the white crown to top the pint. Lacing was decent for a beer of this low alcohol, but nothing remarkable.

Smell: Fresh hoppy initial nose, but a very biscuity, sweet, cookie-like malt backbone of Crystal malts thrown in as well. Very inviting, and for this low alcohol, quite the nose.

Taste: Very pleasant hoppy kick right up front, lending way to the very light bready sweetness, which quickly gives way back to the bitter finish. I'd estimate around 45-50 IBU, or at least in comparison to the body, it felt pretty bitter. Very light, but almost too carbonated, which made the beer feel more effervescent that it really could have been. If it were an IPA, I'd say it's pretty thin, but for a lower-ABV ESB, not too bad. I don't have a ton of experience with traditional British-style ESBs, but if they all were this tasty, I can see why they're popular when paired with the ABV.

Mouthfeel: A little too carbonated and thin for my taste, which made the beer feel almost soda-like, but the bitterness was excellent, and the hint of sweetness keeps it very much in line.

Overall: I'd definitely drink it again, especially at the price. Would make for great match-day drinking, as you can have 6 of these for the save ABV punch as many IPAs. Worth a shot; pretty tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 21:06:55 | More by nomomentwasted