Redhook ESB - Redhook Ale Brewery

Redhook ESBRedhook ESB

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BA SCORE
78
average
-
1,279 Ratings
THE BROS
73
average
-
read more »
rAvg: 3.41
pDev: 14.66%
Reviews: 795
Hads: 484

Ratings Help


Brewed by:
Redhook Ale Brewery visit their website
United States

Style | ABV
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB) |  5.80% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (678), on-tap (114), cask (2), nitro-tap (1)

Notes:
Brewed in the style of a traditional British ESB (Extra Special Bitter), we’ve been making ESB continuously since 1987, and it’s now the benchmark for the Amber beer category. Despite having “bitter” in its name, Redhook ESB is really not that bitter at all. This brew is all about the balance of caramel malt sweetness completed by spicy, citrusy hops.

28 IBU

Reviews

Sort by:  Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers | Read the Alström Bros Beer Reviews and Beer Ratings of Redhook ESB Alström Bros  | Show Hads:
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Reviews by AlCaponeJunior:
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AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.73/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A medium reddish tan color with a two finger head from a rough pour, but the head dissipated quickly. Some lacing on glass. Not bad looking.

Smells distinctly hoppy, a little sweet, with some malts. Smells nice but not a very strong smell.

For a non-"trend towards hoppy-ness" type of guy, this hoppy beer is pretty good. I like the hops profile, which is a good part of the flavor. There's also some malt, peach or perhaps apricot fruitiness, and a touch of spice.

The mouthfeel is pretty decent, with ample carbonation, although it could be just a little thicker.

Drinkability is high, I'll buy again. Easy to down and on par with other beers of the same price range.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2010 01:44:54 | More by AlCaponeJunior
More User Reviews:
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Buster

Oklahoma

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

05-19-2013 02:20:37 | More by Buster
Photo of ChefBenhase
ChefBenhase

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +10%

05-18-2013 18:14:01 | More by ChefBenhase
Photo of artoolemomo
artoolemomo

Oregon

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

05-18-2013 01:26:35 | More by artoolemomo
Photo of pcsnyder
pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

05-15-2013 13:15:20 | More by pcsnyder
Photo of AmandaSchaefer
AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +17.3%

05-13-2013 23:06:01 | More by AmandaSchaefer
Photo of Jacurdy60
Jacurdy60

Alabama

3/5  rDev -12%

05-11-2013 23:42:07 | More by Jacurdy60
Photo of tommyguz
tommyguz

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -19.4%

05-09-2013 02:01:36 | More by tommyguz
Photo of JuicesFlowing
JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.69/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a shaker pint glass.

The beer is a light amber color. A foamy white head recedes to a wisp with light white rings of lacing on the glass. The aroma is subdued, but toasty grains and a faint tea-like hop presence emerge. The beer tastes of toasted grains, biscuits, and caramel malt sweetness up front. Some floral and citrusy hops bring in balance on the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to light. Overall, this isn't world class, but it's balanced and complex enough to not regret a 6 pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 16:23:44 | More by JuicesFlowing
Photo of Jason1337
Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -12%

05-07-2013 02:47:04 | More by Jason1337
Photo of hockeyfighter19
hockeyfighter19

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

05-07-2013 02:12:33 | More by hockeyfighter19
Photo of Hoppy_McMalt
Hoppy_McMalt

Washington

3/5  rDev -12%

05-06-2013 00:55:19 | More by Hoppy_McMalt
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IdrinkBeerinCollege

Oregon

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

05-05-2013 09:12:16 | More by IdrinkBeerinCollege
Photo of ZEB89
ZEB89

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

05-04-2013 20:15:09 | More by ZEB89
Photo of vdub191
vdub191

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev +10%

05-03-2013 03:32:55 | More by vdub191
Photo of smooth_aleing
smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

05-03-2013 03:11:28 | More by smooth_aleing
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drinkAK

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

05-01-2013 05:01:16 | More by drinkAK
Photo of Ryan_Shannon388
Ryan_Shannon388

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

04-28-2013 21:54:40 | More by Ryan_Shannon388
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LSx

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

04-27-2013 16:22:15 | More by LSx
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meehandennis

Maine

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

04-26-2013 23:16:30 | More by meehandennis
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Arsenal0328

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +10%

04-24-2013 21:32:48 | More by Arsenal0328
Photo of StJamesGate
StJamesGate

New York

3.56/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tawny pale body with creamy white foam that settles to film that laces.
Buttery toffee with tea leaf and some orange rind on the nose.
White fruit scone, a big apricot jam hit and orange and cedar hops.
Spicy finish and drying linger.
Light to medium, slight chew, round.

Biggest surprise about this is it does a fair job of reproducing the taste of Maris Otter. The hops hit is very EKG, too. But in the end it's too thin, veers form too sweet to too spicy as it goes cold to warm (extremes, rather than balance) and just doesn't hit the nuance of an English ale.

I could see where it hung around since the 80s, when there was nothing else like it (fresh, anyway) but this isn't anything more than average - as an amber or a special bitter.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 21:06:33 | More by StJamesGate
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jaycle

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Honey colored with a slight haze. A weak head with little retention and large bubbles.

S:oranges

T: fruit and floral, wheat finish. Very mellow. and Balanced

M: medium carbonation, thin feeling, dry finish

O: Good, but average. This was my first ESB, and from what I read, it is to be expected from this style. I enjoyed it, but there are just so many other good beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 02:12:59 | More by jaycle
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sachie23

New York

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

04-22-2013 20:29:10 | More by sachie23
Photo of GratefulEdd
GratefulEdd

Alabama

3.16/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance is a bright amber color light enough to see all the carbonation to come flowing up. One finger of wheat-colored head shows up and sticks around for the party.

Smell is very middle-of-the-road, walking the line between a piney hop and light malt roast. Nothing too over-powering but where it needs to be for this style.

Taste goes down as smooth as you would wish for a session-able ESB. A little biscuit-y on the tongue to start with, but a mellow finish that begs for another sip.

Mouthfeel goes along with the taste and smell. Very balanced, easy to drink down. I thought the carbonation would be a little too much for an ESB on the pour, but it mellowed out in the glass.

Overall this beer provides a good session beer. It doesn't overwhelm any of the senses but gives you enough to think over while the glasses are going down.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 20:40:19 | More by GratefulEdd
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Redhook ESB from Redhook Ale Brewery
78 out of 100 based on 1,279 user ratings.