Extra Special Bitter - Saint Boniface Craft Brewing Company

SeamusDoyle

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear and golden orange with a small white head. Aroma is toasted caramelish. Bitter and roasted malty flavoured. Dry and malty. Slight spiced into the finish. Well worth the drive to Ephrata, but hopefully these guys get better distribution in the near future.

Serving type: growler

11-30-2012 03:23:12 | More by SeamusDoyle

ryser2k

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.6%

04-19-2013 14:28:48 | More by ryser2k

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

03-29-2013 19:30:36 | More by IPAchris

jbaker67

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

03-16-2013 18:00:40 | More by jbaker67

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

03-16-2013 12:51:21 | More by yourefragile

Sipchue

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -11%

12-31-2012 00:29:46 | More by Sipchue

bassbase

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

07-21-2012 22:37:47 | More by bassbase

pearljam118

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

05-15-2012 23:22:12 | More by pearljam118

abcramer

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.6%

02-24-2012 22:13:05 | More by abcramer

Idesofmarch89

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -45.2%

01-08-2012 15:41:34 | More by Idesofmarch89

Natural510

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into an imperial pint glass at Ron's in Exton, PA.

Deep, dark amber-brown color with white head which hangs around for the duration of the drink.

Scent is a roasted malt with hints of cocoa and peat smoke.

Flavor is deeply malty, roasted well minus the burnt flavor found in a porter or stout. Notes of raw cocoa, toffee and cinnamon; flavor is decidedly non-sweet, a skill which most microbreweries ignore.

Body is very full compared to most contemporary bitters; this would likely make an excellent cask offering.

I can't rave enough about this beer. I believe you'd have to tour the casks of England to find a better ESB; it really is that good. Hopefully they'll have enough left to sell me a growler before I leave town.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 13:55:15 | More by Natural510

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another growler from dashirey at Ffej of July

A - Poured a slightly darker golden yellow...boarder on being copper...the head was white in color and about one and a half fingers...although there was visible carbonation, the head fell to a thin ring...not much lacing

S - Pretty one dimensional with toasted caramel malt leading the way...it's a pretty sweet laden nose with minimal hops

T - The malt takes over on the palate...there is a toasted presence with a buttery bread flavor...the caramel adds sweetness throughout the entire beer...the middle has a touch of graininess and the finishes tries to show off some hops but again they are minimal

M - Light bodied...tingly carbonation, crisp, the hops try to show a little bitterness towards the end

O - The malts are the star of this one...there isn't much bitterness that I could find...it's there ever-so-slightly...maybe a little more hops would help out

Serving type: growler

07-18-2011 18:54:27 | More by thain709

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this ESB on tap served chilled and allowed to rise in temp slightly.

A deep copper almost bronze color with moderately chill hazed with thick cream cap and good retention, .lace sticks to the glass and bead is fine. The smell is nice with some toasted and caramel malt odors w/ a light bready note and slight fruit from the yeast. Mouthfeel is very good, nice medium body and mild toasted texture with mellow carbonation and sweetness with a gentle alcohol quality and semi-dry finish.

The flavor is pretty standard and yet fits the style well - a moderate amount of hop bitterness and gentle biscuit and caramel flavors from the malt with a mellow yeast accent which gives a light dried fruit note and also adds the bready quality of the malt and the beer finishes semi-dry with a nice balance achieved. Overall I was pretty happy to be drinking this as it stays true to the English tradition yet puts their own stamp on it. The flavors are complex enough to keep enjoying it, a very drinkable style and this beer lives up to the expectations I have for a good ESB

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2011 01:19:34 | More by Slatetank