ESB Amber Ale - Flying Fish Brewing Company

mdfb79

New York

3.33/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From 5/15/10 notes. Had on tap at Danny's in Red Bank, NJ.

a - Pours a copper-amber color with an inch of white head and light carbonation.

s - Smells of bready malts and wheat. Also has some sourness to it.

t - Taste of bready malts, wheat, yeast, and maybe caramel malts. Little bit of bitterness to it as well.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - An ok beer but nothing great. Not a lot of bitterness and the sourness in the smell wasn't great. Wouldn't look to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2010 13:09:20 | More by mdfb79

IgnatiusReilly

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap to pint glass at PJW’s.

Clear, amber/slight ruby, good head retention, with a little lace on the sides of the glass. Aroma is deep and earthy, grain, hint of malt sweetness. Taste mimics nose, a little sweet and grainy in the front, dry and slightly hoppy in the back. Honestly a little confusing as the hops and malt seem to be competing rather than complementing. It tastes a little like a red ale with its sweetness, but it comes up dry, hoppy, with a tea-like undertone at the end. Fairly enjoyable and the taste are subtle enough to be able to enjoy a few during an afternoon. Pretty good ESB.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2008 22:37:31 | More by IgnatiusReilly

marcpal

New Jersey

2.55/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On tap poured into American pint glass.

A: Amber tings with a very thin head and little lacing through the beer. Amber-copper color, half-finger head

S: ESB? Malts and sugar but dont really catch anything ESB like.

T: Dont catch the bitterness here, far too mild. Seems like all malts and fruit, no substantial hop bitterness. However, not bad tasting- just a bit bland and lifeless.

M: Thin with a crisp quick finish that leaves a bit dry.

D: Never been a fan of this one but willing to give many tries. The blandness really makes this one drinkable in a sense but just gets to taste waterlike over time though. FF other offerings better.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2008 20:15:53 | More by marcpal

RBorsato

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Tasted on-tap at the Dead River Pub in The Inn at Somerset Hills in Basking Ridge, NJ on 06/13/06.

Amber in color with a low but decent off-white head. Unremarkable caramel malt aroma and flavor dominates. Almost an all malt balanced beer here with hops being barely noticeable. Something didn't quite do it for me here ... Medium-light bodied.

More of an American Amber Ale than an ESB. I was surprised that the Redhook ESB I had afterwards was better ... total shock to my system.

Per FF website:
Malts: Two-row pale, Munich, Aromatic, and English Medium Crystal.
Hops: Magnum, Fuggles, Yakima Golding
OG: 14.3 P
ABV: 5.5%

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2006 14:48:31 | More by RBorsato

GeoffFromSJ

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +26.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had an exceptionally good one of this at the Mexican Food Factory at Cherry Hill, NJ. It seemed exceptionally fresh and was a great experience. It had a beautifully deep amber color with a very good head which lasted for a little bit and with a lace throughout. It had a really good, malty smell. The taste hits you up front with hops, which I knew beforehand was a combination of Yakima Golding, Fuggles, and Magnum. Then, after the hops taste, you get a really good malt flavor, which is also a combination of a lot of different styles of malts. This was a lot better on-tap than my experience from the bottle, but I love it from the bottle as well!

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2004 00:58:42 | More by GeoffFromSJ

nomad

Kansas

3.6/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a good roasty caramel color, clear with nice carbonation, a thin soupy head, and solid thin lace. Smell was bready, and both hard-wood cask smelling and slightly of nice caramel malt. Hada floral and bitter green Kent-ish hops scent that turned grapefruity with time.

Taste was malty with an oat smoothness and a nice grain to it. Hops began quaint and built on my palette to slight snips of grapefruit and Kent-ish fruity-tart bitters. Even more, its soft twang became endive-like in sharp, talc bitterness, taking away some of the great flavors displayed earlier. Needed better malt though it was good. A bit watery on the mouthfeel, but it helped the drinkability.

A nice ESB, and a good choice in the region.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2003 03:40:43 | More by nomad

guinness33

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

flying fish used to be my favourite NJ brewery, until heavyweight came along. while their brews may not be as fierce as heavyweight's overall, they still produce some pretty solid brews. the esb, while not amongst their best, is certainly a solid, if only average, brew. it pours a light amber/orange colour with a moderate to minimal head that leaves a nice lacing but dissolves rather quickly. smells of caramel and a bit fruity, and the taste is immediately creamy and somewhat citrusy, i would say. again, as this was a fairly creamy brew, it was quite smooth and easy to drink and could potentially be a good session beer. i would have liked to have seen something a little bolder from flying fish, but this will do.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2003 19:40:46 | More by guinness33

porter17

New Jersey

2.73/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Sat down at Andy's Corner to have a couple of pints after work and decided to have a Climax ESB and Flying Fish ESB. Started with the Climax and thoroughly enjoyed it. Then hit the beach for some Fish. The beer didn't captivate me with either it's appearance or aroma. The mouthfeel was mothing special either. At first, I was very disappointed with the taste, it lacked the fundamentals that make an ESB and ESB and that make a good ESB into a great one. After a bit, the taste did seem to grow on me but it still didn't come close to the Climax. .
The Fish was an average beer that I could certainly drink a few of with no problem. Problem is, I can think of other ESB's that I would drink before the fish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2003 17:42:54 | More by porter17

gr0g

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed from (brief) notes taken on 9/20/2011.

Poured a one-finger head, quickly disappearing. Pretty solid malt profile, some fruit-like undertones. Finishing bitterness is pretty understated. Good, not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 00:51:33 | More by gr0g

KajII

North Carolina

2.9/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

[Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]

The pour was a clear copper color with an average (1-2 finger) off white creamy head that was mostly diminishing down to a thin film with a small collar, thus producing poor spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a sweet bread malt and an earthy yeast with a note of caramel and a touch of dark fruit (cherries and plums).

The taste was lightly sweet and malty with a good dose of caramel throughout, with the finish being slightly fruity and lightly bitter yet still possessed a rather nice sweetness. The flavor only lasted a short while following the swallow, with a nice fruity malty taste left behind.

Mouthfeel was a step or two above light in body with a slightly watery texture and a somewhat mild carbonation.

Overall this was a pretty decent ESB that had a slight bitter ending, a sweet caramel middle and a very good drinkability...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 16:21:49 | More by KajII

Offa

California

4.43/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is an excellent ESB-type.

Pale amber, it has a medium-small off-white head slowly shrinking.

Aroma is dry bread crust, caramelised, with hint of earth; yeastiness, hint of jam and faint chocolate milk.

Taste is nice jammy-juicy-woody-piny-bready-minerally character, balanced firm bitterness and sweetness, fruitiness with strong toasted bread aftertaste. It has a dryish finish. It's lively, engaging, zesty, very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 23:49:04 | More by Offa

claspada

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear copper-amber color with only a thin, white head which leaves minimal lacing.

Aromas begin with lightly sweet pale maltiness and delicately toasted white bready maltiness. As it warms you get some underlying fruit esters of dried apricots, a pinch of lemon peel and some light earthiness (hops?).

The tastes begin with pale, toasted, bready maltiness and some increasing toffee and honey candy sweetness. As it warms you once again get the fruity accents of ripe apricot but also some lemony citrus. Earthy hoppiness adds a soft, balancing bitterness.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium-plus carbonation. Finish si slighly sweet but ultimately dry.

Overall while this is not the most true to style ESB you will find, it's tasty, easy-drinking, and decent enough to warrent a sample. Can't hold a candle to British examples and probably a bit too malty even for Americanized examples.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 19:05:45 | More by claspada

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a clear copper color with no head or lace. The aroma is of caramel and mild grapefruit and bread crust. The flavor has grapefruit and caramel notes with a good balance of malt sweetness and hoppiness. It's mouthfeel is medium. Flying Fish ESB Amber Ale is a good beer, balanced and refreshing. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 01:38:00 | More by B967ierhunter177

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a nice amber pour (clean) with 2 fingers of off-white head (dissipated). smells fruity (raspberry), malty sweet, bready.
taste is slightly bitter up front then very sweet, bready, fruity. a very nice session ale. light to medium body, slightly creamy.. this and climax's esb are probably my 2 go-to's of local stuff. wish it were a bit hoppier/slightly less fruity, but it seriously goes down so easy that it's hard to complain.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 20:28:57 | More by facundoCNB

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden brown and slightly cloudy. Minimal head that disappates quickly. Smell on this one is almost stale - kind of reminiscent of a wet cardboard box. Thankfully the taste is good for this style of beer. It is bitter with a hint of some malt for a tad deeper flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 21:58:11 | More by Oakenator

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a light brown color with a 1 inch head. Smell is malty, some caramel. Taste is malts, up front, a touch of caramel, hops are present at the finish, well balanced. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 21:54:38 | More by tone77

JimKal

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a bottle into a pint glass

Pours a hazy amber with a one finger head. A nice looking ESB.

Aroma is not pronounced.

Taste is quite smooth. Works very well with food as it won't overpower your meal but complement it. It ends on a slight bitter note but not over pronounced.

Mouthfeel is OK.

If you like ESBs, and I do, this is not a bad one to pick up.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 23:59:46 | More by JimKal

57md

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange-copper with little head and no retention. There is a subtle malty nose with a touch of sour to it. The taste is somewhat bready and malty upfront with a subtle dry finish. This offering is solid, but there is certainly nothing extraordinary here.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 04:51:39 | More by 57md

jman42

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Seemed almost more orange than amber. A bit cloudy too. Head retention was minimal even with an aggressive pour. Decent lacing.

S - Predominant smell was malts more than anything.

T - Slightly bitter, with the malt taste prevailing.

M - Decent semi-creamy mouthfeel. Nothing outrageous, but not bad.

O - Decent, but not fantastic amber. Would buy again occasionally.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 17:53:04 | More by jman42

jtierney89

New Jersey

2.3/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a straw like color. Nowhere near amber. Thin white head that resides quickly. A bit earthy and biscuits on the nose but the smell is extremely subdued.

An oddly corny aftertaste. Dry finish. Extremely clean drinking. Some detectable sweetness upfront semi-bitter finish. Subdued and bland flavors. Drinkable but that's about it.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 02:46:27 | More by jtierney89

Crass3000

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a nice dark orange in color with a tiny head with little retention. The head dies really quick.

Smell is sweet with some decent malts in the background. Taste is ver similar. OK beer. Not very good really. Mouthfeel is OK - not real great but not bad. Just an OK beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 18:22:20 | More by Crass3000

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lighter amber color with minimal head formation and light carbonation. Head is light with very little lacing and fast fading.
Lightly malty in the nose with very little hop presence.
Taste is quite malty with maybe Vienna or Munich malts. hops are quite low and settle into the background.
Medium feel smooth.
Drinks like your basic Octoberfest, ordinary and weak in flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 12:52:38 | More by micromaniac129

jhartley

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle to a pint tumbler.

A-Light copper color of course it's amber! Lt. tan head than quickly dissipates even after an aggressive pour. Very nice bead.

S-Not picking up on a lot here...? Light fruit smell.

T-Bitter start on the tongue than leads directly into some sweet malts finishing again with some nuttiness.

M-Nice carbonation. Dry finish, but yet mouth is watering for more.

O-Very decent drinking beer, nothing too flashy. This is one I would definitely need again when I was eating some pizza and watching a baseball game. Wouldn't mind drinking this one over and over.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 22:53:00 | More by jhartley

keanex

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle with no freshness date poured into a Samuel Smith pint glass.

A: Clear amber with a thin white head that quickly disappears. Slight carbonation activity.

S: Slight sweetness from the malt with some light fruit notes.

T: Very slight bitterness throughout with some light fruit and toasted malt notes. Very clean, but a bit bland at the same time.

M: Very clean throughout, medium bodied with sharp carbonation, very fresh tasting.

O: Despite the bland smell and lacking taste, I still really enjoy this. It's a very drinkable beer with subtle flavors that leave me sipping for more.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 06:25:36 | More by keanex

metter98

New York

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear yellowish orange in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high off white head that died down and left some bubbles on the surface and around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of fruity yeast and sweet caramel malts in the nose.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and has flavors of caramel with some sweetness and hints of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and somewhat smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is easy to drink and somewhat sessionable. I could definitely have a few of these in one evening.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 18:08:22 | More by metter98