Extra Special Ale (ESA) - Yards Brewing Co.

FlakyBiscuit

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%

11-02-2012 21:44:38 | More by FlakyBiscuit

rwshelton2

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7%

05-17-2013 23:25:08 | More by rwshelton2

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7%

05-15-2013 18:00:14 | More by ColdWaffles

bconsidine

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

05-14-2013 17:36:46 | More by bconsidine

philaduffia

New York

4/5  rDev +7%

05-11-2013 04:18:48 | More by philaduffia

kbuzz

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -19.8%

05-05-2013 00:00:48 | More by kbuzz

anvilx

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

05-04-2013 23:25:08 | More by anvilx

lauries444

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

04-28-2013 23:35:51 | More by lauries444

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -19.8%

04-22-2013 15:12:13 | More by Jason1337

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this beer at about 55 degrees F from a bottle into a standard pint and it has a very deep amber to mahogany colour that is crystal clear with a one finger tan head of super fine bubbles that stay as a nice thin cap on the beer and leave and excellent dragon tooth pattern on the glass.

The aroma is of toasted malts, bread, and raisins with a faint whiff of corn in the background. I could be confusing that with something else, but it resembles corn. It's really pleasant considering.

The taste starts off sweet on the tongue and as it travels back it releases dark fruits with bread and as the beer comes to a close hop bitters that seem earthy to me coat the tongue and the back of the tongue where some spicy black pepper comes through leaving a mild but dry end to the beer that seems slightly more bitter than some ESAs. And if you wait long enough, you will taste a medicinal taste like Band-Aid's smell or like pine sol. It's very faint, but I see what people are talking about. That may be the hops. Interesting. It's like a band-aid on my tongue. I'm not sure that I like that.

The mouthfeel is a bit silky and sweet with a medium body, but it leaves a coat on my tongue that is a product of the dry hops I am assuming. The carbonation is around moderate.

Overall, I am not too happy with this beer. It's good, don't get me wrong, but don't think I will seek this out in bottle again. I have had this on tap and it was a different experience. A much better one. The corn aroma and the Band_Aid flavours really put me off as well as it was a bit too bitter for my taste and, I feel, the style if indeed it is an Extra Special/Strong Ale. I will still give it a mid to high 3's out of five. It's not crap, but it's just not for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 01:23:39 | More by WissBrauSean

bef126

Texas

2.75/5  rDev -26.5%

04-14-2013 21:03:11 | More by bef126

WeissBoy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

04-14-2013 03:56:41 | More by WeissBoy

beans923

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

04-05-2013 16:51:07 | More by beans923

campfirebrew

New York

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

04-04-2013 14:22:47 | More by campfirebrew

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.36/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, a bit of malts. Taste is well balanced malts an hops, a bit light, easy drinking but just seems to be lacking any punch. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer, but nothing great.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 11:22:06 | More by tone77

dbfp210

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%

03-31-2013 05:23:29 | More by dbfp210

JMS1512

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -33.2%

03-29-2013 01:56:32 | More by JMS1512

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle into tulip.

A - Dark brown-mahogany with a small off-white head.

S - Sweet toasted malt, light dark fruit, nuts, and herbal spice.

T - Bready and nutty malts, earthy hops, and subtle dark fruit. Caramel, yeast, and slight spice. A tad bitter on the finish, with more toasted grain and nuttiness coming through.

M - Exceptionally smooth and silky. Medium body, average carbonation, somewhat dry finish.

O - This is a nice beer full of malty goodness. A slight bitter hop character tames the sweetness. Very soft mouthfeel. A good beer to sit back and relax with. It would be easy to drink a few of these in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 20:54:49 | More by mooseo

brheuer

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

03-17-2013 23:52:46 | More by brheuer

MikeMcCl

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

03-16-2013 21:00:50 | More by MikeMcCl

Steve_Oldrati

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -19.8%

03-12-2013 02:56:18 | More by Steve_Oldrati

mactrail

California

3.03/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Large and malty. Great big flavors of juniper, resins, dank malt. Tastes like it's been sweetened and spiced, like some kind of holiday grog. Tastes good at first sip, but gets weirder as you drink.

Served in a big English imperial pint nonic. Pulled from the fake hand pump. Plenty of carbonation and a nice sudsy foam, with lots of lacing in the glass. No aroma to speak of. Winey and tastes like some new kind of Long Island Iced Tea. On the cask at Local 44 in Philadelphia. Interesting but I don't get it. [Transcribed from notes written on 05/30/2012 visit.]

Serving type: cask

03-10-2013 06:21:03 | More by mactrail

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Deep copper, hazed, white cap has good retention with some lace.

S/T - Sweet bready caramel, toasted malt base balanced out with some bittering pine hops in the finish. Touch of spice.

M - Medium body, lower carb level, stays smooth, finishes clean.

O - Nicely brewed to style, easily drinkable, pleasant flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2013 18:00:15 | More by garuda

GratefulJack

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%

03-06-2013 21:04:22 | More by GratefulJack

khargro2

Georgia

3/5  rDev -19.8%

03-04-2013 03:36:59 | More by khargro2