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Winter ESB
The Schlafly Tap Room
- From:
- The Schlafly Tap Room
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.78 | pDev: 12.96%
- Reviews:
- 157
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 09, 2016
- Added:
- Jan 09, 2002
- Wants:
- 9
- Gots:
- 32
Our Winter ESB (Extra Special Bitter) may have the word “bitter” in its name, but the key to this style is balance. The combination of malts and hops creates a toasty, fruity flavor. Our ESB is dry hopped with a US grown hop varietal called Williamette, which has a pronounced spicy, lemon flavor.
In the early 1970’s, brewers in London and the south of England expanded the range of beers available in pubs, reacting to the wave of European lagers moving into the British pub scene. In addition to the ordinary bitters and pale ales, brewers developed recipes for stronger premium ales like ESB, special bitter and special pale ale. These beers contributed to the English traditional ale revival of the 1980’s, making their way into the beer portfolios of many American craft breweries.
30 IBU
In the early 1970’s, brewers in London and the south of England expanded the range of beers available in pubs, reacting to the wave of European lagers moving into the British pub scene. In addition to the ordinary bitters and pale ales, brewers developed recipes for stronger premium ales like ESB, special bitter and special pale ale. These beers contributed to the English traditional ale revival of the 1980’s, making their way into the beer portfolios of many American craft breweries.
30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SMark:
Reviewed by SMark from Illinois
3.8/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This beer was poured into an Imperial pint glass at 55° from a 12 ounce bottle. A 'Bottled With Love on' date was on the bottom of the label. Three fingers plus of an off white head were produced from the pour. A lingering lacing effect was left on the glass as the head dissipated into the clear, amber colored beer.
I sensed more malt aroma than hops. There were no off odors and the combination of the malt and hops kept me sniffing away more than once.
This was smooth and not as bitter as I would expect an ESB. There was a little bit of bitterness on the tongue with a good grainy sweet taste developing.
The hops were more evident in the aftertaste once the beer had been swallowed. They found their way into the back of the throat and then exited through the nose. The beer stayed slightly bitter with a bit of syrupy taste at the end.
This was a comfortable beer with a good marriage of the hops and malt. It is smooth and easy to drink but could sneak up on you at 6.2%.
Mar 10, 2008I sensed more malt aroma than hops. There were no off odors and the combination of the malt and hops kept me sniffing away more than once.
This was smooth and not as bitter as I would expect an ESB. There was a little bit of bitterness on the tongue with a good grainy sweet taste developing.
The hops were more evident in the aftertaste once the beer had been swallowed. They found their way into the back of the throat and then exited through the nose. The beer stayed slightly bitter with a bit of syrupy taste at the end.
This was a comfortable beer with a good marriage of the hops and malt. It is smooth and easy to drink but could sneak up on you at 6.2%.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.1/5 rDev -18%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.1/5 rDev -18%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Those auburn color feels, amber, copper, light brown. A head forms around 1.25". Plenty of brown and caramel malt notes, underpinned by an earthy hop.
Taste holds back on the caramel sweetness, comes across more bland toffee, again, earthy hop presence. Makes you think of tobacco road a little bit. Mouthfeel isn't heavy or syrupy. Its an interesting maltier take on the esb style.
Sep 09, 2016Taste holds back on the caramel sweetness, comes across more bland toffee, again, earthy hop presence. Makes you think of tobacco road a little bit. Mouthfeel isn't heavy or syrupy. Its an interesting maltier take on the esb style.
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.9/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass from a bottle. Pours cloudy orange yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells of citrus and piney hops, with nice notes of sweet barley. Tastes of sweet grain with a little bit of citrus and very slight earthiness. Beer is light bodied, nicely carbonated, sessionable. Overall, a very good beer.
Dec 20, 2015Rated by DevAJ from Missouri
2.5/5 rDev -33.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.5/5 rDev -33.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I'm just not all that into bitter beers and while the balance is quite good for being called a bitter, it's just not my favorite.
Apr 07, 2015Reviewed by JLaw55 from Missouri
3.75/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
As the description states, bitter is not the case with this one. This is a very balanced, malty brew with a hint of bitterness. The balance is amazing here though, with hints of nuts and roasted malt playing off the tongue.
Would Drink Again: Yes
Would Purchase Again: Yes
Mar 07, 2015Would Drink Again: Yes
Would Purchase Again: Yes
Rated by Boblemo from Iowa
1.71/5 rDev -54.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
1.71/5 rDev -54.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
just did not care for it.
Mar 04, 2015
Winter ESB from The Schlafly Tap Room
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
327 ratings
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