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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 boatshoes:
Reviewed by boatshoes from Massachusetts
3.38/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Received this in an awesome package of generosity from rsyberg01 as a received in the recent holiday sponsor a BA. Thanks again Ric!
Appearance- Pours a darker shade of amber with about a half finger of beige head sitting on top. Dies back pretty quickly but leaves a coating across the top of the beer that lasts throughout. Lots of beading and some mild amounts of lace left.
Smell- Fairly muted nose with a mixture of sweet malt and some piney hops showing through. Somewhat understated.
Taste- Very mild. Lots of sweet caramel and bready malt showing through initially. However, a fair amount of balancing piney bitterness shows through on the finish. Pretty straightforward and not the most impressive example of the style I've had but nice all-around.
Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Mouthfeel is good and adequately carbonated. This one is a little strong to session, and I find the flavor a little to lacking to drink too many, but it did go down easy.
Overall, an unoffensive and fairly easy drinking beer. Not my favorite ESB however, and I would have hoped for more in the flavor. Nonetheless, nothing really off about this one.
Jan 22, 2010Appearance- Pours a darker shade of amber with about a half finger of beige head sitting on top. Dies back pretty quickly but leaves a coating across the top of the beer that lasts throughout. Lots of beading and some mild amounts of lace left.
Smell- Fairly muted nose with a mixture of sweet malt and some piney hops showing through. Somewhat understated.
Taste- Very mild. Lots of sweet caramel and bready malt showing through initially. However, a fair amount of balancing piney bitterness shows through on the finish. Pretty straightforward and not the most impressive example of the style I've had but nice all-around.
Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Mouthfeel is good and adequately carbonated. This one is a little strong to session, and I find the flavor a little to lacking to drink too many, but it did go down easy.
Overall, an unoffensive and fairly easy drinking beer. Not my favorite ESB however, and I would have hoped for more in the flavor. Nonetheless, nothing really off about this one.
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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