Fuller's ESB - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

GMB

Japan

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fuller's ESB pours a deep amber color. A vigorous pour produces very little head, but what little there is appears frothy and creamy. There are no streams of bubbles here; rather, a moderate number of small bubbles evenly distributed throughout the beer's body rise gently towards the top.

The nose is simple. The toasted malt is the star of the show, and gives off mouth-wateringly distinct aromas of toffee and caramel. There are other some floral aromas present, but they do not overpower the malt.

The taste follows the nose, but introduces a pleasant bitter undertone which harmonizes beautifully with overtones of sweet browned butter (i.e., toffee and butterscotch) and roasted nuts, notably well-roasted cashew and lightly toasted hazelnut.

This a rich, sweet beer whose aftertaste is more or less the same as its initial taste. But the aromas of mild hops and a very light bitterness begin to assert themselves towards the end of the hang, offering some complexity and and a nice counterpoint to the beer's sweet flavor. I detect hints of cloves as the flavor lingers in my mouth.

A quick swirl around the tongue produces a silky, creamy foam that perfectly complements the beer's flavor profile. It makes me imagine the beer as a creamy, fluffy, toffee-and-toasted-hazelnut soufflé topped with a sprinkle of flower buds; perhaps lavender, lilac, and perhaps a bit of mallow.

The taste of the toasted malt of Fuller's ESB may offer the finest, which is to say cleanest or most obvious, example of what beer reviewers describe as a toffee, browned butter, butterscotch, and caramel flavors. Try it with roasted pears or apples.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 00:15:04 | More by GMB

JHendu

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-15-2013 22:25:18 | More by JHendu

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-15-2013 13:15:02 | More by pcsnyder

jkball01

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-13-2013 16:35:15 | More by jkball01

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-13-2013 13:15:26 | More by BeerCon5

RefillMyglass

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-12-2013 18:53:17 | More by RefillMyglass

BeerPHD

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-12-2013 05:57:23 | More by BeerPHD

Caudalie

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev -26.7%

05-10-2013 14:57:41 | More by Caudalie

dsolonenko

Singapore

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-10-2013 14:06:55 | More by dsolonenko

T100Mark

California

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a heavy, brown, 11.2 ounce Euro bottle into a shaker pint glass.

Appearance - Copper color. A bit hazy. Tan colored head that never entirely disappears. Minimal lacing.

Smell - Bread. Slightly sweet. Nice.

Taste - Bread crust. Slightly sweet. A hint of citrus. Walnuts? Smooth. Good.

Mouth - Mild carbonation. A touch oily.

Overall - A wonderful beer. Another good reason to be an Anglophile. My only complaint is that the beer is a touch underwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 01:11:16 | More by T100Mark

Nunya

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-10-2013 00:22:47 | More by Nunya

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -20.5%

05-08-2013 03:30:56 | More by tommyguz

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-08-2013 03:27:17 | More by dalepryor

LetTheJuiceLoose

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A*: Brilliant copper color offset by a thick and clingy white head. White head thicker than usual, but believed to be due to bottle conditioning vs. beer production. Exceedingly clear.

S*: Overwhelmingly well paired aroma that blends seamlessly into the thick caramel backbone. Subtle bready notes toward end. No yeast character detected.

T*: Excellent floral flavor with hints of toast and caramel. Hop dominates in flavor, subtle in bitterness. Follow-thru remains balanced and slightly sweet to the end. No yeast fruitiness detected.

M*: Medium-light body with a moderate-low carbonation. No astringency. Slight, very slight alcohol warming.

Overall: Excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:26:39 | More by LetTheJuiceLoose

endovelico

Portugal

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured cold. Off a can. Taken from notes.

Appearance: Full nitrogenic like creme head on a clear garnet juice with little perceived effervescence. The beer is visually stunning; I had to wait a few minutes for it to settle.

Aroma: The aromatics are of medium intensity. On the front theres a sharp metallic / irony smell - A byproduct of the revered but vulnerable British yeast, perhaps? - set on a canvas of stale vegetable and caramel.

As it warms up, however, the smell ends up acquiring a broader stand in the caramel - nut spectrum of aroma. The aromatics are more representative of what you'd expect from a traditional EKG/Fuggles blend.

Taste: In equilibrium honey-vegetable play with flowery undertones. Absolutely seamless with the palate to the point that it becomes difficult to discern the impact of both on the tongue.

Palate: Medium to medium full bodied. Minerally, slightly spritzy with sweet-ish finish. Slightly soapy, slightly creamy. Alcohol barely noticeable.

Overall: Extremely sessionable, highly balanced and complex. This is one beer you can really feel the "terroir": The finicky British yeast, the soft water, the traditional hops aswell as the contribution of the different caramel malts and maize used.

It's traditional with a twist. It's both unique and THE archetype of ESBs. At any rate, pay particular attention to the serving temperature as this beer really opens up at slightly cold - ambient temperatures.

Serving type: can

05-05-2013 14:13:27 | More by endovelico

rhizomatic

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-05-2013 00:08:23 | More by rhizomatic

schaffer9252

New York

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-04-2013 17:48:31 | More by schaffer9252

nullbort

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-04-2013 12:58:06 | More by nullbort

capuchinpilates

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-01-2013 16:29:55 | More by capuchinpilates

OB1

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

04-30-2013 03:31:34 | More by OB1

PieOhMy

Minnesota

4.11/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A Hazy gold near amber. Thick white creamy head leaves little lacing.

S Sweet and malty. A nice floral fragrance follows.

T Tangy and fruity, mango and other citrus fruit. Get a bitter hop taste. Peppery aftertaste.

M Light. Mild carbonation and a clean finish.

O Decent balance. I like the bitterness. The sweetness hides but it's there. Smooth as hell. This is a good brew. I would order it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2013 02:13:59 | More by PieOhMy

Kevin55

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-28-2013 00:04:09 | More by Kevin55

ambruns1979

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

04-25-2013 05:54:26 | More by ambruns1979

EmmaC

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

04-25-2013 00:41:23 | More by EmmaC

BeerOps

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-23-2013 00:28:04 | More by BeerOps