Rainbow Trout ESB
The Blue Ridge Brewing Co.

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From:
The Blue Ridge Brewing Co.
 
South Carolina, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
4.7%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.39 | pDev: 12.09%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
25
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 23, 2016
Added:
Dec 18, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
Rainbow Trout ESB is a traditional medium bodied pour that includes just a hint of a chocolate thing hidden in there...you find it! Our ESB utilizes English Hops for a sweeter more malty character than a Pale....thus it's dark amber hue.

38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by Nate2034 from South Carolina

Jun 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by JohnBender from Texas

Jun 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.11 by roux_broux from South Carolina

Mar 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by TylerKitchens from Massachusetts

Feb 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.04 by erlcampbell from North Carolina

Jan 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jan 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by sirsteve42 from New York

Oct 13, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by DrMindbender from South Carolina

Aug 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by ddriban from Maryland

Feb 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Buck6196 from South Carolina

Jul 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by dirtysanchez843 from South Carolina

Nov 07, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by buckyp from South Carolina

Mar 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by eddiechilton from South Carolina

Dec 09, 2011
Photo of PhillyStyle
Reviewed by PhillyStyle from Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Served on tap at the brewpub, May 2011:

Per the menu, 38 IBU. The beer appeared a nice red/dark amber color (it was a tough to see as they had the lights lowered at the bar) with an off white head that was retained well, but eventually faded into a very thin cap. Some lacing to note. The beer had a nice malty aroma, as expected. The beer had a malty taste to it, sweet and bready, not bad, maybe slightly better than average. The beer had a lighter feel to it than expected of an ESB. The beer had a nice finish with a little bitter aftertaste. Overall, nice drinkability, given the lower ABV and the lighter feel, but not a beer that I would drink all that often.
Jun 20, 2011
Photo of thagr81us
Reviewed by thagr81us from South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on tap at the brewpub into a Blue Ridge/Foothills shaker in the company of PDXHops. Poured a nice dark brown with a minimal off-white head. Maintained decent lacing throughout. The aroma was comprised of malt and a nutty note. The flavor was of malt, nutty, and earthy notes. It had a medium feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall this was a very nice ESB. I am not usually a fan of this style, but could see myself having quite a few of these and not getting tired of it. Definitely a must try from Blue Ridge if you are in the area.
Aug 26, 2010
Photo of PDXHops
Reviewed by PDXHops from South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Edit- Lowering scores all around, as there are some definite batch variations (range being from good to stellar). Worth a shot in any event.

On tap at the brewpub in a shaker pint.

Pours a nice clear brownish amber with a finger of off-white head. The head recedes to a quarter inch skim after a couple of minutes, but the lacing left behind is pretty wild- ring after ring with spiderwebs in between, all the way to the bottom of the glass.

Apparently this will be no mild-mannered brew. Big crisp, clean, lightly sweet malt profile with a crisp, leafy character. The hops, meanwhile, are so earthy and pungent that the only way I can describe the smell is "sticky". Fuggles and UK Goldings sez the menu; I'm guessing a lot more heavy on the Fuggles.

The modest 4.7% ABV is quite deceptive, as this is a bold, hearty and substantial brew. Big bold maltiness, nutty with hints of charred wood, tobacco and half-dried apples. Bitterness is puckeringly pungent and earthy, and is joined by a nice dose of diacetyl mid-swallow. Carbonation seems just the right level to keep everything flowing. The moderate sweetness is snapped off pretty quickly at the finished, chased away by a final sting of bitterness and replaced by a lingering crisp, leafy aftertaste.

Overall impression: A rather unexpected find here. Easily my favorite local beer I've found so far since moving to Greenville.
Oct 27, 2009
Photo of m1ked
Reviewed by m1ked from California

3.4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
My growler from Mikesgrove for the final Growling at the Moon. Hope your baby is delivered safe and healthy, cheers.

A- Pours a rusty brown, that is opaque. An off white head that satcks up to a whopping 1/2", fading to some minimal lacing. Looks like a heavy iced tea.

S- Sweet, malty, bready but almost bready like a pretzel. Touch of caramel. All very subtle though.

T- A slight touch of bitter up front that fades into a bit of a watery bready sweetness. There is that touch of caramel again.

M- Watery, low carbonation. A nice lingering sweet, bitter flavor that I enjoy.

D- Overall avery easy beer to drink, in fact I drank 2 glasses poolside yesterday. I know I beat it up a bit, but an easy mild drinking beer.
May 13, 2008
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.36/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
It had a foamy, medium tan head upon arrival. The nose had a mild, malty sweetness. The color was a light-amber with NE-quality clarity. It had a light light mouthfeel with a malty sweetness on the palate. The finish had a nice bitterness, making it a decent accompaniment to my lunch of barbecued meats on a platter with sides of collard greens and macaroni and cheese.
Jan 18, 2008
Photo of MTNboy
Reviewed by MTNboy from Germany

3.44/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance- It is a dark brown almost amber color. A little lace.

Smell- Fruity and citrus like aroma .

Taste- Not really that bitter if you ask me but fruity and is followed by a sweet aftertaste.

Mouthfeel- Medium bodied.

Drinkability- It is easy and fun to drink and I would go as far to say it is not your usual ESB .
Jan 04, 2008
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a nice dark orange brown with no real head and no lace. Smell was musty with hint of english hops. First impression of this was that it was a tad watered down, slightly slick and not carbonated enough. Flavors were very nice, lots of english bittering hops and a great balanced malt sweetness. This could be a really nice brew, it just needs that little bit of extra to put it over the top. Maybe some more carbonation or a little more ABV, just seems to be missing that fullness to really make it stand out in a crowd/
Jun 16, 2007
Rainbow Trout ESB from The Blue Ridge Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 25 ratings