Extra Special Bitter - Moylan's Brewery

GRG1313

California

3.38/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted on a nitro tap and I believe my score was 1.98. Now tasting it again 1 year and a week later, from the bottle.

Pours a crystal clear amber with a short lived white head. Decent looking.

Nose is sweet "light chocolate malt" and esters. A bit sweet in the nose but appealing and inviting.

Mouthfeel is lightly creamy, well balanced and nicely carbonated. It is fresh and also inviting.

Flavor profile from the bottle was far superior to my experience from a nitro tap. Flavors are light chocolate toast and malt. Well integrated and almost elegant in nature. Do not hit you over the head but extremely drinkable. Nice bitter back palate.

Finish is a nice bitter toast. I enjoyed this relatively light beer with an elegant and inviting toasty ESB character. Could be a bit more assertive for me but the nose, mouthfeel, flavors and finish are all around nice, appealing and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 01:22:40 | More by GRG1313

scottfrie

California

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the brewery. Pint. Reviewed from notes.

A: Light amber colored liquid with a finger of dense cream colored foam on top. Great film retention; rings of thick lace.
S: Light straw nose, peaches, cracked grains and apricot come through on the nose.
T: Sweet and clean taste. More caramel than the nose suggested but there’s still a dominating cracked grain taste. Malt and light with hints of hoppy fruits and pineapple. Clean crackery malt.
M: Medium-light body, light and smooth carbonation, with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Lightly drying.
O: A very nice drinking beer that one could indulge in for hours.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 00:53:51 | More by scottfrie

argock

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on-tap in a nonic pint at The Regal Beagle (San Diego, CA). Reviewed from notes.

A: Chestnut brown with short cap of off-white head. The head hangs around and leaves a few lace scraps.

S: The C-type hoppiness is evident with a subdued soft caramel maltiness with a fair amount of yeast esters.

T: The flavor is also hops-heavy for the style but still reasonably balanced. The English malt character with some caramel and leathery dark malts poke through but are overshadowed by the citrus and floral hoppiness.

M: The carbonation is even which leaves a fairly light-medium body with a smooth feel.

O: A West Coast ESB so to speak -- a big dose of citrus hops layered on caramel and medium-dark malt. Not a bad beer at all and it went well with the pork sausage with onions and peppers.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 00:48:24 | More by argock

rangerred

Tennessee

2.28/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

22oz bomber poured into a pint glass.

Pours a slightly hazy light copper with a one finger white head.

Smells of piny hops along with a decent amount of citrus. A little bit of toasted malt too.

Toasted, bready malt up front followed almost immediately by a sharp citrus tartness that I found very odd. Almost lemon/lime like. It brings a sweetness that verges on being cloying. Light bitterness with a sticky finish. Mouthfeel is quite watery.

Overall this is not an enjoyable beer. The citric tartness makes no sense at all and makes this beer hard to drink. Not something I would want to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 23:50:07 | More by rangerred

UCLABrewN84

California

3.3/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On nitro tap for the 2nd Anniversary event at Tony's Darts Away in Burbank, CA.

Pours a clear orange with a dense foamy off-white head that lasts. A foamy latticework of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus, and some perfume-like hop aromas. Taste is of malt, earthy hops, and some herbal flavors. There is a mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average ESB with a better smell than taste.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-22-2012 06:30:57 | More by UCLABrewN84

Kromes

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A slightly hazy gold color with a finger's width white head.

S: Herbal hop, toasted malt, a slight citrus fruit aroma.

T: A nice mix of toasted malt and herbal hop. There's a slight citrus fruitiness in the finish along with a faint mellow smoke flavor.

M: Light in body with a good level of carbonation. Refreshing and very drinkable.

O: Overall a solid ESB. Good flavors and goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 20:03:09 | More by Kromes

spicelab

Australia

2.35/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Bomber with thanks to Beermasons.

Orange amber with the barest haze. Light and fluffy two-finger head departs rapidly without leaving a trace.

Nose is moderately sweet and almost cidery, with apple and a sweaty aroma which is decidedly like urine. Blegh. Somewhat saved by some candied orange and some light caramel malt character.

More insipid cidery piss blended with citrus pith. The latter leads it toward a bizarre tart, chalky, and metallic finish.

Did not gel with me at all. Not that experienced with the style, but this does not belong in the same breath as ESBs like Fullers or Hargreaves Hill.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 05:14:58 | More by spicelab

MrKennedy

Australia

2.08/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Bomber courtesy of a Beermasons subscription, poured into a Tripel Karmeliet tulip. Listed as 5.0% ABV.

A gusher, pouring with a large 4 finger head of small-bubbled, off-white foam. Has a light-copper/golden colour which is lighter than expected.

Smell initially is of green apples and pear, i was thinking it was underfermented with the gushing and these aromas. Later on there is a little bit of malt, but not overly nice smelling, along with some orange zest.

Taste is slightly citric acidy, mixed with some malt, but not enough.

Mouthfeel is slightly acidic and finishes a touch cloying, a very odd mix.

Can't think of an area where this beer goes better than average, am thinking it is underfermented. Maybe this was a bad bottle, quite possibly as most of the Moylan's stuff i've come across is decent or better. Given this, however, i won't be buying another to see whether or not this is the case.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 10:59:46 | More by MrKennedy

ADZA

Australia

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a orange copper hue which leaves a two finger fast vanishing head and little lacing,the smell is boiled candy and citrusy hops,the mouthfeel is just over lightbodied and easy going with tastes of orange rind,lemon zest,fruity candy and finished with a touch of toffee and tangerine bittersweetness and overall its alright and glad ive tried but wouldnt go out of my way for it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 05:38:37 | More by ADZA

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle - $4.99 at Hop City in Atlanta, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours a clear, golden-copper body with a rather frothy-looking, whitish head. Thin smattering of lace on the way down.

Smell: Sweetish toffee, though not overly aromatic, with notes of day old, toasted, buttery biscuit tops, tea leaves, and a bit of fruitiness.

Taste: Lightly toasty, biscuit-hinted malts with a low caramel sweetness. Herbaceous, black tea-like hops with a light balancing bitterness. Small hint of fruit, some citrus, too. A bit more toffee coming through as it warms. Drying, slightly minerally on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-light carbonation. Fairly soft mouthfeel.

Overall: Benefits from some warmth and patience. Light (both in terms of body and flavor), tasty (for being light), and easy-drinking.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 03:15:30 | More by ChainGangGuy

dgilks

Australia

3.4/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Clear golden colour with no head disappointing.

Sweet, mild malt aroma with some mild citrus hop notes.

Crisp but soft malt with a touch of citrus hops. Quite light on the palate.

Medium body with moderate carbonation.

Not really an ESB in my books. This is too thin with insufficient malt depth and character.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 11:15:48 | More by dgilks

vince4953529

California

3.68/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I do not know why this has not been reviewed more since it has been out in the bottle format for some time now. 22 oz. from Hi-time.

5% abv listed on the bottle. The look is a light copper color. Smelled of toasty malts and a bit soapy.

The taste was surprisingly malty and bready. The flavor was a bit thick and hearty for a light ESB.

Above average ESB, hope more people can dig this up and try it.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 03:37:58 | More by vince4953529

megahurts4

Louisiana

3.78/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Moylan's Special Bitter
On nitro at The Avenue Pub, New Orleans, LA

Appearance: honey, medium head, and a lot of lacing.

Smell: fruity and hops.

Taste: barley, hops, and faint citrus fruit.

Mouthfeel: light and silky smooth.

Overall:
Its very light, but the flavors a good and well balanced. It is watery in feel, but not taste.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-19-2010 00:01:16 | More by megahurts4

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.05/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Medium copper in color with a big creamy white head, about a finger and a half.

Slightly bitter, with more sweet malts and some touches of citrus fruits.

Fairly sweet and malty, moving to a bit of citrus, followed by a little bit of bitterness on the finish.

Creamy feel, upper-light in body, slightly dry and crisp.

Decent drinkability.

While it's not bad, it's fairly under-whelming and I think I'd like it more if it weren't on nitro...

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-15-2010 00:14:41 | More by EgadBananas

Offa

California

4.7/5  rDev +37.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was fortunate to get this cask-conditioned at Toad in the Hole, Santa Rosa, on their weekly cask/real-ale night. It's among the best US ESBs I've had, at least from the cask, with great balance, restrained but very flavourful.

Faintly hazy light amber, it has a smallish off-white head slowly thinning to a lasting ring and some nice lace.

The aroma is malty with grain, lightly caramelly and lightly toasty, a little clear grapefruit, hints of fruit, a bit flowery overall. It's good but seems a bit too grapefruity and hints at an all-too-common grapefruity character.

On taste, however, the actual character is only lightly grapferuity and has a lot more. It is very balanced in malt/hop and sweetness/bitterness, it is well-rounded, lightly complex, light in character, yet flavourfull with sweetness and bitterness, a lot of lightly toasty grain, raisininess, light caramelly toast, light grapferuit with some lemon, pepperiness, light spicey leafiness, and faint hint of yeastiness. It has a definite Engish quality to it, especially in the restrained but flavourful, subtley complex and well balanced character. It is less richly/darkly toasty and fruity than the likes of Fuller's and in overall nature of the flavours is a little more along the line of Old Speckled Hen or the like. It is light, crisp, and very drinkable. So far this is by far my favourite bewer from Moylan's, which to me has produced some real duds.

Serving type: cask

04-29-2009 23:42:10 | More by Offa

carln26

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at the brewpub in Novato, CA. It’s served as a nitro tap. It poured bright copper very clear with a light off white head. There wasn’t much in the nose, possibly because it was served just a touch cold. Light caramel and toffee with a little orange. Maybe a little bit of date. Flavor is rich caramel and toffee, light bitterness carries throughout in the form of a tangy orange. Light and slightly slick mouth feel. Excellent ESB. Not enough brewers deliver on this style. This would be an excellent session beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-06-2006 13:26:01 | More by carln26

Mark

California

4.22/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tried this offering at the Moylans pub. Poured a medium amber with a white head that lasted pretty long. lacing was in clumps and scattered about the glass. Nice aroma of malt with some slight hopping, kind of reminded me a bit of some offerings I've had in the U.K. Nice malt based tase profile with some long lingering hop finish. Not quite as smooth as most U.K. ESB's but very nice. Mouthfeel is just right and it's nice and drinkable. I had two. Went well with my salami pizza, which was excellent as well by the way. Go Moylan's.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2005 01:02:17 | More by Mark