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Special Ale ESB
River Horse Brewing Co.
- From:
- River Horse Brewing Co.
- New Jersey, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 74
- Avg:
- 3.18 | pDev: 14.47%
- Reviews:
- 134
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 09, 2014
- Added:
- Jun 01, 2002
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by plaid75:
Reviewed by plaid75 from New York
3.5/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a murky dark copper hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.
The smell featured soft caramel malts and a tea like herbal hop.
The taste consisted of a light grainy malt and a slightly herbal hop. A touch of sweetness toward the finish.
The mouthfeel was toward the thinner side of the style with little carbonation.
Overall a decent ESB. Not something I would search out.
May 26, 2009The smell featured soft caramel malts and a tea like herbal hop.
The taste consisted of a light grainy malt and a slightly herbal hop. A touch of sweetness toward the finish.
The mouthfeel was toward the thinner side of the style with little carbonation.
Overall a decent ESB. Not something I would search out.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Omnium from Pennsylvania
3.12/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.12/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Bottle > Pint Glass
A - Pours a reddish brown color nice 1 finger head of an off white tint, no real lacing though.
S - Caramel and toffee malts, an odd alcohol scent, but there's not much alcohol in this beer? Some sour candies and stale bread as well.
T - Tastes like a bad brown ale, all malt flavors with barely any hops or even bitterness. Very bland, and mildly tart
M - Thin fizzy, no good flavors resonating (not that there were any to begin with)
O - Horrid example of an ESB, River Horse needs to go back to the books on this one.
Apr 16, 2013A - Pours a reddish brown color nice 1 finger head of an off white tint, no real lacing though.
S - Caramel and toffee malts, an odd alcohol scent, but there's not much alcohol in this beer? Some sour candies and stale bread as well.
T - Tastes like a bad brown ale, all malt flavors with barely any hops or even bitterness. Very bland, and mildly tart
M - Thin fizzy, no good flavors resonating (not that there were any to begin with)
O - Horrid example of an ESB, River Horse needs to go back to the books on this one.
Reviewed by claspada from New Jersey
3.06/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.06/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a deep orange with a very large off white head with good retention.
Aromas begin with sweet pale malt and some light honey/caramel. As it warms you get some slight doughy, roasted maltiness with a bit of earthy hoppiness.
The tastes follow the nose with light caramel, toasted bready maltiness with some light toffee flavors as well. Light and clean earthy hoppiness emerges more as it warms.
The mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to high carbonation. Finish is lightly dry and earthy but mainly clean and crisp.
Overall this is a decent, flavorful and balanced ESB. Nothing to mind-blowing but quite satifying considering the ABV, but nothing close to the traditional quality English examples or even as good as many American interpretations.
Sep 24, 2012Aromas begin with sweet pale malt and some light honey/caramel. As it warms you get some slight doughy, roasted maltiness with a bit of earthy hoppiness.
The tastes follow the nose with light caramel, toasted bready maltiness with some light toffee flavors as well. Light and clean earthy hoppiness emerges more as it warms.
The mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to high carbonation. Finish is lightly dry and earthy but mainly clean and crisp.
Overall this is a decent, flavorful and balanced ESB. Nothing to mind-blowing but quite satifying considering the ABV, but nothing close to the traditional quality English examples or even as good as many American interpretations.
Special Ale ESB from River Horse Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
74 out of
100 with
162 ratings
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