Empire Strikes Bitter
Founders Brewing Company

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From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 10.55%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
52
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 22, 2019
Added:
Jan 28, 2010
Wants:
  20
Gots:
  0
American version of the English Extra Special Bitter.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Tripel_Threat
Reviewed by Tripel_Threat from Michigan

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on tap at the pub. Nice, dark brown color with a finger of soapy foam on top. Great rings of lacing. Aromas or toffee and bread, caramel and grassy hops. Flavors follow: toffee and vanilla caramel, dark bread and grassy/floral finish. Quite nice.
Oct 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by Buck_Jones from Michigan

Oct 14, 2019
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

3.96/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Served on tap at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan
A: Pours a crystal clear, amber color with a one finger, off-white head, rim retention, but decent rings of camo shaped lacing.
S: Aromas of caramel, toffee, and honeysuckle.
T: Semisweet. Some flavors follow the nose somewhat with emphasis on caramel/molasses. Leather and cherrywood notes. Bitterness more in the background creating some balance.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
O: Nothing like having a wet hopped, AIPA on tap at the brewery in the early Fall. What a great drinking experience. A very crunchable and easily quaffable. I wouldn't say no to another iteratively.
Oct 05, 2019
Photo of beersampler6
Reviewed by beersampler6 from Michigan

3.72/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice bitter tried on tap at Founders. Pours a honeyed amber color with some white head and spotty lingering lacing. Smells of some toasted nuts, bread, caramel, malt and vanilla. Taste follows the nose, fairly good balance and depth and richness despite the low ABV. Very smooth, mild mouthfeel, good carbonation. An enjoyable beer during lunch at the brewery.
Sep 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.55 by Trmmilwwi from Illinois

Sep 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by okcommuter from Michigan

Dec 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ronin926 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by carlmoberg from Illinois

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by EricTKole from Michigan

Sep 15, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by PolishHammer from Connecticut

Aug 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mvanwoerm from Michigan

Apr 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Brewer1980 from Scotland

Sep 09, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BlueWinged35 from Ohio

Jul 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by alex021224 from Michigan

Jul 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Drucifer from Illinois

May 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by olivermonster from Michigan

May 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by MJ_Szydlowski from Michigan

May 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by craft_shannie from Indiana

Apr 07, 2013
Photo of Treebs
Reviewed by Treebs from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap at Founders. Served in a nonic pint.

A: Pours a dark amber color with some clear brown highlights to it. A white head forms on the pour and recedes to thin cap. Sticky white lace is left down the glass.

S: Light citrus hops with a caramel malt sweetness. Some sweetened biscuit malt with subtle grassy nature with a touch of dankness.

T: The taste pretty much follows the nose. Very sweet caramel malt backbone with a little cereal grain as well. Nice bursts of citrus hops with with some background dankness to it and minimal grassy notes.

M: Light bodied and very easy drinking. Medium low carbonation with a dry finish.

O: Very solid and drinkable beer. Nice balance of hops and malty sweetness. I'd definitely knock back a few pints of this.
Apr 06, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by TheSevenDuffs from Canada (ON)

Apr 01, 2013
Empire Strikes Bitter from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 52 ratings