-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Empire Strikes Bitter
Founders Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- 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:
- 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.
Reviewed by Tripel_Threat from Michigan
4/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2019Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York
3.96/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
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, 2019A: 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.
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
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, 2019Reviewed 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
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, 2013A: 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.
Empire Strikes Bitter from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
52 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!