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13 Rebels ESB
French Broad River Brewing
- From:
- French Broad River Brewing
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.55 | pDev: 12.96%
- Reviews:
- 111
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 15, 2022
- Added:
- May 18, 2004
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 32
French Broad Brewery’s interpretation of the classic UK Extra Special Bitter. A bright copper color with a complex malt palate is complemented by traditional British hops, notably East Kent Golding. French Broad has made this classic public house session beer a cult classic with its skull and crossbones artwork.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by daliandragon:
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland
3.48/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.48/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I remember liking this, and all the French Broad products I tried while out in Asheville last year. The appearance is pretty underwhelming, with a medium golden color and just a thin wisp of head. The nose has a slight bit of graininess and not much else.
The taste is full and broad, if not very deep in scope. The hops are more a diversion than anything else but the balance it creates makes this worthwhile. The doughy and bread-like qualities make it satisfying and almost filling. It's not overpowering but has enough to fulfill the style.
Not a terrific beer, 13 Rebels keeps plugging away and before you know it, the whole bomber is gone. Not a great ESB, but you could do much worse.
Nov 05, 2008The taste is full and broad, if not very deep in scope. The hops are more a diversion than anything else but the balance it creates makes this worthwhile. The doughy and bread-like qualities make it satisfying and almost filling. It's not overpowering but has enough to fulfill the style.
Not a terrific beer, 13 Rebels keeps plugging away and before you know it, the whole bomber is gone. Not a great ESB, but you could do much worse.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California
3.5/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I feel like I’ve been awake for a while; not exactly tired, but a bit wasted from things. But then I get into this one, and… no more “and.” It just is what it is and that is pretty much ok with me. Try and be ok.
Nov 26, 2021Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
3.72/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Draft pour at Barley's in a pint glass at fridge temp. The beer pours bright copper amber in color with light khaki head. The aroma is mild with sweet toasted malt. The taste is more semisweet toasted malt with some earthy hop flavor and moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, good.
Jul 14, 2021Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
3.52/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Picked up a 12 oz single as part of a mixed sixer from Ingles Spartanburg store cooler 5-4-2021 for $10.98. Canned 2-23-21; consumed 5-11-21.
Beer gushed out of the can, presumably to barley infection, and is calming down halfway thru the can.
Nose is clean malts forward and not much else.
Taste is a sweet malt base that has an element of nutiness and is hopped with UK hops that lend an apple flavor. Finishes pretty well balanced; 5/10 on my bitterness scale. Something is off with the base and i cannot put my finger on the off-flavor.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and refreshing.
Overall a style rarely seen anymore. Would like to have a do-over with this one given the gusher opening.
May 11, 2021Beer gushed out of the can, presumably to barley infection, and is calming down halfway thru the can.
Nose is clean malts forward and not much else.
Taste is a sweet malt base that has an element of nutiness and is hopped with UK hops that lend an apple flavor. Finishes pretty well balanced; 5/10 on my bitterness scale. Something is off with the base and i cannot put my finger on the off-flavor.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and refreshing.
Overall a style rarely seen anymore. Would like to have a do-over with this one given the gusher opening.
Reviewed by Singlefinpin from North Carolina
4.08/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Drinking this at The Mason Bar in beautiful downtown Murphy NC
Looks amber, with a light colored tannish foamy head that dropped quickly to a thin ring.
Smells malty, sweet.
Tastes Malt forward, bitter hoppy finish that I like.
Mouth feel is medium with a nice smooth finish.
Overall I would order again, as ESBs are a style I like when I can find them.
Cheers!
Dec 25, 2019Looks amber, with a light colored tannish foamy head that dropped quickly to a thin ring.
Smells malty, sweet.
Tastes Malt forward, bitter hoppy finish that I like.
Mouth feel is medium with a nice smooth finish.
Overall I would order again, as ESBs are a style I like when I can find them.
Cheers!
Reviewed by gentlystewed from Georgia
4.54/5 rDev +27.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +27.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy whiskey hued body throwing up a off white head.
The aroma is all biscuits, butter cookies, and molasses.
The flavor is as malty as the nose and complimented to near perfection with mild hop bite on the ass end.
The carbonation is high for an ESB but still works fine.
Overall a great brew I could easily drink all night long.
Apr 06, 2019The aroma is all biscuits, butter cookies, and molasses.
The flavor is as malty as the nose and complimented to near perfection with mild hop bite on the ass end.
The carbonation is high for an ESB but still works fine.
Overall a great brew I could easily drink all night long.
Reviewed by SmokySignals from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev +19.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +19.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours honey tea amber into pub glass. Light head fades pretty quickly, nearly gone before 1/3 down. A few bubbles rise through the body. Not much time will be spent looking at to, I assure you - because
the Smell will draw you in as soon as you pour it: caramel, butterscotch, crisp freshness, indicating a ...a taste that follows the nose in a big way, is right on, whatever style you call it. I say it's in the amber ale ballpark, and it's better every time I try it.
Taste comes on malty caramel sweet (Maris Otter and crystal malts for the grain bill, brewery site says ), full and crisp, nice finish, yes all the way. Pleasant and easy to drink.
It's light enough to keep on going at a good clip, just enough fizz in there to last if you do. And clean enough to want more more more . Fuller than lite lager not as hoppy/fruiyt as trendy ipa, this is a great version of an old style beer! Find,Get,Enjoy!
4.25 = easy repeater.
"ESB contains all the elements of a traditional ESB but is slightly hoppier than the style guidelines. I agree- it is on point for ESB, in my taste opinion. However current trendsters may think not enough hop. The main hop for the 13 Rebels ESB is East Kent Golding"
Overall it's a killer light amber golden ale that tastes malty but crisp full yet light and no weirdness or funk. $easy$4
Feb 24, 2019the Smell will draw you in as soon as you pour it: caramel, butterscotch, crisp freshness, indicating a ...a taste that follows the nose in a big way, is right on, whatever style you call it. I say it's in the amber ale ballpark, and it's better every time I try it.
Taste comes on malty caramel sweet (Maris Otter and crystal malts for the grain bill, brewery site says ), full and crisp, nice finish, yes all the way. Pleasant and easy to drink.
It's light enough to keep on going at a good clip, just enough fizz in there to last if you do. And clean enough to want more more more . Fuller than lite lager not as hoppy/fruiyt as trendy ipa, this is a great version of an old style beer! Find,Get,Enjoy!
4.25 = easy repeater.
"ESB contains all the elements of a traditional ESB but is slightly hoppier than the style guidelines. I agree- it is on point for ESB, in my taste opinion. However current trendsters may think not enough hop. The main hop for the 13 Rebels ESB is East Kent Golding"
Overall it's a killer light amber golden ale that tastes malty but crisp full yet light and no weirdness or funk. $easy$4
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.43/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Undated 12 oz can.
Either over-carbonated or some sort of QC problem here as the beer over-flowed the can upon opening, and filled my glass with more foam than liquid even many minutes later on the second pour. Smells and tastes a bit off but not bad. Both a touch sweeter and a bit hoppier than a typical UK ESB, this does have a solid, medium dark malt base.
May 18, 2017Either over-carbonated or some sort of QC problem here as the beer over-flowed the can upon opening, and filled my glass with more foam than liquid even many minutes later on the second pour. Smells and tastes a bit off but not bad. Both a touch sweeter and a bit hoppier than a typical UK ESB, this does have a solid, medium dark malt base.
13 Rebels ESB from French Broad River Brewing
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
260 ratings
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