Extra Sinful Bitter (ESB)
Helltown Brewing

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From:
Helltown Brewing
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #78
ABV:
5%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,535
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 11.14%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
34
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 20, 2022
Added:
May 20, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Tucquan:
Photo of Tucquan
Reviewed by Tucquan from Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had this on 2014-07-5 at the brewery

A - Fairly clear, medium brown with some reddish tint. 1-finger tan head and mild lacing.

S - Rich, sweet, lightly roasted malt and hop floral.

T - The malt flavor echoes the smell and is forward of the bitterness. No one malt flavor sticks out but I get a bit of cherry and chocolate to add to the roasted grain. This is not a sweet beer by any means. The bitterness comes in slowly at first, then builds in the finish but just to a moderate level, imparting a pleasant/slight vegetal flavor in addition to the bitterness.

M - Light-medium body and medium carbonation. Dries nicely with just hint of prickliness.

O - A very well-fermented and tasty ESB; probably leaning a bit more to the bitterness side than ESBs from across the pond.
Jul 05, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by TeachChefs from Pennsylvania

Nov 20, 2022
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.02/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Draft at the brewery
Small head low retention, no lacing, mostly clear but darker auburn color

Nose mild sweet toasted reddish malt, bread crust, fair fruity esters, light herbal hop and tea

Taste sweet malt, toasted grain bread crust, some caramelized sugars, honey cake, fair fruity esters a well, herbal hops with a little tea, low bitterness, mild sticky sweet finish
Mouth is med to a bit lighter bod, lower carb but OK for the style

Overall not bad, pretty good for the style
Jun 25, 2022
Photo of Boto
Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut

3.61/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Draught @ Tapped: this one pours a lighter amber color. There was a thin off white head and no lacing. Lighter nose. Malts, earthy hops. The taste is good. Mild bitterness, malts and earthy. Good body to it. Nice.
Dec 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by Hellbrewer2 from Pennsylvania

Sep 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.99 by brutalist from Pennsylvania

May 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by Dvesilly from Pennsylvania

May 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Griggsy from Colorado

Jan 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by PorterThwarter from Maryland

Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by Stigs from Pennsylvania

Mar 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by rodlavers from Maryland

Feb 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

Jul 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by HollyHops from Pennsylvania

May 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by randylangford from Pennsylvania

May 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by greg4579 from Pennsylvania

Mar 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Saxboy10 from Pennsylvania

Feb 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Jan 11, 2014
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Draft offering served in a pint. The brew appears a hazed burnt cooper to orange color with a frothy full wall of white lacing on the glass. The cap holds across the top with a thin film.

The aroma is grassy with fruity to floral hops accents and a clean malt bill that provides a nice base. Sadly the aroma is the best aspect of this brew.

The taste is mildly fruity with a grass and herbal bitterness. Almost too much focus on alcohol and not enough on anything else. Strange to see this in an ESB.

This is a light bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Thin, lifeless and quite forgettable. A pint I regretted drinking moreso than their IPA.
Nov 21, 2013
Photo of micromaniac129
Reviewed by micromaniac129 from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had at the blue dog. Nice rich amber with a tall dense head. Left some light lacing as the beer was consumed.
The aroma had some pleasent earthy and floral hops with a sweet bready malts.
Taste is pretty hoppy. flavors of herbs and floral maybe a touch of mint. Toffee malts are bold and sweet and balance well.
Drinks smooth on the palate with great drinkablity. I like it.
Aug 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by xnicknj from Pennsylvania

Jul 31, 2013
Extra Sinful Bitter (ESB) from Helltown Brewing
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 34 ratings