Steel Hands
18th Street Brewery - Gary Taproom

Steel HandsSteel Hands
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From:
18th Street Brewery - Gary Taproom
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
3.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 8.33%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
35
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 02, 2017
Added:
May 21, 2014
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by fredmugs:
Photo of fredmugs
Rated by fredmugs from Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

May 16, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by TravisMason from Indiana

Apr 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.85 by nwhittin from Indiana

Mar 02, 2017
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a relatively clear copper color with a one inch head of foam; splashy lacing

Smell: Earthy caramel tones; bit of a tobacco edge

Taste: Tobacco forward, with caramel, tree fruit and earthy hop tones building; apple and sarsparilla sweetness, in the finish; some earthy bitterness lingers in the aftertaste along with the sweet elements

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Rather an odd ESB; I would like to see this style more frequently but this one seems a bit out of whack

Thanks, TravisMason, for the opportunity
Dec 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Rimbimhoot from Illinois

Nov 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by dannycohen62 from Illinois

Nov 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by fosters9 from New York

Sep 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by ZombiesAteMyDog from Indiana

Aug 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.58 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Aug 07, 2016
 
Rated: 2.75 by ScaryEd from New Hampshire

Jul 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by Studfarm69 from California

Jul 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.81 by IpeeA from Missouri

Jun 28, 2016
Photo of barczar
Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky

3.72/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Aroma is very floral, lightly fruity, with nutty, toasted malt undertones.

Flavor is fairly fruity specialty malt/hop dominant, floral, then fairly bitter and nutty in the finish. Pretty well crafted, though there's a bit of an off phenolic note mid palate. A bit overly bitter and watery.
Jun 17, 2016
Photo of secondtooth
Reviewed by secondtooth from Indiana

3.74/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Hazy, semi-opaque amber out of the beautifully ornate can. Tan suds and very little lace.

Aroma: Malty, with hints of caramel, toffee…a traditional ESB so far!

Taste: Rich and full-on in taste, sweet enough with the malts but not overpowering or cloying. I get a touch of a leather flavor, and maybe even some whiskey. Really a well-done ESB and a promising start for my tastings of 18th Street’s offerings.
Jun 04, 2016
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Received as an extra in a trade. Shared with JLindros.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice clear light brown with a thin head that fades to leave light wisps.

S - Aromas of light toffee, decent toasty malts, light light hops. Really nice biscuit notes.

T - Taste is similar to the nose, loads of biscuit malts, nice toffee, good light caramel, light hop presence bitterness, decent mineral notes.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, bit thin.

O - Overall this was a solid English mild. Nice toasty notes.

Serving type: can
Jun 03, 2016
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Light fizzy head fades at a quick pace, hazy copper iced tea brown color.

Nose nice interesting malts, touch biscuit, caramel candy notes, honey malt, little rye or some herbal exotic malt, copper malts, into mild grassy herbal hops, little bitter rind and grassy earthy mossy hops.

Taste brings more malts, light overall footprint but nice flavors, honey malt, biscuit, toffee, caramel notes, more rye like exotic malt, into mild grassy hops, earthy and a touch spicy, mossy earthy hops late, more cooper malts, little earthy mineral steinbier malt thing. Finish drier more bitter earthy mossy grassy hops, interesting malts.

Mouth is lighter bod, decent but lighter carb.

Overall pretty solid for a mild, nice malt profile, decent hops, wish the carbonation was a bit more.
Jun 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.15 by psmith161 from Indiana

Jun 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Warren2621 from Indiana

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by GRG1313 from California

May 22, 2016
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
With the dominance of American style ale on the beer landscape, styles like English mild ale, ESB and bitter struggle for attention among brewers, customers and retailers. But when the styles are done properly, they can be marvelous. And thanks to the talented team at 18th Street, these authentic tasting beers aren't in the grave quite yet.

Steel Hands is an Extra Special Bitter that would have out-priced many of the mid-19th century working men, but in today's beer culture, the ale delights the eye of the beer aficionado with a billiant bronzen-mahogany hue. Masculine in its pour, its lathery off-white froth is sturdy and lacy while a gentle swirl releases a malt-centric perfume of toasted biscuit, toffee, floral hop and tethers of citrus and pine. Its sweetness gently rolls onto the front of the tongue with savory toffee, biscotti, candied pecan and granola.

As the flavors open on the middle palate, its juicy malt flavors blend in with the natural esters of the yeast for grilled suggestions of orange and apricot, leading to a taste of marmalade. While the malts are almost cake-like, its balance of bitterness trends broad and woodsy on the throat. Herbal with hints of pepper and sassafras, the taste is complex yet effortless.

Its medium-firm texture is fully malted but only moderately sweet. Trending dry and hoppy, the sweetness doesn't labor the mouth but rather provides a juicy sweetness that dissolves easily in finish. A crisp iron-like snap facilitates dryness and hops for an extended session that's chocked full of a culinary art that's losing traction... unfortunately.
May 13, 2016
Steel Hands from 18th Street Brewery - Gary Taproom
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 35 ratings