Session Ale-Extra Special Bitter
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Session Ale-Extra Special BitterSession Ale-Extra Special Bitter
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From:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
English Bitter
ABV:
5%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.55 | pDev: 10.14%
Reviews:
41
Ratings:
130
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 03, 2021
Added:
Jan 01, 2016
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  20
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by chrisjduncan:
Photo of chrisjduncan
Reviewed by chrisjduncan from Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This beer reminded me why I love ESB's, even if it isn't the greatest one I have ever had. Strong earthy notes worthy of a spring release and a nice lightly carbonated mouthfeel that keeps a person coming back for more. While there are better ESB's, you likely won't find them at a chain grocer, but Sam Adams always finds a way into my house for a good reason when I hit the local shop, especially their seasonal packs. This is a fine example why.
Mar 09, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.29 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Aug 03, 2021
Photo of BWED
Reviewed by BWED from Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz. bottle poured into a willibecher

A- Dark gold, with nice clarity. Light dense head is just off white. Nice retention.

S- Light delicate floral and earthy hop notes. Malt also nice and delicate, toasty.

T- Again, delicate toast and floral flavors. Faint spice in the background.

M- Light body with a nice crisp finish. Light dull bitterness lingers until the next sip.

O- Like I've written before, delicate. Nice, light, and subtle. Enjoyable.
Jul 20, 2017
Photo of Libeertarian
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana

3.66/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From notes taken 02/09/17:

Semi-clear gold, would be butterscotch but for clarity. Some flaky haze to it almost undetected due to similar color. Lemon white foamy head of great retention. Jack Frost lacing. Nose of grain, zest, biscuit, light caramel or honey, mild citrus. After a while drinking it, smells more bread than anything, but that could be my saturated palate interfering. Strong with biscuits or crackers throughout, perfectly balanced with caramel malt tartness, lemon zest. Herbal tea, honey, lemongrass, and a small amount of assorted peppercorn in retro-olfaction. Lighter medium-bodied ale and sloshy with abundant, fine, dense and active carbonation, simmering down to a slightly tingly cream by the swallow.
Feb 24, 2017
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
To have missed this for over a year (which is as long as I have been reviewing beers), it seems as if I have been neglecting the master marketeer of the craft beer movement. (This is only my 16th from Sam.) So, I will launch right in.

This is a decent ESB: true to style and, also, true to the mainstream part of Sam's business strategy: make good beers, but close to the original. (Extreme is too small a market.)
Sam's ESB Session looks like the real deal. Light gold and lace coating the glass. It is undistinguished in smell. It'\s taste is malty and balanced by just enough hops to prevent sweetness. And its after-taste remains strong (true to style, but not my liking as I had to clean my palate before eating dinner.) But then, it is just a session... and it is doing its job.
Feb 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Sep 28, 2016
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

3.69/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear deep gold, producing 2+ fingers of somewhat lasting, foamy, white head that leaves thin ring, strings& motes of lacing. Aroma is caramel, floral, earth & faint spice. Taste is light toast, caramel, earth & a faint woodiness encased in a bitterness that rides smoothly into the crisp, dry & unclean finish but develops a roaring robustness in the long lasting aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, wet, spicy with a light prickliness & an astringent bitterness that won't go away.
Sep 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.52 by FBarber from Illinois

Jul 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.31 by thoglund from New York

Jun 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.35 by InsaneBeerLover from Illinois

May 28, 2016
Photo of PA-hunter
Reviewed by PA-hunter from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured 12 oz bottle into snifter glass. 5% abv

Appearance- Pours a hazy burnt orange with a lofty white head.

Smell- Lemon, grassy, citrusy

Taste- Toasted cracker with hints of caramel. Bit of a smoky quality yet still has some citric grapefruit sweetness, but minimal. Bits of lemon in there as well. Has a dry bitter finish with hints of pepper on the finish.

Mouthfeel- Medium in body with lively carbonation.

Overall- A satisfying easy drinking beer that has pararells with ipas, yet has the lighter body. A good mix up and worth a try. Good take on this hard to come by style.
May 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.39 by Furlinator from California

May 21, 2016
 
Rated: 2.98 by beaulabauve from Louisiana

May 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.29 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

May 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

May 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.54 by ToMakeEndsMeet from Texas

May 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by hegg4345 from Minnesota

May 04, 2016
Photo of Tsar_Riga
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - Clear golden orange body, with a moderate white head, with lots of lacing.

S - Lots of tea notes, steeped but not overdone, with a slight honey and floral note.

T - Following the nose, with a bit of lemon and tea suggesting instant iced tea, but surprising favorably, and floral notes into the middle, a more bitter close of over-steeped black tea.

M - A hint of drying on the close, but very light overall.

O - As the name suggests, sessionable, but with a bit more oomph than the standard ESB.
May 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Furley80 from Pennsylvania

May 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.63 by I3eer from Massachusetts

Apr 29, 2016
Session Ale-Extra Special Bitter from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 130 ratings