Winter ESB
The Schlafly Tap Room

Winter ESBWinter ESB
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From:
The Schlafly Tap Room
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 12.96%
Reviews:
157
Ratings:
327
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 09, 2016
Added:
Jan 09, 2002
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  32
Our Winter ESB (Extra Special Bitter) may have the word “bitter” in its name, but the key to this style is balance. The combination of malts and hops creates a toasty, fruity flavor. Our ESB is dry hopped with a US grown hop varietal called Williamette, which has a pronounced spicy, lemon flavor.

In the early 1970’s, brewers in London and the south of England expanded the range of beers available in pubs, reacting to the wave of European lagers moving into the British pub scene. In addition to the ordinary bitters and pale ales, brewers developed recipes for stronger premium ales like ESB, special bitter and special pale ale. These beers contributed to the English traditional ale revival of the 1980’s, making their way into the beer portfolios of many American craft breweries.

30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by boatshoes:
Photo of boatshoes
Reviewed by boatshoes from Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Received this in an awesome package of generosity from rsyberg01 as a received in the recent holiday sponsor a BA. Thanks again Ric!

Appearance- Pours a darker shade of amber with about a half finger of beige head sitting on top. Dies back pretty quickly but leaves a coating across the top of the beer that lasts throughout. Lots of beading and some mild amounts of lace left.

Smell- Fairly muted nose with a mixture of sweet malt and some piney hops showing through. Somewhat understated.

Taste- Very mild. Lots of sweet caramel and bready malt showing through initially. However, a fair amount of balancing piney bitterness shows through on the finish. Pretty straightforward and not the most impressive example of the style I've had but nice all-around.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Mouthfeel is good and adequately carbonated. This one is a little strong to session, and I find the flavor a little to lacking to drink too many, but it did go down easy.

Overall, an unoffensive and fairly easy drinking beer. Not my favorite ESB however, and I would have hoped for more in the flavor. Nonetheless, nothing really off about this one.
Jan 22, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.1/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Those auburn color feels, amber, copper, light brown. A head forms around 1.25". Plenty of brown and caramel malt notes, underpinned by an earthy hop.

Taste holds back on the caramel sweetness, comes across more bland toffee, again, earthy hop presence. Makes you think of tobacco road a little bit. Mouthfeel isn't heavy or syrupy. Its an interesting maltier take on the esb style.
Sep 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.53 by dcotom from Iowa

Jul 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by aratcliffe from Kansas

Jan 23, 2016
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass from a bottle. Pours cloudy orange yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells of citrus and piney hops, with nice notes of sweet barley. Tastes of sweet grain with a little bit of citrus and very slight earthiness. Beer is light bodied, nicely carbonated, sessionable. Overall, a very good beer.
Dec 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by StL_Rob from Missouri

Nov 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by alexworsnip from North Carolina

Oct 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Seabass1964 from Arkansas

Oct 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by JamieDuncan from Maryland

Jun 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by ovaltine from Indiana

May 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.97 by andyjeigh from Oklahoma

May 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by sneth019 from Maryland

May 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.11 by chrismattlin from Ohio

Apr 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by dlmvh5150 from Pennsylvania

Apr 12, 2015
Photo of DevAJ
Rated by DevAJ from Missouri

2.5/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I'm just not all that into bitter beers and while the balance is quite good for being called a bitter, it's just not my favorite.
Apr 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by BPMeyer27 from Ohio

Mar 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by hoosier222002 from Illinois

Mar 29, 2015
Photo of JLaw55
Reviewed by JLaw55 from Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
As the description states, bitter is not the case with this one. This is a very balanced, malty brew with a hint of bitterness. The balance is amazing here though, with hints of nuts and roasted malt playing off the tongue.

Would Drink Again: Yes
Would Purchase Again: Yes
Mar 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by 31Sam13 from New Hampshire

Mar 04, 2015
Photo of Boblemo
Rated by Boblemo from Iowa

1.71/5  rDev -54.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
just did not care for it.
Mar 04, 2015
Winter ESB from The Schlafly Tap Room
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 327 ratings