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ESB Special Ale
Ska Brewing Co.
- From:
- Ska Brewing Co.
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 5.7%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.58 | pDev: 12.85%
- Reviews:
- 185
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 26, 2019
- Added:
- Oct 26, 2003
- Wants:
- 16
- Gots:
- 33
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jazzyjeff13:
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England
3.58/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A 355ml can with a BB of Nov 2012, so it's a little out of date. Picked up from Trembling Madness in York a while back and stored in my garage. Hopefully it's still in good condition - I'm interested to see how an ESB made by a US brewer turns out. Lip Up Fatty...
Poured into a tulip pint glass. Can conditioned. A hazy orange-amber hue with medium carbonation and visible sediment. Yields a decent head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before settling as a surface layer. Aroma of grainy malt with hints of caramel, fruity ale yeast, faint sugar, earthiness and stewed hops. Slightly sweet, with subtle undertones of pine resin.
Tastes of grainy caramel malt with a dry bitter finish. Notes of caramel, mild brown sugar, fruity ale yeast, subtle pine, earthiness, husks and stewed leaves. A restrained bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and slightly spicy, with decent carbonation and nice body. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of caramel malt, ale yeast and faint pine.
A solid brew that goes down nicely. The aroma and flavour are primarily malt-driven, though a hint of hoppy pine makes itself known. The body is lovely and velvety-smooth. It doesn't quite fit the profile of an English ESB - the malt character is less fruity and complex than it should be and the aromatic hops don't match the style either. However, it is certainly very drinkable and well worth sampling if you should come across it.
Feb 03, 2013Poured into a tulip pint glass. Can conditioned. A hazy orange-amber hue with medium carbonation and visible sediment. Yields a decent head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before settling as a surface layer. Aroma of grainy malt with hints of caramel, fruity ale yeast, faint sugar, earthiness and stewed hops. Slightly sweet, with subtle undertones of pine resin.
Tastes of grainy caramel malt with a dry bitter finish. Notes of caramel, mild brown sugar, fruity ale yeast, subtle pine, earthiness, husks and stewed leaves. A restrained bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and slightly spicy, with decent carbonation and nice body. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of caramel malt, ale yeast and faint pine.
A solid brew that goes down nicely. The aroma and flavour are primarily malt-driven, though a hint of hoppy pine makes itself known. The body is lovely and velvety-smooth. It doesn't quite fit the profile of an English ESB - the malt character is less fruity and complex than it should be and the aromatic hops don't match the style either. However, it is certainly very drinkable and well worth sampling if you should come across it.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
2.75/5 rDev -23.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.75/5 rDev -23.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Murky (but see-through) orange-yellow color.
Bright white, frothy head; nice lacing.
Corn & bread in the nose.
Thin mouthfeel.
Corn flavor; macro lager back end.
I will avoid this beer until my dying day; this style has never been a favorite but this is just bad.
Mar 17, 2019Bright white, frothy head; nice lacing.
Corn & bread in the nose.
Thin mouthfeel.
Corn flavor; macro lager back end.
I will avoid this beer until my dying day; this style has never been a favorite but this is just bad.
Rated by bks71 from Colorado
3.04/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
3.04/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
It's fine, but more IPA than ESB IMHO.
May 12, 2017Rated by Eddie_Kobane from Illinois
2.97/5 rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.97/5 rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Not their best beer. But worth a try. Pretty bitter.
Apr 24, 2017Reviewed by DrMullet from Florida
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a copper color with medium head.
Smell is sweet malt and some fruit.
Taste is caramel /toffee up front followed quickly by earthy malt moderate bitterness.
Tastes better than is smells. Very nice ESB.
Mar 05, 2017Smell is sweet malt and some fruit.
Taste is caramel /toffee up front followed quickly by earthy malt moderate bitterness.
Tastes better than is smells. Very nice ESB.
Reviewed by deanhead from Vermont
4/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Crisp and dry with some butter, malty biscuity notes. Notes of honey interwoven with some hints of clover.
Deep rich copper color with a nice head and plenty of lace. Rich malty beer.
Light bodied and highly effervescent.
Nov 29, 2016Deep rich copper color with a nice head and plenty of lace. Rich malty beer.
Light bodied and highly effervescent.
Reviewed by larryarms847 from Illinois
3.5/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear reddish brown with a tight head.
Caramel, toffee, and slight earthy hop aroma.
Biscuits, caramelly malt sweetness, earthy/mild spice hop bitterness.
Light-bodied, low carbonation.
Overall, an easy drinking beer.
May 15, 2016Caramel, toffee, and slight earthy hop aroma.
Biscuits, caramelly malt sweetness, earthy/mild spice hop bitterness.
Light-bodied, low carbonation.
Overall, an easy drinking beer.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.5/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Almost light brown appearance, some dark auburn/amber and whatnot up in there. Caramel forward, minor earthy hop aroma.
Taste hit the bitter and hop notes appropriate to style, a little malty and woody, minor citrus flavors. Good golf beer, especially now that it is in a can. Solid 2nd tier esb stuff.
Mar 21, 2016Taste hit the bitter and hop notes appropriate to style, a little malty and woody, minor citrus flavors. Good golf beer, especially now that it is in a can. Solid 2nd tier esb stuff.
ESB Special Ale from Ska Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
402 ratings
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