ESB Special Ale
Ska Brewing Co.

ESB Special AleESB Special Ale
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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:
402
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:
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

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A 355ml can with a BB of Nov 2012, so it's a little out of date.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, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.48 by Kolb from Montana

Apr 26, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
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
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, 2019
Photo of bks71
Rated by bks71 from Colorado

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, 2017
Photo of Eddie_Kobane
Rated by Eddie_Kobane from Illinois

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, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by akolb from Colorado

Apr 23, 2017
Photo of DrMullet
Reviewed by DrMullet from Florida

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, 2017
Photo of deanhead
Reviewed by deanhead from Vermont

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, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by Mattias from Sweden

Oct 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.49 by Determined_021 from New Mexico

Oct 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.95 by JustinPStewart from Texas

May 28, 2016
Photo of larryarms847
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
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, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by MizzouBrew from Missouri

Mar 31, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
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
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, 2016
 
Rated: 3.39 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Feb 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by OriginalWayOut from North Carolina

Feb 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4.99 by ehmdubya from Missouri

Jan 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by chimneysweep from Colorado

Nov 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.47 by Keepnitrl from Washington

Nov 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by firkingroovin from Illinois

Nov 13, 2015
ESB Special Ale from Ska Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 402 ratings