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 pmcadamis:
Photo of pmcadamis
Reviewed by pmcadamis from Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
A - A big solid finger of creamy meringue froth rests atop this golden bronze amber brew. In fact, this beer is much the same color as the can when not held to the light. It's more gold when in direct light. The head shows some really nice retention and leaves a good deal of lace on the glass. This is a looker!

S - Sweet as hell in the nose! Brown sugar, maple syrup, mandarin oranges with the syrup and can included in the smell.

T - Again, sweet and syrupy. Brown sugar and maple syrup with some mandarin orange hop tones. Starts out extremely malty with a lot of complexity, and it's really hoppy and fruity on the finish.

M - Medium bodied, pretty dry, and conservatively carbonated. The finish is a work of art! The dry grainy and gritty feel is complimented by the smooth carbonation and round but not quite full body. Awesome!

D - I'm in awe of this brew...and it's in a can! A kick ass session brew, and one of the best ESBs I've ever had! Honestly, this may be my favorite session beer of all time...other than Dead Guy.
Nov 28, 2007
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