ESB Amber
Saugatuck Brewing Company

ESB AmberESB Amber
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From:
Saugatuck Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.49 | pDev: 13.75%
Reviews:
31
Ratings:
130
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 26, 2017
Added:
Jul 20, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  18
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of shanegatter
Rated by shanegatter from Ohio

2.69/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Not bad, but not too impressive
Aug 26, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.54/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
I poured this into a pint glass. The appearance was a nice hazy looking amber to brown color. There was about a finger’s worth of foamy white head that once it dissipated there were some decent looking foamy rings. Carbonation was seen rising. The smell was bready and had some nice roasty caramel notes filling my nose. The taste was roasty and nutty bready sweetness with an in and out sort of caramel-ness. I didn’t get any aftertaste but the finish was actually quite smooth. The palate was fairly smooth and had a carbonation suited well for the ESB style as it had a somewhat creaminess running about it. Overall, I say this was a fairly good ESB worthy of having again.
Jul 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

May 19, 2016
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.92/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, copper color. 2/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of strong sweet malt, caramel malt, yeast, alcohol, hint of hop, and slight dark citrus. Fits the style of an Extra Special / Strong Bitter. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, hint of biscuit, caramel malt, slight yeast, alcohol, hint of hop, and slight dark citrus. Overall, slightly too sweet, complex, tasty, and good appearance.
May 18, 2016
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.51/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle. Poured out a clear, copper color with a small, off-white head of foam. It smelled of biscuity malt, caramel and floral notes. Sweet and roasty with a touch of citrus and bitterness.
May 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.53 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

May 08, 2016
 
Rated: 2.58 by BellsFan from Michigan

Apr 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by Gtg642 from Michigan

Mar 18, 2016
 
Rated: 2.59 by Raime from Korea (North)

Jan 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by n2492004 from Michigan

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.45 by chuckgietzen from Michigan

Dec 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by uccle81 from Michigan

Dec 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by scott2269 from Ohio

Sep 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by bigleague from Michigan

Sep 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Magister_Beav from Vermont

Sep 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by jvgoor3786 from Arkansas

Sep 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by schnjac from Michigan

Aug 04, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Brilliant amber, fluffy ¾” offwhite head, excellent lace, malt aroma, not much else, pleasant, drinkable ale with a little light toffee, some roast malts but very light touch, nuts, light fruit.
Jul 27, 2015
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.53/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
12oz bottle, part of the Saugatuck mixed-pack.

This beer pours a clear, medium copper amber hue, with one skinny finger of weakly foamy, and mostly just bubbly ecru head, which leaves some layered mesa-top lace around the glass as it slowly abates.

It smells of semi-sweet bready caramel malt, a soft earthy nuttiness, a bit of wet ash, and faint leafy, weedy, and grassy hops. The taste is lightly toasted caramel malt, oily bar-top nuts, some muddled domestic fruit bowl sweetness, brown sugar, and more plain earthy, leafy, and slightly floral hops.

The carbonation is quite light and ineffectual for the most part, the body a solid medium-heavy weight for the purported style, and generally smooth, a wee hoppy astringency finally getting its wings. It finishes on the sweet side, from various grainy malt and fruity esters alike.

Much more of an American nut brown ale in bearing, than an ESB - the hops just don't cut it. Tasty for what it is, though, as long as you're ok with an overload of maltiness, which my tongue usually rears back at after one standard serving - so, yeah - one and done, I'm afraid.
Jun 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.49 by Faunland from Wisconsin

Jun 19, 2015
ESB Amber from Saugatuck Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 130 ratings