Otter Creek ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
Otter Creek Brewing

Otter Creek ESB (Extra Special Bitter)Otter Creek ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Otter Creek Brewing
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
83
Avg:
3.64 | pDev: 14.01%
Reviews:
62
Ratings:
67
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 04, 2015
Added:
Jan 18, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Apr 04, 2015
Photo of Amish_Ambush
Reviewed by Amish_Ambush from Tennessee

3.47/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Original Review on: 10-20-2006

Notes: Copper in color. With an aggressive pour, the beer displayed little head. Lacing was minimal. Medium notes of malt and hops in the aroma. The taste profile included an initial dose of a heavy hop/grapefruit note, this beer leans a little towards the hoppier side. The body was a little below average. I wouldn't call it watery, but.... Overall an above average beer but a average ESB.
Dec 31, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Dec 17, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by jak from North Carolina

Dec 14, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by rab53 from Washington

Dec 02, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of Gambrinus1184
Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12-ounce bottle into a plain tumbler.

A: Poured a nice medium amber body with a thin head of dense carbonation which retained fairly well throughout the brew.

S: Smells a bit piny and floral, but quite malty also, with a buttered biscuit aroma and clean malts.

T: Taste is a little sweet and malty at first, but the bitterness takes over even before it hits the back of your palate. The finish is not too harsh, and could even stand to be a bit more bitter. However, the balance here is undeniably well-crafted.

M: Mouthfeel is medium-bodied and a bit creamy with a dull bitter finish.

D: It made for a very nice session brew, and cut through the Blazin' Buffalo Doritos I was munching on. Good for a night of micro drinking.

I prefer Wolaver brews from this brewery, but this is one Otter Creek that I'd get again. Not as good as the Stovepipe Porter or even the classic Copper Ale, but a good ESB nonetheless.
Mar 03, 2008
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer pours an amber color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has an excellent malt scent that boasts of pale and crystal malts along with a mild hop aroma. I think the hop aroma could be a little more aggressive. The taste is good. It has a well balanced flavor. It has just enough malt content to balance the hop flavor. It's bitter, but nothing too over the top. It's mild and well recieved. The mouthfeel is fine. It's a medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is an above average ESB, nothing more. It's balanced and drinks well.
Jul 20, 2007
Photo of yourunclewalt
Reviewed by yourunclewalt from New York

2.49/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
A - Hazy orange-amber body, little head that recedes to lacing.

S- Bitter, resiny hops, smells like an Oktoberfest?

T - My first ESB so I'm not sure of the style; that said, it tastes like a sour ale with a bitter finish.

M - Creamier than I expected from the body, tangy aftertaste

D- A little too bitter for my tastes, but what did I expect from an "ESB"? While it's not my cup of tea, others I tasted this with enjoyed it and I can see it as a well-balanced version of the style
Jun 23, 2007
Photo of Sycodrummer
Reviewed by Sycodrummer from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from the 12oz. bottle into a nonic pint the beer was a medium brown color with a solid two-fingers of white creamy head. Almost nitro-head in appearance, very solid and considerable lacing.

The nose lends a slight hop profile back with a bready toasted malt aroma. A little biscutty with some traces of caramel and butterscotch.

The taste starts with a nice semi-sweet malt profile with some caramel and toffee coming through quite nicely and contributing to the perceived sweetness. This is balanced with some hoppiness in the finish. Not an over abundance of bitterness (as expected) but enough low hop character to offer balance to the sweet toasted maltiness and deliver the expected ESB qualities. A semi-firm breaddy finish with some hints of butterscotch.

Medium firm body, a little chewy mouthfeel as I expected and inline with most ESB's.

Drinkability is high as the beer is well balanced and not overly assertive in any one way. Perhaps a little much to session continuously but an enjoyable beer nonetheless.
May 12, 2007
Photo of Wasatch
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to NeroFiddled for this one.

Pours a nice clean/clear golden amber color, nice carbonation, nice small fizzy off-white head, some sticky lacing afterwards. The nose is sweet malty, with lots of caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, bitter, and lots of caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a nice one, glad to have had a chance to try it.
May 06, 2007
Photo of weasbri
Reviewed by weasbri from Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice coppery color with a good head of foam leaving a good lacing along the glass. I get a decent floral hop aroma, with the malt coming through as well.
The first sip brought me back to my last trip to England and trying the bitters there. Not the same thing though, I realize. The hops soon came through much more aggressively, with a good bit of a bite, but were well balanced all in all.
Apr 30, 2007
Photo of Liquids
Reviewed by Liquids from Connecticut

3.3/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Ppours a rich lively, truly red color with a one finger cream-colored
head and effervescent carbonation. Aroma is all hops up front, west coast style citric and pine dominate, with some earthy caramel malts behind that quietly, and some more spicy and noble hop varieties possible in there as well after a few sniffs. Taste is on the darker side of ESBs, as there's a definite char note in here, and the malt body is very caramel malt laden with the hop presence following afterward and not overtaking the malt bill but not being muted either - ESB's seem be best when a two-stage beer that makes the malt and hops more interesting one after the other, as opposed to IPA's where they compete for balance...the char note is most prevalent and really a turn off here to my taste.
None of the desirable toasty flavor etc. Mouthfeel is over carbonated burn but only slightly so, otherwise full for style.Overall, this was a let down. Not a bad beer, but really not enjoyable as the harsh charred malt dominates despite it being presumably such a small apart of the grain bill. Not one I'll ever drink again.
Apr 08, 2007
Photo of MaltyGoodness
Reviewed by MaltyGoodness from Pennsylvania

1.83/5  rDev -49.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
12oz. bottle

Pours a clear, rich, pretty copper color with a small white had that thins. Mild lacing on the glass.

Aroma is caramel malty with a big toasted nuttiness. Nice hop aroma.

Taste is caramel malty upfront wit some toasted nuttiness. A bitter bit appears with some hop flavor just before the taste becomes very metallic and unpleasant.. This beer just arrived at the store, so I know it's not old - but something is seriously wrong.

Medium-light body, mild carbonation.

Wow, what started out as a nice experience made a big turn for the worse. I can't possibly drink this. I had a few other people taste this to make sure I wasn't crazy and the reactions were all the same. Down the drain.
Mar 27, 2007
Photo of gpcollen1
Reviewed by gpcollen1 from Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a golden dark amber into my Imperial Pint. Yields a large off white head that quickly settles right down. Aromas head right into a bit of hops and submit to a bit of malty sweetness.

Hits the tongue with a bit of a fizz...malty sweet on the front and quickly begins a prolonged fade into nicely bittered hops. Just a tad dry on the finish, definitely leaving you wanting another sip. Body is in the light to medium range and definitely works for this brew.

Pretty good overall and way drinikable. Prefer bitters on cask but what the hey - thumbs up!
Mar 18, 2007
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a clear medium amber color with a foamy egg shell head that persists well and leaves splotches of lace

Smell: Rich caramel malt aroma with a slight grainy bitterness

Taste: Starts with a modestly flavored biscuity caramel backbone which is joined, after the swallow, by a grainy bitterness; both flavors fade quickly at the finish

Mouthfeel: A bit too watery with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: OK to drink but not a special ESB by any stretch
Mar 17, 2007
Photo of BeerTruth
Reviewed by BeerTruth from Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

This ESB from Otter Creek has a clear amber hue with a decent khaki colored head that seems to die down a bit after pour. Smell is an earthy spice with a nice hop background. A caramel malt is present but difficult to distinguish. Flavor is unique for an ESB. Has a bit of a nutty character with a hint of hops. I figured it would be more bitter from the smell, but malt seems to be more present in the flavor. Aftertaste is a bit dry. Carbonation is minimal. Drinkability is there with a good balance overall. I've had better ESB's, but this one isn't bad. Give it a try.
Mar 13, 2007
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Otter Creek's seemingly bottle-conditioned ESB pours a mostly clear orange-amber body beneath a short cap of frothy ivory foam. The head retention is good, and it leaves some nice areas of thin lace about the pint. The nose offers bright, grassy and leafy hops, and a sweet dollop of caramelish malt. The body is medium, and its very fine bubbled moderate carbonation gives a light tingle to the tongue before warming to become soft and smooth. The flavor is richly caramelish and biscuity upfront with a thread of yeasty fruitiness. The bitterness steps in, and leafy and grassy hops appear across the middle. Bready and toasty maltiness lingers in the finish along with some leafy hop notes and a solid bitterness. Well done! Quite drinkable!
Mar 13, 2007
Photo of tempest
Reviewed by tempest from New York

3.26/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This is a good beer, but a bad ESB. The flavors are too sharp and rich, not subtle, creamy, and smooth like I'm used to. It tastes nutty and a little grainy. It's still fairly easy to drink, but mostly just tastes like an odd American amber. Avoid this one if you like your ESB's true to form, otherwise its not bad.
Feb 26, 2007
Photo of mpyle
Reviewed by mpyle from Maryland

3.29/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Deep copper color, brilliant clarity. Large white head, tight bubbled and creamy, with some lace left behind as the head slowly recedes. Decent retention.

Clean aroma. A hint of earthy English style hops, and a tiny bit of caramel malt sweetness. A touch of alcohol.

Hop flavor and bitterness almost from the beginning - maltiness is buried. Maybe a hint of alcohol, but generally a lot of hop flavor, very earthy in nature. Finishes with body and a lingering hop note. Malt should be a bit more evident in this style.

Some alcohol warming. Medium body and carbonation. Fairly smooth and creamy, and overall a nice mouthfeel.

A hoppy English style beer with good body. Strong hop flavor and bitterness shines through, but could use a slightly bigger malty sweetness to balance the hops and provide an extra dimension early. That being said, a very drinkable beer.
Feb 18, 2007
Otter Creek ESB (Extra Special Bitter) from Otter Creek Brewing
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 67 ratings