Velvet ESB
Hopworks Brewery
- From:
- Hopworks Brewery
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #134 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #33,240 - Avg:
- 3.65 | pDev: 13.15%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 14
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 28, 2025
- Added:
- May 05, 2009
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
This English Session Beer has a delicious floral hop aroma and flavor. A heaping helping of organic caramel malt and touch of organic chocolate malt give this beer its beautiful mahogany color while organic oats from Bob’s Red Mill velvetize the texture. Smoother than an infomercial host at half the price! 13.5°, 30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by CoasterRider from Washington
4.29/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Very good ESB, though it doesn't have the bitterness of most ESB's due to the oats, which make this a really good beer in my opinion. Rated 9-19-2020
Jan 28, 2025
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
4.18/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.18/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
on draft at the HUB location in PDX airport - served in nonic pint glass
clear, dark amber color with thin cream colored head. Nice caramel malt flavor, good depth of flavor but not too sweet. thin to medium bodied.
Apr 24, 2023clear, dark amber color with thin cream colored head. Nice caramel malt flavor, good depth of flavor but not too sweet. thin to medium bodied.
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.5/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
more of an american amber to me than an esb in almost every way, not bad beer, but didnt hit on the style really either, so mixed feelings on this one. stoked to see a new offering on tap in this market from them, so i guess thats the first thing, but this is brick red and deep for an esb, lacks the bready richness of english grain and instead has a kiled toasted nutty american red beer vibe to me, not to mention it being a little hoppy in the nose, pine and citrus peel to me, not out of place but sturdy for an esb, and the ferment seems rather minimal, if this is an english yeast strain its been deployed pretty chilly and patiently, essentially this just doesnt really seem very english to me. that said, i like the deeper malt layers, hints of pipe tobacco and leather and its still not that sweet, cherry wood, raisin, and even prune notes, but also toffee and almond and biscuit. some palate linger from the hops but again they are still in balance, and this is fresh and vibrant feeling beer, even if its not quite what i expected. less carbonation and more body than i want, so its a little slow moving, but it warms up well and hits for a malty pint, not bad, not amazing. i wanted and expected just a bit more authenticity here...
Mar 11, 2022
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia
3.68/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On cask at brewery:
Rusty brown, quite clear with a rim of froth that provides very nice lacing.
Nose is a tad weak, but mostly an earthy to tea-like maltiness with an herbal bitterness.
Taste is similar to nose, but with a brown bread maltiness. Bitterness is decent, but the overall taste ends up more balanced. Feel is a tad heavier than I'd like, but fairly clean.
Dec 22, 2016Rusty brown, quite clear with a rim of froth that provides very nice lacing.
Nose is a tad weak, but mostly an earthy to tea-like maltiness with an herbal bitterness.
Taste is similar to nose, but with a brown bread maltiness. Bitterness is decent, but the overall taste ends up more balanced. Feel is a tad heavier than I'd like, but fairly clean.
Reviewed by vkv822 from Oregon
3.55/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
64oz growler
Pours a clear, dark brown with amber highlights and a thin foamy, off white head.
Lightly roasty, nutty and cocoa notes.
Tasty, interesting take on the ESB style.
Sep 23, 2015Pours a clear, dark brown with amber highlights and a thin foamy, off white head.
Lightly roasty, nutty and cocoa notes.
Tasty, interesting take on the ESB style.
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