Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
Propeller Brewing Co

Extra Special Bitter (ESB)Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
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From:
Propeller Brewing Co
 
Nova Scotia, Canada
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #20
ABV:
5%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,908
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 9.3%
Reviews:
98
Ratings:
163
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 25, 2023
Added:
Jul 30, 2002
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  13
Bitter was originally a draught ale served very fresh under no pressure (gravity or hand pump dispensing only) at cellar temperatures. Lucky for you today its available everywhere!

Our ESB is a rich, full-bodied English-style bitter, brewed with carefully selected malts and hops. This copper coloured, English styled ale is our best seller. Smooth, Full bodied and All Natural, like all our beers.

Our most popular brew is not really a bitter beer, it's a better Bitter!

30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by abust:
Photo of abust
Rated by abust from Canada (NB)

4/5  rDev +3.4%

Dec 18, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Jun 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

Sep 06, 2022
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
473 ml can served at cellar temperature into a pint glass. AN LCBO purchase for $3.15 CDN.

Appearance - Dark amber colored brew, some clarity and just a dark enough shade to make it hard to see through. Three fingers of light tan head rest on top and stay awhile leaving some sparse lacing at the edges of the glass.

Smell - Dark fruits of fall with pears and plums making way for a soft caramel aroma and some floral perfumey bits as well. A very understated leafy citrusy hop combo shines through mid sniff. Robust and diverse array of aromas.

Taste - Nice initial bitterness, subtle hints at fruity flavors and melds into a crackery and biscuit laden goodness afterwards.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, carbonation is slight, and a touch more sticky than other ESB's, somehow it pulls off being British better than most North American imposters.

Overall - Yeah this is some pretty darn good stuff, one of my more enjoyed ESB's of the last few years. Will have to pick up some of these. Good job East Coast friends.
Mar 26, 2019
Photo of Pmicdee
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
March 19 2019
Mar 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.78 by nullbort from Canada (ON)

Feb 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.98 by Elzevirien from Canada (QC)

Sep 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Jul 09, 2018
Photo of ewpass
Reviewed by ewpass from Canada (PE)

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear copper colour with a large rocky head with excellent lacing. Light caramel malt nose. Noticeably bitter to the taste, along with malt and some caramel. Somewhat thin but eminently smooth and quaffable.
Sep 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by Mikexw from New York

Jul 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.57 by Nucleosynthesis from Massachusetts

Mar 05, 2017
Photo of Jerseyislandbeer
Reviewed by Jerseyislandbeer from Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A 650ml bottle which was a gift from friends who visited Nova Scotia. It pours a copper colour with a loose cream coloured head. Aroma has lots if bread with sweet grains, biscuit & toffee. Tastes of toffee, hay & straw with sweet grains, mild roast and a touch of biscuit leading to a very well balanced malt medium bitter finish.
Dec 17, 2016
Photo of souvenirs
Reviewed by souvenirs from Canada (BC)

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: Brown and clear with tan head
S: Nutty malt, just a bit of hops
T: Roasted malt flavours -- mostly coffee -- and grassy hops to finish.
F: Silky. Maybe a bit crisper than the style would suggest.
Dec 17, 2016
Photo of Borbly
Reviewed by Borbly from Canada ()

4.34/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a deep Amber body with a finger of soapy white head that dissipates to a milky film. The scent has faint amounts of cocoa and coffee with a malty sweetness. Hops are subdued. The taste starts with a coffee bitterness, with toffee and caramel in the middle finishing with floral hoppiness. Wicked beer, I really like the stuff
Aug 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by Jesterr44 from Canada (ON)

Aug 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.79 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Jul 31, 2016
Photo of JayQue
Reviewed by JayQue from Virginia

3.77/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Good ESB. Subtle but a lot going on with it. Another purchase at the Ingonish Nova Scotia NSLC store. Pours a light hazy amber with a lot of reddish light coming through. Medium size off-white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma is toasted malt and aromatic floral hops. Taste is mildly malty with some fruit and a bit of toffee thrown in. A bit of bitterness at the end rounds things off with floral hops. Mouthfeel is light and slightly sweet, Mild bitterness provides some balance. This beer is true to style and makes for a pleasant drink.
Jul 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by kuhndog from New York

Jul 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.01 by Powers30 from Canada (NB)

Jul 01, 2016
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.79/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
On tap in Annapolis Royal, NS.
Deep copper body topped with a creamy, semi-durable bone colored head.
The aroma and flavor are both lightly spicy and slightly more hoppy than malty. Very mild bitterness.

Overall: very nice although not as bold a I'd like.
May 31, 2016
Extra Special Bitter (ESB) from Propeller Brewing Co
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 163 ratings