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Belk's ESB
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
- From:
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 6.8%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.78 | pDev: 11.9%
- Reviews:
- 357
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 03, 2021
- Added:
- Apr 25, 2001
- Wants:
- 22
- Gots:
- 14
Inspired by the classic “Bitters” from Great Britain, our Belk’s ESB is an innovative take on the style. With a deep, golden hue and big malty foundation, the spicy, herbal hop aromas and crisp, bitter bite give a West Coast flair to this classic recipe.
Formerly Boont ESB.
Formerly Boont ESB.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Thrasher:
Reviewed by Thrasher from Oregon
3.45/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
3.45/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Bright amber with full head that leaves lace. Mellow nose with some pleasant mustiness and good, grainy malts. Flavor is much too hoppy. If this was an IPA I could understand the bitterness, not to mention the alcoholic strength. I guess AV already has their IPA (and what a huge one it is) and this so-called "bitter" is just a step down from it. Doesn't qualify as a bitter, though, even though it is very bitter. A true English bitter is more balanced, with the malt playing perhaps the dominant role. Here, it takes a back seat to sharp spiky hops that are grassily pungent. Small sips as the beer mellows and warms give evidence to a nicely diverse malt profile, but you have to dig down deep to get past the blatant hops. Not being one who loves hops just for the sake of hops, I can't say I'm crazy about this. A true hophead may appreciate it much more.
Jan 27, 2003More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.38/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
12 fl. oz. bottle, as Boont ESB, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Hazy golden colour, big white head. Moderate but pleasant aroma of fruity American hops. The flavour has first a distinct malty sweetness, immediately followed by a powerful hoppiness. Overwhelmingly bitter finish and aftertaste with grapefruity and resinous notes, even hints of wormwood.
May 03, 2021Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey
3.82/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.82/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Orange yellow color.aroma is slightly floral and hops. A really well crafted beer that replicated the style well. Very well balanced as the bitterness didn't overpower but complimented the other aspects of this brew. I'm not a fan of bitter beer but this one was so well made and balanced that is was very enjoyable
Apr 28, 2017Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.58/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Copper color, looks pretty, 3/5" white head. Aroma hit the bitter C hop and noble notes. Enjoyable.
Taste, one of my favorite esb's actually. More bitter than most. But not grating. Good tea biscuit pale malt usage. Crushing these is pretty nice. Hides the alcohol really well, its like an imperialized version of traditional esb, without going overboard. There wasn't too much difference between this and a lot of the uber bitter 90s ipas.
Jul 01, 2016Taste, one of my favorite esb's actually. More bitter than most. But not grating. Good tea biscuit pale malt usage. Crushing these is pretty nice. Hides the alcohol really well, its like an imperialized version of traditional esb, without going overboard. There wasn't too much difference between this and a lot of the uber bitter 90s ipas.
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
3.46/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A 12 fl oz bottle with no visible best by or bottled date and poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: Poured a slightly hazy orangey copper colour with a one finger off white head that dissipates within a minute leaving some stringy lacing.
Aroma: A bit weak but what little I do get is caramel malts, some fruitiness like plum, pear, apple sauce and orange plus hints of mineral notes.
Taste: Strong caramel sweetness beginning and citrus grapefruit bitterness finish with hints of pine, grass and pepper in between.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with low carbonation and dry finish.
Overall: This was decent but nothing special. I think I may prefer it more if it had a little less of the caramel sweetness.
Aug 21, 2015Appearance: Poured a slightly hazy orangey copper colour with a one finger off white head that dissipates within a minute leaving some stringy lacing.
Aroma: A bit weak but what little I do get is caramel malts, some fruitiness like plum, pear, apple sauce and orange plus hints of mineral notes.
Taste: Strong caramel sweetness beginning and citrus grapefruit bitterness finish with hints of pine, grass and pepper in between.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with low carbonation and dry finish.
Overall: This was decent but nothing special. I think I may prefer it more if it had a little less of the caramel sweetness.
Belk's ESB from Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
546 ratings
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