Winter Storm Warning Imperial E.S.B.
Sun King Brewing Company

 

 

poured a clean, clear, translucent maple syrup brown from a growler grabbed a few days ago to a dogfish head off centered shaped pint glass with a finger and a half long lasting head with retention and lace left to the rim of the glass.

subtle nutty aroma, caramel, brown sugars, sweet malts, no hop presence in the nose.

great big flavor upon the first sip, sweet, malty, nutty, big and brown. the hops make themselves known toward the back of the tongue. nice well-balanced mild bitter, and a bit of a hot bite going down.

light bodied, mild bitter, medium carbonation, smooth and slick.

drinkable - sure, maybe 2-3 pints.

served on tap at macniven's. on a crappy wintery night, no less.

appearance is a hazy mahogany, slightly brown deep in the coloring, barely transparent. very decent lacing coming down the glass.

extremely mild aroma, caramel malts and the slightest bitterness from the hops. subdued.

bombastic flavor, great smash of burnt malts and almond right in front, subsiding into its latent sweetness. mimics a pale ale in mild hop character rather than the expected esb bitterness and nuttiness. balanced and hides the alcohol well.

creamy mouthfeel, a little sticky. low carbonation level, but not slick either.

sneaky alcohol content. smooth and hoppy enough, but not over the edge. yet another very good offering from what is, I believe unquestionably, the best brewer located in indianapolis.