-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Sir William's ESB
Dragonmead Microbrewery
- From:
- Dragonmead Microbrewery
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.6 | pDev: 13.33%
- Reviews:
- 38
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 05, 2020
- Added:
- Oct 14, 2002
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 1
Another fine example of the English style. This Bitter is more robust than the best bitter but still with an excellent balance between hops and malt. Pale Ale Malt along with Aromatic and Crystal malts combine with the Galena and Fuggles hops to create a sure-fire favorite.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cryptichead:
Rated by cryptichead from Illinois
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Aug 21, 2015
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Aug 21, 2015
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by SaltofOH from Ohio
3.43/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Bottle, no visible date. Bought this at that crappy place in Ann Arbor downtown where all the singles are out of date, not refrigerated, and in the sun. But I was there less than 24 hours and had work to do, so that's the best I could do. May be years old, some bottles were. Tulip pint.
A: Pours a hazy light brown with three fingers of foamy off-white head. Can't really see whether there is carb or not. Outstanding head retention. Some spotty lacing.
S: straight out of the fridge there is a little toasted grain and butterscotch. As it warms the butterscotch becomes caramel, and there are some mild fruity esters there in the background.
T: holy diacetyl, Batman! Arrives sweet, with loads of butterscotch. A little toasted malt on the middle, but mostly sweet grain, buttered popcorn, and butterscotch. A touch too sweet for the style. Finish is quite clean, though, with a little flash of an Earthy and woodsy English hop that finishes quite clean.
M: lighter side of mid-weight, moderate carb, somewhat astringent on the finish. Probably the best part of this beer.
O: I can't get this where I live, and I love ESBs, but I'm not heartbroken. This is a bit too sweet and although I like diacetyl in English beers, this takes it too far. Perhaps due to age; it really foamed up when I poured it, and there were bottles in that shop that were literally 4 years old. IPAs even. Glad I tried it, would not buy again.
Sep 11, 2016A: Pours a hazy light brown with three fingers of foamy off-white head. Can't really see whether there is carb or not. Outstanding head retention. Some spotty lacing.
S: straight out of the fridge there is a little toasted grain and butterscotch. As it warms the butterscotch becomes caramel, and there are some mild fruity esters there in the background.
T: holy diacetyl, Batman! Arrives sweet, with loads of butterscotch. A little toasted malt on the middle, but mostly sweet grain, buttered popcorn, and butterscotch. A touch too sweet for the style. Finish is quite clean, though, with a little flash of an Earthy and woodsy English hop that finishes quite clean.
M: lighter side of mid-weight, moderate carb, somewhat astringent on the finish. Probably the best part of this beer.
O: I can't get this where I live, and I love ESBs, but I'm not heartbroken. This is a bit too sweet and although I like diacetyl in English beers, this takes it too far. Perhaps due to age; it really foamed up when I poured it, and there were bottles in that shop that were literally 4 years old. IPAs even. Glad I tried it, would not buy again.
Reviewed by srv33 from Michigan
3.56/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a very dark brown into my tulip glass with a quickly dissipating head and decent fine lacing. Scent of apples, malt, and coffee, an interesting combo. Taste is a good balance between bitter hops and a decent malt backbone. Mouthfeel is medium light with little carbonation. Overall a good brew but nothing to get too excited about, my least favorite of the Dragonmead brews i've had to date (Under the Kilt and Final Absolution, both fine beers.)
Aug 15, 2013
Sir William's ESB from Dragonmead Microbrewery
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
63 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!