Extra Special Oak (ESO)
Element Brewing Company

Extra Special Oak (ESO)Extra Special Oak (ESO)
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From:
Element Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
7.75%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 14.29%
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
115
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 12, 2017
Added:
May 11, 2010
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  15
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sneaks2210:
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Rated by sneaks2210 from New York

2.5/5  rDev -33.9%

Nov 15, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.14 by runeatdrink from New Jersey

Jul 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by h4ger from Connecticut

Feb 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by gratefulbeerhead from Indiana

Jul 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by sparx1100 from Minnesota

Dec 26, 2015
Photo of jimboothdesigns
Reviewed by jimboothdesigns from Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
An amazing English Ale. Quite the pop when the cork came out. Took a minute to find where it landed. Pours a beautiful copper color. Nice long lasting frothy head and good level of carbonation. The smell is smokey and spicy. Some vanilla sweetness as well. Taste is just as amazing as the smell but without the spice. Nice medium creamy feel from start to finish. Fantastic beer, one of my favorites this year.
Nov 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Nov 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by 2beerdogs from California

Oct 04, 2015
Photo of Evilyak
Reviewed by Evilyak from Minnesota

4.04/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reddish brown with a finger of white head.

This thing is great. It's not perfect, but it hits all of the bases. Doughy with some spice. Sweet and sugary, with no bitterness at all. Clean, with that cinnamon gum aftertaste.

Oddly drinkable
Oct 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

Jul 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.39 by DIPAFAN from New Jersey

Jun 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by dleiner from New York

Jun 15, 2015
Photo of Uzarnayme
Rated by Uzarnayme from Vermont

2.8/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
Not as impressive as some of elements other offerings. Has a stale/flat taste to it.
May 24, 2015
Photo of GregBarleycorn13
Reviewed by GregBarleycorn13 from New York

4.16/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
First off, had to pop the cork with a loud pop. Poured a deep copper with lots off carbonation. I had to pour slowly so not to have too much foam. As it was there was a good two inches, which made the beer look even better. The smell was of a normal ESB. The taste came thru alot better. Smooth. Even after finishing the big 750ml bottle, I stiil wanted more. DeCicco's had this one reduced to $2.99. This was my second Element and hitting 2 for 2. Gots to find more.
May 05, 2015
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Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota

3.05/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
A long-time want showed up in MN & I saw the price tag & went “WTF?” But recently saw it marked down to $4.99, which is about what I was willing to pay for it. 750ML bottle wrapped in hobo newspaper split with my wife.

The pour is a dull orange/brown, a shade lighter than polished oak. Plenty of carbonation. The smell runs full tilt to toffee & wood: not subtle, but nice.

Extra Special Oak (ESO) is about as special as a $4M baseball player (i.e. not). The wood hits me upside the head like a right-handed Al Capone, drying, drying, drying. Lots of toffee in the middle along with burnt sugar, herbal toast, vague, it’s-OK-I-was-almost-done-with-you-anyway bitterness. The back end knocks down the appeal as it slinks into a weird, earthy, muddy aftertaste that sticks around like a bad C. J. Cherryh novel (sorry, redundant, or is that redumbdant?). Half a bomber is plenty.

I used to have quite an ESB tooth, but I’ve abstained for quite some time. This isn’t half bad, but that aftertaste, eh, it begs for a toothbrush. Just decent.
Apr 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by Ian_B from Massachusetts

Jan 18, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.69/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Vanilla, spice, and a faint sherry note first engage the nose, and then light hop aromas, malt and slight caramel with a hint of fruit become more apparent. It pours brilliant copper amber under a fluffy 1” off white foam cap. The palate really highlights the oak in a masterful way with vanilla, a slight mustiness that suggests a bourbon with considerably less alcohol. Behind this lurks a nutty, graham cracker, fruity ESB flavors. Above average carbonation also masks the ESB qualities a little bit as does a creamy texture. The body is just above medium. Almost like a jazz riff on an ESB.
Jan 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Rideguy64 from New Hampshire

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Chuck_IPA_Mathus from Massachusetts

Oct 27, 2014
Extra Special Oak (ESO) from Element Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 115 ratings