Lavender Extra Special Oak (LESO)
Element Brewing Company
- From:
- Element Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- English Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 7.75%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.77 | pDev: 12.2%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Nov 03, 2015
- Added:
- Aug 23, 2012
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
We have taken our E.S.O. (Extra Special Oak) and "dry-hopped’ it with fresh, organic lavender from South Deerfield, MA. Complex flavors from oak aging are finished with a bright lavender aroma. Very limited release in late summer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Maryobeerian from Illinois
3.92/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Yum. One of a kind that is distinctive in its flavor profile but not at all like a cheap trick. Light, enjoyable, one of a kind. Definite and surprising lavender/ Had at Hop and Vines in WIlliamstown, Ma
Nov 03, 2015
Reviewed by beer4colin from Massachusetts
4.14/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.14/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
At Union Brewhouse.
Pours a nice clear dark straw with minimal head.
Nice floral nose translates to the taste. Lavender is very well done, subdued. With the oak this is very complex. Nice toast on the finish.
A fan of Element, I need to look for bottles of this.
Sep 09, 2013Pours a nice clear dark straw with minimal head.
Nice floral nose translates to the taste. Lavender is very well done, subdued. With the oak this is very complex. Nice toast on the finish.
A fan of Element, I need to look for bottles of this.
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
4/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: 1/3 inch head, medium carbonation, clear, purplish-brown in color
Smell: Lavender dominates, slight oak and toasted malt
Taste: the start is toasted malt light oak, chocolate, and alcohol. Lavender pops in mid taste and dominates to the end.
Mouthfeel: light body, medium carbonation, sweet and oaky with light bitterness.
Overall: I like lavender and this is about as lavender forward a beer as I have ever had. This may not be a hit for everyone, but I really enjoyed this one and its base beer as well. This one has me curious enough to try other Element beers.
Aug 12, 2013Smell: Lavender dominates, slight oak and toasted malt
Taste: the start is toasted malt light oak, chocolate, and alcohol. Lavender pops in mid taste and dominates to the end.
Mouthfeel: light body, medium carbonation, sweet and oaky with light bitterness.
Overall: I like lavender and this is about as lavender forward a beer as I have ever had. This may not be a hit for everyone, but I really enjoyed this one and its base beer as well. This one has me curious enough to try other Element beers.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
3.87/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.87/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a bubbly fizzy head that attempts to rise to 1 finger but is quickly pushed back to pretty much nothing, semi clear auburn apple juice like brown color.
Nose explodes with lavender, its like those aromatic things my wife puts in the bathroom to make it smell nice, a bit of a lavender soap almost, herbal and aromatic, don't think I've ever smelled a beer like this, ever! A slight herbal thyme aroma as well, and some malts underneath with a bit caramel darker reddish malts, little syrupy, toffee, and some stone apple like fruits from the yeast with hints of esters.
Taste has a lavender and herbal start with bready toasted malts. The lavender comes on strong, then quickly fades for the malts, but then shoots back in waves. An herbal flavor that reminds me of thyme again, and rosemary as well, a very herbal flavor. Effervescent herbs and lavender give way to malts, a little bready and biscuit, with a toasted flavor, almost like pure toast (toasted bread), and light toffee. There is more fruity esters again from the yeast, with a slight yeasty aftertaste. A fair sweetness brings more candy flavors, and almost like candied lavender which is interesting, and touch of phenols with the booze that comes out a bit through the sweetness. Finish brings some warming booze, drinks like its a bit more than 8%, with a little sticky and sweet finish, lots of lingering lavender, thyme and rosemary herbs, and a bit of toffee caramel sweet malts.
Mouth is med to fuller bodied, decent carb, some warming booze.
Overall interesting but hard to drink. The lavender really explodes on all fronts, and adds an herbal flavor that seems like a cross between potpourri and an herbal chicken dish. Lots of the aromatics and effervescent, the beer itself shows through a little with some sweet candy malts, light esters, and a bit of booze. But the lavender is so overpowering it's hard to drink. I'm glad I got to try it, its a very unique beer, but I wish I opened it with a few other people as I now have to finish a 750 by myself. Although it will slow my beer drinking for the night.
Oct 06, 2012Nose explodes with lavender, its like those aromatic things my wife puts in the bathroom to make it smell nice, a bit of a lavender soap almost, herbal and aromatic, don't think I've ever smelled a beer like this, ever! A slight herbal thyme aroma as well, and some malts underneath with a bit caramel darker reddish malts, little syrupy, toffee, and some stone apple like fruits from the yeast with hints of esters.
Taste has a lavender and herbal start with bready toasted malts. The lavender comes on strong, then quickly fades for the malts, but then shoots back in waves. An herbal flavor that reminds me of thyme again, and rosemary as well, a very herbal flavor. Effervescent herbs and lavender give way to malts, a little bready and biscuit, with a toasted flavor, almost like pure toast (toasted bread), and light toffee. There is more fruity esters again from the yeast, with a slight yeasty aftertaste. A fair sweetness brings more candy flavors, and almost like candied lavender which is interesting, and touch of phenols with the booze that comes out a bit through the sweetness. Finish brings some warming booze, drinks like its a bit more than 8%, with a little sticky and sweet finish, lots of lingering lavender, thyme and rosemary herbs, and a bit of toffee caramel sweet malts.
Mouth is med to fuller bodied, decent carb, some warming booze.
Overall interesting but hard to drink. The lavender really explodes on all fronts, and adds an herbal flavor that seems like a cross between potpourri and an herbal chicken dish. Lots of the aromatics and effervescent, the beer itself shows through a little with some sweet candy malts, light esters, and a bit of booze. But the lavender is so overpowering it's hard to drink. I'm glad I got to try it, its a very unique beer, but I wish I opened it with a few other people as I now have to finish a 750 by myself. Although it will slow my beer drinking for the night.
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