Rockaway ESB
Rockaway Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Bitter - English Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #93 - ABV:
- 6.4%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #31,221 - Avg:
- 3.77 | pDev: 7.96%
- Reviews:
- 10
- Ratings:
- From:
- Rockaway Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 1
- Gots
- 15
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Notes:
An English-style ale with an American twist. Amber in color with a malty under structure. Accompanied by smooth hop characteristics to compliment a subtle sweetness.
Reviews: 10
| Ratings: 69
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
Reviews by david18:
More User Reviews:
Billolick from New York
3.86/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
tall boy can, w/o freshness info that I could find
Pours typical looking lighter almond amber, and the orig large head fading to a minimal film and leaving very minor lace.
Biscuity malt nose
Pleasant enough brew, malty, moderatly sweet, with a soft English style hop note on the finish.
Nice to enjoy an ESB in a can...nice change from the current wave after wave of IPAs
Jul 06, 2016
3.86/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
tall boy can, w/o freshness info that I could find
Pours typical looking lighter almond amber, and the orig large head fading to a minimal film and leaving very minor lace.
Biscuity malt nose
Pleasant enough brew, malty, moderatly sweet, with a soft English style hop note on the finish.
Nice to enjoy an ESB in a can...nice change from the current wave after wave of IPAs
Jul 06, 2016
wip998001 from Massachusetts
4.22/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Jan 19, 2021
4.22/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Jan 19, 2021
Gajo74 from New York
3.86/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Jacob’s Pickles, NYC.
Pours a clear golden color with a touch of amber. A large creamy head displays nice retention.
Aromas of nutty and biscuity malt, caramel, toffee, butterscotch and honey. There is also a touch of bubblegum, cinnamon like spices and floral hops.
Taste aligned with aroma. Malt forward and sweet with an emphasis on caramel, toffee, butterscotch, honey and biscuity malts. The hops provide subtle flavors of floral and earthy flavors along with a light bitterness. The finish is dry.
Medium bodied, smooth, buttery and with a gentle carbonation.
Well balanced overall. A nice example of an ESB.
May 10, 2019
3.86/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Jacob’s Pickles, NYC.
Pours a clear golden color with a touch of amber. A large creamy head displays nice retention.
Aromas of nutty and biscuity malt, caramel, toffee, butterscotch and honey. There is also a touch of bubblegum, cinnamon like spices and floral hops.
Taste aligned with aroma. Malt forward and sweet with an emphasis on caramel, toffee, butterscotch, honey and biscuity malts. The hops provide subtle flavors of floral and earthy flavors along with a light bitterness. The finish is dry.
Medium bodied, smooth, buttery and with a gentle carbonation.
Well balanced overall. A nice example of an ESB.
May 10, 2019
eluvah from New York
3.69/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 27, 2020
3.69/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 27, 2020
alexsergio from New York
3.85/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 14, 2019
3.85/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 14, 2019
bark from Sweden
2.85/5 rDev -24.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The colour is gold/pale amber; the liquid a bit hazy. The low white airy head dissolves quickly leaving no lacing.
The smell is mild. Some caramel/toffee, some yeasty/earthy notes. Hints of wet paint and lactose.
The taste is smooth with passing clean bitterness, caramel malts, rye crispbread and some alcohol. Hits of spices (anise, cumin). Light to medium body. The aftertaste is rather mild with some brown malt sweetness, clean hay-ish bitterness. Mixed dried fruits, alcohol and banana peels. The long finish got peel-y bitterness and caramel malt flavours.
The carbonation is strong and lager-like. Many short-lived mid-sized bubbles. The liquid is semi-smooth.
Not a bad ESB, and even if the brewery claims it is malt-focused, I find it more hoppy than the English beers in this style.
Sep 07, 2016
2.85/5 rDev -24.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The colour is gold/pale amber; the liquid a bit hazy. The low white airy head dissolves quickly leaving no lacing.
The smell is mild. Some caramel/toffee, some yeasty/earthy notes. Hints of wet paint and lactose.
The taste is smooth with passing clean bitterness, caramel malts, rye crispbread and some alcohol. Hits of spices (anise, cumin). Light to medium body. The aftertaste is rather mild with some brown malt sweetness, clean hay-ish bitterness. Mixed dried fruits, alcohol and banana peels. The long finish got peel-y bitterness and caramel malt flavours.
The carbonation is strong and lager-like. Many short-lived mid-sized bubbles. The liquid is semi-smooth.
Not a bad ESB, and even if the brewery claims it is malt-focused, I find it more hoppy than the English beers in this style.
Sep 07, 2016
Jacobier10 from New Jersey
3.76/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Growler from the brewery in Long Island City, NY.
Beautiful orange color with a frothy white head. Good retention and kicks back up with a quick swirl of the glass. Light hop aroma mixed with soft caramel malt sweetness. Medium bodied but the texture was a little thin. The smooth, buttery finish that I love in ESBs wasn't there. Instead, this beer leaned a little more towards the bitter side from the hops. Not a bad thing at all, just a different interpretation of a broad style that allows for such.
First time trying anything from this small brewery in Queens and I will definitely be back for more. Nice to be able to enjoy a fresh, well-crafted beer that came straight from the source while in the comfort of my own living room.
Jun 24, 2013
3.76/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Growler from the brewery in Long Island City, NY.
Beautiful orange color with a frothy white head. Good retention and kicks back up with a quick swirl of the glass. Light hop aroma mixed with soft caramel malt sweetness. Medium bodied but the texture was a little thin. The smooth, buttery finish that I love in ESBs wasn't there. Instead, this beer leaned a little more towards the bitter side from the hops. Not a bad thing at all, just a different interpretation of a broad style that allows for such.
First time trying anything from this small brewery in Queens and I will definitely be back for more. Nice to be able to enjoy a fresh, well-crafted beer that came straight from the source while in the comfort of my own living room.
Jun 24, 2013
griffey123 from Connecticut
3.79/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nov 24, 2016
3.79/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nov 24, 2016
JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey
3.71/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Traded for this beer a while back and stuck it in the fridge. Finally, I got around to it tonight though that wasn't my intent! Rockaway, like so many other places, is new and in my neck of the woods at work so it's something that I should have gotten to earlier and have been eager to try. This being an ESB only added to the anticipation!
Nice pour to this as the beer had a hazy butterscotch hue to it with plenty of head and a few strong, soapy rings of lacing left behind once I took a sip. Not a strong aroma to this but there was plenty of Biscuit Malt with mild English hops underneath it. Once I gave it a sip, it was obvious that this was one of the one the mildest ESB's that I've ever had. Soft, floral hops, mild bread, earthy grass, and hay were all to be found as the bitterness took a back seat here. Crisp and balanced, this had a nice, clean finish to it as there was plenty of malt to balance out the hops that softly emerged in the aftertaste, as the buttery nature of this beer allowed it to go right down sip after sip...
The alcohol was present but not a deterrent as it would have been easy to crack another one of these open after finishing this off in easy fashion. While not strong or unique enough to win someone over, this was an unassuming and welcoming beer that could not turn anyone off and after all of the strong brews that I've had lately, this was a welcome change from what's currently being released in New York City. Would love to get a fresh one of these and give it another go!
Nov 30, 2016
3.71/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Traded for this beer a while back and stuck it in the fridge. Finally, I got around to it tonight though that wasn't my intent! Rockaway, like so many other places, is new and in my neck of the woods at work so it's something that I should have gotten to earlier and have been eager to try. This being an ESB only added to the anticipation!
Nice pour to this as the beer had a hazy butterscotch hue to it with plenty of head and a few strong, soapy rings of lacing left behind once I took a sip. Not a strong aroma to this but there was plenty of Biscuit Malt with mild English hops underneath it. Once I gave it a sip, it was obvious that this was one of the one the mildest ESB's that I've ever had. Soft, floral hops, mild bread, earthy grass, and hay were all to be found as the bitterness took a back seat here. Crisp and balanced, this had a nice, clean finish to it as there was plenty of malt to balance out the hops that softly emerged in the aftertaste, as the buttery nature of this beer allowed it to go right down sip after sip...
The alcohol was present but not a deterrent as it would have been easy to crack another one of these open after finishing this off in easy fashion. While not strong or unique enough to win someone over, this was an unassuming and welcoming beer that could not turn anyone off and after all of the strong brews that I've had lately, this was a welcome change from what's currently being released in New York City. Would love to get a fresh one of these and give it another go!
Nov 30, 2016
dbrauneis from North Carolina
3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 20, 2014
3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 20, 2014
beerbarron18 from New York
4.18/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 08, 2015
4.18/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 08, 2015
jaydoc from Kansas
3.79/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nov 11, 2017
3.79/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nov 11, 2017
nathanmiller from New York
3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 14, 2015
3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 14, 2015
AgentMunky from New York
3.56/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a TORP into a plastic cup.
4/3/3.75/3.5/3.75
Lots of head, per ush from this machine, clear copper color with sticky lacing.
Smells coppery also, malty & metallic.
Tastes deeply and pleasantly malty. Bready sugars dominate the palette, with a mineral, earthy finish. Best cold, with a smooth, crisp feel and an almost mapleishly heavy sweetness (without the intensity).
A very autumnal beer, well executed in a style I don't particularly care for. Recommended for maltheads and ESBlovers.
Dec 15, 2017
3.56/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a TORP into a plastic cup.
4/3/3.75/3.5/3.75
Lots of head, per ush from this machine, clear copper color with sticky lacing.
Smells coppery also, malty & metallic.
Tastes deeply and pleasantly malty. Bready sugars dominate the palette, with a mineral, earthy finish. Best cold, with a smooth, crisp feel and an almost mapleishly heavy sweetness (without the intensity).
A very autumnal beer, well executed in a style I don't particularly care for. Recommended for maltheads and ESBlovers.
Dec 15, 2017
smithj4 from New York
3.57/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Jul 09, 2016
3.57/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Jul 09, 2016
socon67 from New York
3.37/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Apr 17, 2016
3.37/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Apr 17, 2016
tobelerone from New Jersey
3.56/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Oct 04, 2013
3.56/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Oct 04, 2013
cambabeer from New York
3.69/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 30, 2019
3.69/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 30, 2019
rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania
3.53/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Jan 07, 2016
3.53/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Jan 07, 2016
dextermcgurk from New York
3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jul 09, 2015
3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jul 09, 2015
Mgm54 from Illinois
3.65/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 04, 2015
3.65/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 04, 2015
mattyrubes from New York
3.78/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 27, 2016
3.78/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 27, 2016
Rockaway ESB from Rockaway Brewing Company
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
69 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.
Close