Names in the Sand
Orpheus Brewing

Appearance: Not super appealing, a little murky

Smell: Toasty malt, some spicy hops, faint vanilla, a little orange

Taste: Nice ESB character - toasty malt, slight bitterness, some spice and marmalade from the hops. Barrel character is faint but seems to round everything out nicely

Mouthfeel: Medium dry, pretty much what I expect

Overall: Interesting take on an ESB. I actually really enjoyed it but think it was just a little muddled. Interesting to see Orpheus branch out to some more classic styles recently

Appearance: Pours a sandy-amber body, a little cloudy, bordering on murky, even. Very slim, short-lived, whitish head.

Smell: What a barren aroma. Just a faint sourish note, even less of the oak barrel coming through.

Taste: Very washed out, thinned out biscuity, lightly toasty note with a small morsel of light brown sugar. Modest vanilla, tannic woody hint. Tiny blip of citrus. Not particularly much bitterness. Houses a seemingly ultra light sour quality to it, though it's not presented as such, beyond advising it to have been aged in barrels for a brief period. It's a peculiar flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body, somewhat watery. Very light, low carbonation.

Overall: A flop and just straight-up odd. Oak or no oak, it rather fails first and foremost as an ESB.