Oliver
Three Magnets Brewing

Picked up a single of this in Berkeley a few years back. Consumed February 2019.

Pours a caramel light brown amber kind of color into a Funk Factory glass. Good clarity, 2/3" off white head with ample retention. The look be impressive and shit. The aroma hit the malty caramel biscuit range, just checking the boxes one after the other in the ESB style guidelines.

Taste much like everything else was nice, there was a lighter malt bill than the color displayed, but it was still full of all things esb, the burton like water, the caramel, the light grassy noble like bitterness. While the extra special bitter style might be a bit of a misnomer these days (more in common with a mild ale than something bitter along the lines of an ipa), this was still a treat. While it will never be a daily drinker for me, I can easily see it being something I would visit every Saturday while running the gauntlet between hoppy, sour, fruity etc. . .definitely worth the price of admission.

THREE MAGNETS?!?! HOW DO THEY WORK!!!!

 

 

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy, medium coppery amber with a fine, two finger white head with great retention and thick lacing. Aroma of grainy biscuit malt, dry grassy hops, a hint of caramel and mineral. Flavor follows with rich grainy biscuit malt, light grassy hops, hay and a touch of caramel in the finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess. The malt is spot on for an extra special bitter and the grassy hops are authentic, if a bit tame. Great flavor that stays robust into the finish with nice balance between the malt and hop flavors. Hazier than a classic ESB, but looks great. Well done.