Crooked River ESB
Crooked River Brewing Co.

Crooked River ESBCrooked River ESB
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From:
Crooked River Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
88
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 9.87%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
23
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 09, 2021
Added:
Aug 18, 2001
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by TXHops:
Photo of TXHops
Reviewed by TXHops from Texas

4.29/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
Clear but not brilliant burnt orange body with a very thin, splotchy head. Big floral, fruity nose--extremely juicy aroma (is that possible?)

Crooked River ESB in my second to last beer in the fine stash secured thanks to Mr. Chilidog. All the Crooked River beers have been excellent examples of traditional beer styles. Flawless, if not very creative and very enjoyable to sit and drink. ESB is absolutely no different. The beers pours a clear, but not brilliant burnt orange color with a pretty sad head of small, whitish bubbles that doesn't cover the top of the glass. The powerful aroma makes up for the lack of head as I can smell a juicy mix of fruit, floral hops and hint of brown sugar underneath it all. The flavor is EXACTLY the same as the estery aroma. Like Juicy Fruit gum, tempered with a floral, leafy shot of hops. The flavor lingers forever, not changing, but also remaining pleasant for a long time in my mouth. I don't taste or smell any caramel in this beer, unlike it's Fuller's namesake, against which I measure all ESB's... Actually, Crooked Rivers' interpretation seems to be more like most of the American examples I taste these days--exceptionally fruity, no caramel, sweet and not overwhelmingly hoppy and overall, very well balanced. The body is medium and not remarkable for any reason.

I could drink this beer all night long, though I wish it had some caramel in the aroma and flavor...
Jan 11, 2003
More User Ratings:
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - Clear copper amber color with thin white lacing, little to no carbonation.

S - Light caramel presence with delicate earthy citrus on the nose.

T - Nice caramel malt up front and ends with a light bitterness.

M - Medium body.

O - Definitely true to style.
Oct 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3 by lumpy1126 from Ohio

Dec 16, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by amstelcat from Ohio

Dec 01, 2011
Photo of BCMan
Reviewed by BCMan from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer has a rich amber color. Poured up with a frothy head that faded fast. The aroma was sweet. The mouthfeel was smooth, almost creamy and finishes crisp & refreshing. This is solid brew as are the others that I've had from Crooked River. I would definetly reccomend it. A good session beer.
Nov 04, 2004
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4.07/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Vibrant amber tone with a full thicket of caramel colored cream head leaving great patches of lacing after the massive head starts to dwindle. Aroma: Floral hop aroma just great well done I must say favorite caramel malts blended with some very predominant hopping equals butter. Gotta love Crooked River for two reasons this beer and the porter. Taste: A smooth bit perfect amount of bitterness malty treat, this is a staple of the ESB category. When fresh and not past the best by date this beer is one of my favorite most drinkable ESB micros available. Mouthfeel: Slightly syrupy with a crisp crushing waves of hoppiness even the oils come through a bit. Drinkability: Effortless and wonderful gotta love this beer staple best beer made by the Crooked River Brewing Co., contracted under Frederick Brewing in Maryland for the bottles.
Oct 02, 2003
Photo of stirgy
Reviewed by stirgy from Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is my favorite beer that they make so far. This poured a very bright and very clear orange/amber/iced tea color, with a thinnish white head that left a nice lace on the glass. Very flavorful and an enjoyable taste. Some fruit sweetness, well rounded body with a lot of flavor. A more assertive and bold ESB than others I have tried. Finishes dry with the taste of oranges on the tongue. Very good.
Sep 14, 2003
Photo of jcalabre
Reviewed by jcalabre from California

3.83/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Originally sampled on 21 December 2002. The color is orangeish-amber w/ a medium head. The flavor starts out with lots of malt up front, yet finishes w/ a nice hoppy taste. The balance on this beer is what makes it enjoyable for me. A very good example of an ESB.
Jun 09, 2003
Photo of sabrills70
Reviewed by sabrills70 from North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A good solid lager. Nice golden color, with just a hint of amber. Hops are nicely balanced. A bit too carbonated for me. A great summertime brew. Would taste great when you get the lawn mowing finished. I am a lager fan, and this one just might be my new standard purchase.
My goof folks, I rated the Select Lager in the ESB catergory by accident. Next time I will pay closer attention. I'm sorry. This is actually the Crooked River Select Lager.
May 14, 2003
Photo of AtLagerHeads
Reviewed by AtLagerHeads from Ohio

3.94/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The best Crooked River so far. Good looking slightly hazy dark amber with a minimal head that disappeared very quickly. The head came up pale tan and left no lacing. Still, the overall look is quite an appetizing red amber. The nose is full of hops with some yeasty background sense. The taste is full of fruity hops with some malt backing. Nice bitterness throughout to override the full malty body. A very light caramel sense in the warmer aroma as the brew came off its chill. Some rind flavorings are also present. Overall this is a nicely crafted beer.
Apr 14, 2003
Photo of JahNoth
Reviewed by JahNoth from New York

4.67/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Wow! This is an impressive ale. As soon as you pop the cap on this one, you know it's going to be good. And it delivers. Impressive looking, smooth mellow flavor with a very rounded hop bitterness. Excellent brew. Just a tiny notch below Brutal Bitter.
Feb 19, 2003
Photo of allboutbierge
Reviewed by allboutbierge from Austria

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A beautiful creamy white head rests on top of a medium body. Appearance is a transparent mild orange with a light brown hue. Carbonation appears heavy but on first sip is found to be more moderate than apparant. Heavy lace is left a head that never seems to go away. Aroma is floral, clean, and crisp. Flavor is hoppy and slightly bitter. Toffee like flavor is prevelant in its aftertaste.
Jan 25, 2003
Photo of RBorsato
Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark gold with amber tones and a tan head with good lace (unfiltered). Hoppy aroma at first but turns to a roasty malty aroma over time. Roasty malt chraracter is prominent with chocolate tones. Medium bodied with a noticeable bitter finish (East Kent Golding hops).

I remember this being better on draft at the brewery in Cleveland years ago (one of their better beers at the time) ... I think it was a bit more hoppy at the time but too long to remember for sure.
Dec 10, 2002
Photo of Viking
Reviewed by Viking from Indiana

3.19/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Pours a hazy dark amber with some faint traces of CO2. Big frothy head, with pretty damn good retention, leaving trails of lace on the glass. Malty smell of caramel and toffee, with some herbal hops, and a bit of a biscuity aroma lurking under the malt. It just didn't smell quite right, but I can't exactly put my finger on it. Decent taste, caramel/toffee dominate flavor, not too malty, but pretty light on the bitterness for an ESB. Creamy, chewey mouthfeel. Not a bad brew to drink, but it just didn't win me over.
Nov 20, 2002
Photo of canoehornpoint
Reviewed by canoehornpoint from Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Simple but classy label. Pours a medium to dark copper with moderate head that holds the sides well. This has a well balanced carmel/hop aroma. The taste begins dry, then a balance of malt and citrusy and slightly floral hop bite hits, finishes full bodied. The IBU's are more bittering than flavoring, I believe. This is a good ESB but I prefer Troeggs and Great Lakes. They seem to have a bit more flavoring hops.
Nov 05, 2002
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

4.17/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Wow! This one tagged me out of left field after trying the better than average Select Lager and below average Kolsch. Strong hops aroma that really made me excited to drink it. As is the norm with the other Crooked River beers, the head was crazy thick, and the color was a very pretty copper hue. The flavor had more hops than a rabbit farm, yet still managed to be well-balanced. I hope I can find this one in 6ers somewhere.
Nov 01, 2002
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Slightly hazy. Reddish-amber in color with a fluffy, off-white head that holds OK and settles to a decent collar and leaves some minor lace. The aroma is quite nice with a noteable floral hoppiness and a sweet caramel maltiness. The body is medium with a fine, and moderate, carbonation. The mouthfeel is lightly creamy and smooth. The flavor is very well balanced between a nice hop flavor and lightly nutty, sweet caramel malt. The bitterness is just enough to keep the malt in check. Very round, and somewhat mellow with the bitterness in check. Very drinkable.
Sep 15, 2002
Photo of zerk
Reviewed by zerk from California

4.12/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber with a fluffy head... settled to a pleasing lace. Had a wonderful floral hop aroma, with some sweetness in the nose as well. Flavor was very balanced, neither too sweet or hoppy... could have been a little more of both but still a good flavor. Medium bodied and medium carbonation. A very drinkable ESB.
Sep 13, 2002
Photo of goindownsouth
Reviewed by goindownsouth from New Jersey

4.32/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Was I surprised on this one? You bet. A very coppery color pouring from the bottle and a great ESB/hoppy aroma on the nose. A great flavor that remains consistent from start to finish. Well worth searching out. Prost!
Jul 07, 2002
Photo of AaronRed
Reviewed by AaronRed from New York

4.32/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice amber color with rocky white head. Fruity aroma, I could clearly smell some kind of citrus. Hops are big, but malt is present, as this beer does have a good balance. Some caramel as well, but not alot. I liked the intensity of hops, but at the same time it was not overpowering. A nice textured brew; rich but not too filling. A very drinkable ESB.
Jun 25, 2002
Crooked River ESB from Crooked River Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 23 ratings