Henderson's Best
Henderson Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Bitter - English Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #148 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #34,166 - Avg:
- 3.72 | pDev: 11.83%
- Reviews:
- 7
- Ratings:
- From:
- Henderson Brewing Company
- Ontario, Canada
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 0
- Gots
- 8
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
Notes:
Henderson’s flagship, Henderson’s Best, is a modern take on classic ESB – a refreshing ale with a mild floral nose and an ABV of 5%. To create this beer we tried to imagine the beer first brewed in Toronto at the beginning of the 19th century and how it would have changed and matured over the 215 years between then and now. That recipe, tweaked throughout 2015 became Henderson’s Best. Look for Henderson’s Best around town starting the week of January 18th, 2016.
Reviews: 7
| Ratings: 34
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Reviews by LanceH:
LanceH from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 13, 2017
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 13, 2017
More User Reviews:
InspectorHound from Canada (ON)
3.85/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Ruddy brown with hints of amber. Fairly clear, with a slight opacity. Pours with a 1 1/2 finger off white tight bubbleed head. The head disapates leaving strong lacing at 5 minutes.
Smell: Short bread cookies, and caramel. Lots of malt.
Taste: Initial taste follows the smell with a sweet front end featuring candied fruit and sugar. Hints of light rye bread in the middle. Orange pekoe tea and a slight bitter snap at the end.
Feel: Medium creamy body with noticable bitters on the end.
The can calls this an amber ale. I was expecting something more hoppy, but I was happy with what I got. This beer is a fantasic English style ale. Drinking it made me long to be in a pub watching a game of footie. This earns a strong B+
Nov 29, 2020
3.85/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Ruddy brown with hints of amber. Fairly clear, with a slight opacity. Pours with a 1 1/2 finger off white tight bubbleed head. The head disapates leaving strong lacing at 5 minutes.
Smell: Short bread cookies, and caramel. Lots of malt.
Taste: Initial taste follows the smell with a sweet front end featuring candied fruit and sugar. Hints of light rye bread in the middle. Orange pekoe tea and a slight bitter snap at the end.
Feel: Medium creamy body with noticable bitters on the end.
The can calls this an amber ale. I was expecting something more hoppy, but I was happy with what I got. This beer is a fantasic English style ale. Drinking it made me long to be in a pub watching a game of footie. This earns a strong B+
Nov 29, 2020
daveonarrival from Canada (ON)
4.19/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Deep copper and clear, leaning into brown, with a big pillowy cream-colour head that sticks around. Good lacing while consuming.
S: Fresh grass trimmings and citrus peel, mainly lemon and orange, dominate the nose, along with a hint of fresh herbs, like basil.
T: Caramel and dark bread like pumpernickel greet the palate. From there, this brightens up with a tea-and-lemon quality, with floral undertones. Some minerality surfaces at the end, leaving a slightly chalky, lingering finish with grippy tannins.
F: Medium bodied with a pleasant amount of carbonation to give it a boost. There's also a bit of a tang at the edges to keep things interesting.
O: This is a well-balanced beer. With all the malt characteristics, it could veer into something deeper, but it has enough brightness to stay refreshing and encourage another sip. Give it a few minutes to open up and you will be rewarded. A very nice bitter.
May 20, 2020
4.19/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Deep copper and clear, leaning into brown, with a big pillowy cream-colour head that sticks around. Good lacing while consuming.
S: Fresh grass trimmings and citrus peel, mainly lemon and orange, dominate the nose, along with a hint of fresh herbs, like basil.
T: Caramel and dark bread like pumpernickel greet the palate. From there, this brightens up with a tea-and-lemon quality, with floral undertones. Some minerality surfaces at the end, leaving a slightly chalky, lingering finish with grippy tannins.
F: Medium bodied with a pleasant amount of carbonation to give it a boost. There's also a bit of a tang at the edges to keep things interesting.
O: This is a well-balanced beer. With all the malt characteristics, it could veer into something deeper, but it has enough brightness to stay refreshing and encourage another sip. Give it a few minutes to open up and you will be rewarded. A very nice bitter.
May 20, 2020
Tomesco from Canada (ON)
3.39/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Jul 02, 2019
3.39/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Jul 02, 2019
TerryW from Canada (ON)
3.68/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 10, 2020
3.68/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 10, 2020
Tony787 from Canada (ON)
3.93/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bought can at lcbo the brew date was February 12th so I month old it tasted very fresh as my 3 finger creamy head lasted long drinking it out of my glass. It looked very frothy the head of the beer. It's a good beer well balanced flavor and enjoyable to drink
Cheers
Mar 13, 2020
3.93/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bought can at lcbo the brew date was February 12th so I month old it tasted very fresh as my 3 finger creamy head lasted long drinking it out of my glass. It looked very frothy the head of the beer. It's a good beer well balanced flavor and enjoyable to drink
Cheers
Mar 13, 2020
Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.73/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Apr 03, 2016
3.73/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Apr 03, 2016
thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.94/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
473 mL can from the LCBO; canned Sept 6 2018 and served slightly chilled. Listed at 5.5% and reviewed from notes.
Pours clear copper-amber, with one centimetre of loose, bubbly, beige-tinted froth that disintegrates within a minute or two. A messy ring of seafoam lace is splattered about in the process, with only a paper thin collar and a few wisps upon the surface lingering there any longer. It smells of lightly toasted bread and toffee maltiness, with suggestions of dried fruit (specifically, date) and leafy, floral hops which are highly apropos for this style.
This is a quality bitter, and a deftly balanced one, too - a virtual necessity in subtler British style fare such as this. It tastes malt forward at the front, with notes of caramel and sponge toffee combining with those bready, lightly toasted malts. There's a hint of nuttiness, too, with maybe a touch of date fruit coming through before a leafy, floral, mildly spicy hop note at the finish. Vaguely malty-sweet aftertaste that fades within a moment or two, leaving only suggestions of leafy hops. Medium-light in body, with low carbonation levels that limply agitate the palate; feels smooth and a little soft in the mouth, with fantastic drinkability for 5.5%.
Final Grade: 3.94, a B+. Henderson's Best would have been a wonderful addition to the Ontario beer scene back in the mid 2000's (or even earlier), but these days, you can only drum up so much fanfare for an ESB - an excellent domestic example of one, mind you. No, it won't shake up your taste buds or blow you away, but I could drink this all night without ever tiring of it - and for a bitter, I'd say that's a pretty strong endorsement. Drink with confidence if you enjoy British 'real ales'.
Jan 10, 2019
3.94/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
473 mL can from the LCBO; canned Sept 6 2018 and served slightly chilled. Listed at 5.5% and reviewed from notes.
Pours clear copper-amber, with one centimetre of loose, bubbly, beige-tinted froth that disintegrates within a minute or two. A messy ring of seafoam lace is splattered about in the process, with only a paper thin collar and a few wisps upon the surface lingering there any longer. It smells of lightly toasted bread and toffee maltiness, with suggestions of dried fruit (specifically, date) and leafy, floral hops which are highly apropos for this style.
This is a quality bitter, and a deftly balanced one, too - a virtual necessity in subtler British style fare such as this. It tastes malt forward at the front, with notes of caramel and sponge toffee combining with those bready, lightly toasted malts. There's a hint of nuttiness, too, with maybe a touch of date fruit coming through before a leafy, floral, mildly spicy hop note at the finish. Vaguely malty-sweet aftertaste that fades within a moment or two, leaving only suggestions of leafy hops. Medium-light in body, with low carbonation levels that limply agitate the palate; feels smooth and a little soft in the mouth, with fantastic drinkability for 5.5%.
Final Grade: 3.94, a B+. Henderson's Best would have been a wonderful addition to the Ontario beer scene back in the mid 2000's (or even earlier), but these days, you can only drum up so much fanfare for an ESB - an excellent domestic example of one, mind you. No, it won't shake up your taste buds or blow you away, but I could drink this all night without ever tiring of it - and for a bitter, I'd say that's a pretty strong endorsement. Drink with confidence if you enjoy British 'real ales'.
Jan 10, 2019
Electros from Canada (ON)
4.04/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 29, 2017
4.04/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 29, 2017
RedAleMan from Canada (ON)
3.67/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Aug 25, 2017
3.67/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Aug 25, 2017
TheSevenDuffs from Canada (ON)
3.5/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
May 19, 2016
3.5/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
May 19, 2016
spinrsx from Canada (ON)
3.27/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
..
Apr 24, 2017
3.27/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
..
Apr 24, 2017
yancot from Canada (ON)
3.79/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Oct 10, 2016
3.79/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Oct 10, 2016
NeoClassicist from Texas
3.57/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Sep 23, 2016
3.57/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Sep 23, 2016
StrangerTides from New York
3.77/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aug 12, 2018
3.77/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aug 12, 2018
Bf_89 from Canada (ON)
3.69/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 09, 2016
3.69/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 09, 2016
SteveWeiler from Canada (ON)
3.38/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 01, 2020
3.38/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 01, 2020
taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.79/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
650 ml bomber served cold into a pint glass. Purchased for $5.95 CDN.
Appearance - Dark orange, with hues of red and even brown. A solid finger of off-white head. Good head retention with minimal lacing. Appears as mostly filtered with little haze and fairly significant visible carbonation.
Smell - Clean and grainy with some stone fruit at the end. Possible pears, plums and currants. Just a hint of tropical citrus too. Pretty aromatic and diverse in its aromas.
Taste - Clean and grainy with just a hint of stone fruit. Some earthy hop flavors mixed in. Middling bitterness. Taste is subdued initially but improves as it warms (say above 12 degrees or so.
Mouthfeel - Smooth and medium bodied that's a little heavy on the carbonation. medium finish but possibly a little gassy.
Overall - A good beer, but not great and certainly not the best. Still a reasonably good representation of a style that doesn't get a lot of play in these locales.
Jun 01, 2017
3.79/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
650 ml bomber served cold into a pint glass. Purchased for $5.95 CDN.
Appearance - Dark orange, with hues of red and even brown. A solid finger of off-white head. Good head retention with minimal lacing. Appears as mostly filtered with little haze and fairly significant visible carbonation.
Smell - Clean and grainy with some stone fruit at the end. Possible pears, plums and currants. Just a hint of tropical citrus too. Pretty aromatic and diverse in its aromas.
Taste - Clean and grainy with just a hint of stone fruit. Some earthy hop flavors mixed in. Middling bitterness. Taste is subdued initially but improves as it warms (say above 12 degrees or so.
Mouthfeel - Smooth and medium bodied that's a little heavy on the carbonation. medium finish but possibly a little gassy.
Overall - A good beer, but not great and certainly not the best. Still a reasonably good representation of a style that doesn't get a lot of play in these locales.
Jun 01, 2017
Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 25 2018
Feb 12, 2017
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 25 2018
Feb 12, 2017
Jotora from Canada (ON)
3/5 rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Dec 06, 2018
3/5 rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Dec 06, 2018
hunterjames from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 19, 2016
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 19, 2016
JPNesker from Canada (ON)
3.66/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sep 02, 2017
3.66/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sep 02, 2017
Toynk from Illinois
3.13/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Sep 02, 2016
3.13/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Sep 02, 2016
Bleaney from Illinois
2.82/5 rDev -24.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Oct 16, 2018
2.82/5 rDev -24.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Oct 16, 2018
OneTuffPony from Canada (ON)
3.89/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 13, 2017
3.89/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 13, 2017
Henderson's Best from Henderson Brewing Company
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
34 ratings
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