Extra Special
Black Flag Brewing Company
- From:
- Black Flag Brewing Company
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- +8 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.63 | pDev: 0.55%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 10, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 12, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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Our English-Style ESB is malty, biscuity, and balanced—basically everything your dating profile claimed to be but wasn’t. The hops bring just enough bitterness to remind you life isn’t all sunshine and roses, yet it’s smooth enough to make you forget about it by the next sip. It’s the sort of pint that doesn’t need to shout; it just sits there quietly being better than whatever hazy nonsense your mate ordered. Cheers
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Wildmild from Maryland
3.61/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.61/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Beautiful one finger head. Lightly carbonated. Doesn’t last too long, but it was nice while it lasted.
Aroma is primarily hoppy. A little earthy component.
Flavor is predominantly hoppy, with some crystal malt in there.
A pleasant beer, with a lot of hop flavor. Maybe a Best Bitter rather than ESB.
Feb 10, 2026Aroma is primarily hoppy. A little earthy component.
Flavor is predominantly hoppy, with some crystal malt in there.
A pleasant beer, with a lot of hop flavor. Maybe a Best Bitter rather than ESB.
Reviewed by Spankyrightus from Maryland
3.65/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This one was on draught at the former Black Flag Social, now Barrington Tap & Table.
Malty, fairly sweet, biscuity. Not much hops bitterness.
At first I thought they made a mistake and poured me a Black Flag “Oh Brother” Brown Ale, but then I read the brew notes/description.
No off flavors, a smooth beer, just not very bitter or true to the style.
Under hopped for a bitter, to say the least. Not even enough to be “balanced”.
Somewhat disappointing for someone who enjoys ESBs and English Bitters.
Dec 12, 2025Malty, fairly sweet, biscuity. Not much hops bitterness.
At first I thought they made a mistake and poured me a Black Flag “Oh Brother” Brown Ale, but then I read the brew notes/description.
No off flavors, a smooth beer, just not very bitter or true to the style.
Under hopped for a bitter, to say the least. Not even enough to be “balanced”.
Somewhat disappointing for someone who enjoys ESBs and English Bitters.
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