ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
Hillman Beer
- From:
- Hillman Beer
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #4 - ABV:
- 6.1%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,170 - Avg:
- 4.28 | pDev: 8.18%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 7
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 06, 2026
- Added:
- Jul 01, 2017
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.36/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.36/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Hillman Asheville
A- pours a clear copper with a one finger creamy white head that leaves some great lacing behind
S- caramel, bread crust, fruity esters, fruit cake, floral hops
T- malty caramel and toasted bread crust up front, followed by some fruity berry notes. Mid palate gives some floral hop bitterness, the finish give brown bread and caramel
M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a silky finish
O- very well balanced and super drinkable
Jul 16, 2023A- pours a clear copper with a one finger creamy white head that leaves some great lacing behind
S- caramel, bread crust, fruity esters, fruit cake, floral hops
T- malty caramel and toasted bread crust up front, followed by some fruity berry notes. Mid palate gives some floral hop bitterness, the finish give brown bread and caramel
M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a silky finish
O- very well balanced and super drinkable
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana
4.49/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Enjoyed on draft at Hillman, now reviewing from a crowler. Pale copper with a full finger of head. Toast and biscuit on the nose, light floral aromatics and a touch of caramel. Moderate bitterness on the palate and some additional fruity esters. Very nicely balanced, but a bit more hop-forward than I've had in most ESBs.
Dec 30, 2021
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
3.79/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Visited here with Da Boss for lunch on 9-4-21 and enjoyed a pint for $6.00.
Beer was served copper color with a nice white head with the original pour.
Nose was light fruit and toasted malts.
Taste was near sessionable malt base that was hopped up more than i expected. Finished too bitter for the style; 8/10 on my scale.
Mouthfeel was light to medium bodied and refreshing.
Overall a nice ESB and maybe my pallette was overly sensitive today as i am a hophead by nature!
Sep 04, 2021Beer was served copper color with a nice white head with the original pour.
Nose was light fruit and toasted malts.
Taste was near sessionable malt base that was hopped up more than i expected. Finished too bitter for the style; 8/10 on my scale.
Mouthfeel was light to medium bodied and refreshing.
Overall a nice ESB and maybe my pallette was overly sensitive today as i am a hophead by nature!
Reviewed by Singlefinpin from North Carolina
4.16/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drinking this at The Hillman Brewery located in Old Fort NC.
Poured from a tap into a pint glass.
Appears light brown with a nice foamy head that dropped quickly.
Smells malty sweet.
Taste follows the nose with hops well balanced to the malt.
Mouth feel is medium for the style.
Overall a very nice ESB that I would definitely order again.
Nov 10, 2020Poured from a tap into a pint glass.
Appears light brown with a nice foamy head that dropped quickly.
Smells malty sweet.
Taste follows the nose with hops well balanced to the malt.
Mouth feel is medium for the style.
Overall a very nice ESB that I would definitely order again.
Reviewed by nick_perry from North Carolina
4.67/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.67/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Dark brown color, minimal head retention. Very smooth. Well rounded bitter hops evened out by a slightly sweet malt. Subtle hint of nuts and cloves. Exemplary rendition of the style. Easy to see why this won gold at GABF last year.
Aug 09, 2020
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.9/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewery taproom in Asheville.
The clear but slightly hazy amber body is topped by an off-white head that has rather poor retention.
Despite the less than stellar appearance,this is a first class ESB. It's clean and well balanced with plenty of malts.
Feb 10, 2020The clear but slightly hazy amber body is topped by an off-white head that has rather poor retention.
Despite the less than stellar appearance,this is a first class ESB. It's clean and well balanced with plenty of malts.
Reviewed by SmokySignals from North Carolina
4.89/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.89/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Beautiful Carmel color, tapped perfectly for a rich head, medium strength classic nutty, malty aromas.
Rich full malt tasting nutty caramel notes, classic and pure, balanced perfectly with appropriate hop for a nice classy overall beer, damn this is fine ! Perfectly carbonated and overall brewed right for the desired result IMO. I want this by the truckloads!
May 17, 2019Rich full malt tasting nutty caramel notes, classic and pure, balanced perfectly with appropriate hop for a nice classy overall beer, damn this is fine ! Perfectly carbonated and overall brewed right for the desired result IMO. I want this by the truckloads!
Rated by pathman from Ohio
4.75/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
7/1/17 draft @ Hillman
Jul 01, 2017
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