E.S.B.
Root Down Brewing Company

From a standard tap it came inside a clear pint glass. It's richly dark copper-amber, with a bright sheen. Although it's colorful, it's rather translucent, like a pair of good sunglasses provide. The very modest head is off-white. Not particularly aromatic, what's there is an earthy combination of malts and hops. The taste is much more pronounced, just as the nose predicted, but more assertive. More on the sweet than bitter side, but this is certainly nicely balanced. There are times to enjoy a malty ale without a roasted bitterness. There is sufficient bitterness, but it comes from hops, not roasted malt. Its body is delightful, as some pretty stratified glass lacing can attest. This is a nice example of the style that could have been even better were it from a hand pump cask.