Express E.S.B.
Endeavour Brewing Company

 

473ml can poured into tulip.

Pours a clear copper amber with one finger of beige head that leaves some railroad trestle bridge lace as it recedes.

Smells of biscuity caramel malt, muddled citrus and pomme fruitiness and some perfumed earthy hops.

Tastes of toasted biscuit, browning apple, faint marmalade, soft spice and more leafy, earthy hops.

Feels jolly and mild. Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Finishes dry.

Verdict: A pretty good example of a solid ESB. Tasty.

Purchased a growler from the brewery, poured into a pilsner glass, cause thats what I have. The appearance is pleasing, light amber brown, moderate tan head that stuck around just long enough. Carbonation is appropriate to style, not too fizzy, but its there. Sniff test reveals bread, caramel, and bit of yeast. Not much hop aroma. Lets drink this... Ahhh there's the hops, East Kent Goldings I would guess. Nice hop flavor, earth and flowers, backed up with malty goodness. Not too much caramel, the bitterness is spot on. It's well balanced, perhaps slightly hop forward, but not too much, its not a IPA with a different name. Mouth feel is full body, almost slick, but not too heavy. This is a desert beer, not a session ale. Overall I really enjoyed it, and the best part is I live close to the brewery and I can have it again.

1L howler from Sherbrooke Liquor store - I keep meaning to get up to St. Albert, but, y'know...

This beer pours a clear, medium copper amber colour, with three fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and bubbly ecru head, which leaves some stellar thickly webbed lace around the glass as it slowly and evenly subsides.

It smells of bready and doughy caramel malt, a further biscuity toffee sweetness, some gently charred pome fruity notes, and fairly understated earthy, leafy, and floral noble hop bitters. The taste is gritty and grainy caramel malt, damp breakfast biscuits, a bit of black peppercorn spiciness, baked apples, and more subtle leafy, weedy, and musky floral hoppiness.

The carbonation is adequate in its palate-coating frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, with perhaps a touch of spice acridity taking things down a peg or two at this particular juncture. It finishes trending dry, the biscuity malt and peppery essences presiding.

Overall - this comes across as a rather enjoyable and faithful version of the style, with all the expected points nailed down tight. Crisp, full of flavour, and definitely session-worthy, which, given the serving format here, I will soon be experiencing. Good stuff!