Extra Special Bitter
Wild River Brewery & Pizza Company
- From:
- Wild River Brewery & Pizza Company
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #97 - ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #27,521 - Avg:
- 3.72 | pDev: 7.53%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 19, 2022
- Added:
- May 21, 2004
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
4.15/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
draught
IBU: 56
Nearly clear, medium dark orange with a bit of a caramel tint, to the appearance. Very light amount of spiced, medium toast caramel malts, in the aroma. Good amount of a pleasant bite, with a spiced, medium toast, caramelized malt, with a touch of woodiness, which is that bite. Fades slowly, with that woody bite.
May 19, 2022IBU: 56
Nearly clear, medium dark orange with a bit of a caramel tint, to the appearance. Very light amount of spiced, medium toast caramel malts, in the aroma. Good amount of a pleasant bite, with a spiced, medium toast, caramelized malt, with a touch of woodiness, which is that bite. Fades slowly, with that woody bite.
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.2/5 rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
On tap at the brewpub in Grants Pass OR.
Pour was clear medium amber with little visible carbonation, a decent head and sticky patterns of lacing.
Aroma: intersting complex aroma is more fruity than expected.
Flavor: off style, as if WR vaguely followed an ESB recipe using fruity American hoops and no European malts. Alo rather odd and somewhat unappealing.
Feel: medium carbonation with a medim-light body. Slightly dry.
O: Americanized version of the style.
Jul 12, 2014Pour was clear medium amber with little visible carbonation, a decent head and sticky patterns of lacing.
Aroma: intersting complex aroma is more fruity than expected.
Flavor: off style, as if WR vaguely followed an ESB recipe using fruity American hoops and no European malts. Alo rather odd and somewhat unappealing.
Feel: medium carbonation with a medim-light body. Slightly dry.
O: Americanized version of the style.
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho
3.42/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.42/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12oz picked up at the brewpub in Grants Pass... Poured into my HotD tulip.
Thin short lasting light tan head... decent lacing... no real retention. The brew is a fairly clear dark orange.
Toasty malt and a balanced hoppiness that I would guess comes from EKG or Fuggles....
Flavor shows a bit of estery profile that I would guess comes from an English yeast...
Body and carbonation are about what I expect for an American interpretation for the style.. Okay... I would buy again.
3/3.5/3.5/3/3.5
Jul 31, 2012Thin short lasting light tan head... decent lacing... no real retention. The brew is a fairly clear dark orange.
Toasty malt and a balanced hoppiness that I would guess comes from EKG or Fuggles....
Flavor shows a bit of estery profile that I would guess comes from an English yeast...
Body and carbonation are about what I expect for an American interpretation for the style.. Okay... I would buy again.
3/3.5/3.5/3/3.5
Reviewed by xoqx from Washington
4.02/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This beer arrived with a pale one finger head atop a rich, clear amber colored brew. The head retention was minimal. There is much more malt in the nose than hops, though its not entirely devoid of floral hints. The taste is very balanced: hops burst forth quickly on the front of tongue. The hop profile of fuggle, chinook, and east kent goldings provide a complex floral character. The finish is medium long, and the mouthfeel is solid and indicative of a well structured beer. Very drinkable.
Oct 08, 2006Reviewed by MLegendre from Oregon
3.43/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I decided that I need to start reviewing the beers of my local brewery. So far I've loved their IPA and RIS, but decided to go with something different, and a style I'm not that familiar with.
A: Translucent dark amber with a light 1/2 in head. A little lacing but nothing too impressive. Looked pretty damn tasty.
S: Couldn't get a very strong scent off it, but what I could smell did smell good. Slightly hoppy, slightly sweet.
T: Starts off more sweet then bitter, but the longer I hold the beer in my mouth, the more the bitterness is prevalent. Has a very bitter aftertaste, reminiscent of an IPA, that lingers around for awhile.
M: Medium bodied and very smooth. A perfect amount of carbonation, enough to feel, but not too much to distract.
D: I'm not too familar with the ESB, but I liked this one enough to want to further explore the style. Reminded me a bit of a Pale Ale. Went down smooth and had enough flavor to keep me interested. Next time I'm at the restaurant I may just have another.
Jun 29, 2006A: Translucent dark amber with a light 1/2 in head. A little lacing but nothing too impressive. Looked pretty damn tasty.
S: Couldn't get a very strong scent off it, but what I could smell did smell good. Slightly hoppy, slightly sweet.
T: Starts off more sweet then bitter, but the longer I hold the beer in my mouth, the more the bitterness is prevalent. Has a very bitter aftertaste, reminiscent of an IPA, that lingers around for awhile.
M: Medium bodied and very smooth. A perfect amount of carbonation, enough to feel, but not too much to distract.
D: I'm not too familar with the ESB, but I liked this one enough to want to further explore the style. Reminded me a bit of a Pale Ale. Went down smooth and had enough flavor to keep me interested. Next time I'm at the restaurant I may just have another.
Reviewed by RedDiamond from Oregon
3.96/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
3.96/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
What a difference a pint makes. My first experience with this beer, as poured from a bottle sold to me by Wild Rivers pizza restaurant in Cave Junction, was positively lamentable. What a disappointment to have enjoyed their beers so thoroughly at the bar, only to take away several bad bottles. Since the brewer sold me the bottle directly from their brewery, it counts. In this case, it counted solidly against them.
But a return visit seven months later to the pizza restaurant in Grants Pass provided me with the opportunity to try this 1995 GABF award winner on tap. The difference was day and night. My pint of ESB had a soft, velvety head a shade darker than commonly seen on a bitter. The lace was white though and very widely dispersed with descendant striations.
Though served a bit too cold, the bronze color and fine clarity were consistent for the style, as was the taste. The malts provided a fleeting touch of sugar to the flavor and smell, with a long bitter finish that lingered smartly. Overall, a well composed bitter that delivers the goods with considerable character and charm.
Dec 17, 2004But a return visit seven months later to the pizza restaurant in Grants Pass provided me with the opportunity to try this 1995 GABF award winner on tap. The difference was day and night. My pint of ESB had a soft, velvety head a shade darker than commonly seen on a bitter. The lace was white though and very widely dispersed with descendant striations.
Though served a bit too cold, the bronze color and fine clarity were consistent for the style, as was the taste. The malts provided a fleeting touch of sugar to the flavor and smell, with a long bitter finish that lingered smartly. Overall, a well composed bitter that delivers the goods with considerable character and charm.
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