Fermenter 9+3/4
Bert's Brewing

clean and easy drinker, but perhaps a tad light for the style, in terms color, flavor, and in terms of body. i like that they are developing a pattern of well refined and crushable brews across the board in here, but this one, good as it is as a pint of beer to pound on, seemed like it was missing something. the blonde color threw me off to start, clear and frothy headed and all of that, but i am used to these at least getting into the brassy color range if not copper or amber even, but none of that richer more flavorful grain in here at all, and it seems generous to call this an esb. it smells and tastes as light as it looks, maybe some english malt in here yeah, and the ferment is tidy and professional and all of that, but its lacking that old world character, even if the proportions are good in their own right. no toast or biscuit, no breadiness or earthy grain, no old world minerality or body, and this just lacks as an example of the style. now as a british blonde or something, if we give them the benefit of the doubt on the yeast, it works a lot better, the hops seem appropriate too, but its not an esb by any standard i am familiar with. dont get me wrong, i like the pint, and it fits in well with their lineup of exceedingly approachable beers, but its not what it says it is, is appallingly light on the english malt that is supposed to define the style, but i cant be too harsh on it because it tastes good...

Taster at Berts. Clear golden pour, Wispy white head. Bready, malty aroma. Taste is malty, bready, not quite the bitters I'm used to. I even had toask the brewer is this was correct