Hyland Dark Harvest Ale ESB
Connecticut Valley Brewing

Poured a dark murky brown hue with a thin white lacing on top. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a nice burnt grain aroma with a generous amount of caramel malt. Mild flowery hop aroma as well.

The taste consisted of a heavy caramel malt with a nice smokey burnt grain. Porter like in many respects.

The mouthfeel was full and mildy chewy with a dry finish.

Overall a very quaffable and unique beer. A perfect autumn brew. Thanks to ppoitras for the growler.

Growler filled at the brewery. Interesting place, many locals drinking in an upscale neighborhood.

A very nice looking beer. Not your typical ESB, this one is almost porter-like, but leaning more towards a brown ale. Beautifully formed head that in snow white. How appropriate after Western Mass' first snowfall of the winter (11.5 inches). I am not picking up on too many bitters in this one. What I am picking up is a smokey, burnt apple. A considerable amount of malt is present too.

Nothing beats beer from the brewery..period.

I am shocked to see this listed as an ESB, because I'm thinking "porter" the entire time I was enjoying this beer. Dark mahogany color topped by a nice linen colored head that shows great retention. Caramel and hop aromas greet the nose, while nice dark roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate, and a bit of hop flavor can be found on the palate. The alcohol is noticeable, but not in a burning sense. You can taste the sweetness the alcohol lends to the flavor, and the esters seem to appear a bit more fervently as the beer warms. A solid mouthfeel and balanced to slightly bitter flavor profile make this a nice drinking beer. Another nice example from Hyland.

The guys at Hyland have a winner with this beer. Other reviewers have questioned the classification, but I think most who try this beer wouldn't care what exactly it is---it's just so dang tasty. It did not pour beautifully from the growler, as there was relatively little build up of the head, although the mahagony color was appealing. It smells of natural roasty goodness. The taste is deep, malty, and a bit chocolatey. It is just so rich. The alcohol taste cuts through the flavor to give it balace, and it lingers perfectly. I only would say that it seems to be more of an early winter beer than an autumn beer, because it does have a delicious warming effect.

I think they need to change the style of this beer. Extra Special Beer isn't the same as Extra Special Bitter. Seems like a porter or a double brown. Regardless. Pours a dark color with a medium head that falls fast and leaves some lacing on the glass. The aroma is very nice - lost of dark malts and toasted notes. The flavor is extra tasty. Thick dark malts with some slight bite from the alcohol and toasty notes. Extremely tasty beer. The mouthfeel is on the light end of thick and the drinkability is very good.

Pours from a very full growler with an intense carbnation. No doubt this one held up in shipping. It's deep brown with ruby highlites, topped with 3 fingers of tan head that recede slowly. Nose is nutty, caramel sweet, roasted coffee. Lots going on here. Smells really nice. Flavor is full of roasted goodness. Roasted nuttyness, slightly caramel and light mocha all hit up front. Moves more to a light chocolate and light hop bitter on the finish. Feel is moderate to thick with a light creamyness to it; a light carbonation keeps things nice and mellow. I like it. Only a slighly warming sensation hits my stomach. Very tasty beer. I can't say I think it is to style of an ESB, but I don't think that is worth knocking it down. We'll see how long this growler lasts.

Enjoyed on tap from the brewery taproom, in my Hyland stein (#42), at the launch Halloween party. Described as ESB in the "extra strong beer" sense this year by the brewers, weighing in at 8%+. Probably could use a style change, but not sure where exactly it would belong.

Arrived with a goodly 1/2"+ head, over the almost opaque dark brown brew. Plenty of lacing present. Aroma consisted of hearty dark grains. Taste made me think more of a stout than an ESB, with the hearty dark grains of coffee and chocolate dominant. Some minimal alcohol warming at the end, but this one's abv is largely under the radar. Mouthfeel was exemplary, super smooth, and so creamy, and drinkability was equally impressive. If you can, definitely check this one out.

This ESB seems more like a brown ale or a stout to me. I've never had anything classified as an ESB appear so dark. Really dark brown color, a tad of tan head but not much, nearly opaque. Smells of dark malts and bitter hops. Taste is very well balanced. Nice and malty first and foremost, but the hop bitterness is there, as expected in an ESB. Smoky characters are also very present in this beer which adds a bit of complexity. Great smooth mouthfeel, medium to full bodied. Once again this isn't your typical ESB in any way, but I think it's a nice interpretation of style on the brewers part. Very unique, which always scores points in my book. Had this one on tap at the Moan and Dove's second birthday party where beer from 2-4 was free... yep, free. And we all know how good free things taste. Mmmm.

On tap at the Moan and Dove in Amherst, MA. Dark, fdark amber...almost black. Smell was malty and smoky...reminded me a bit of a scotch ale. Taste was a blend of malt, smoke and hops (on the finish). Mouthfeel and drinkability were initially smooth and easy to drink..however, unlike most ales, this one got a little harsher as it warmed. A solid brew (when cool)

This beer is dark brown, it had a tan one finger head that left thick spiderwebs of lacing throughout the beer. The aroma is of roasted malt with some hints of grassy hops. The taste is malty and sweet with a slightly spicy hop finish. It had a full body with low carbonation and was well balanced. Drinkability was great, after my sample I bought a Hylands glass and had a couple more!

Reflection: For an ESB its not as bitter as I like but maybe i'm just a hop-junkie. Head to the brewery for this one, its not your average ESB.

Had this at the Harvest Fest. We made it just in time for last call, and they were kind enough to give us free cups, since they were out of the glassware.
The beer was in a red plastic cup, but I guage it to be a dark brownish amber by trying to blow some of the head aside. A copious ivory head tops the beer, and i never get to see what the actual liquid looks like, because it kept a thick, dense foam all the way through. Lots of sticky lace, leaving thick clumps on the side of the plastic party cup. Very impressive.
The aroma is richly malty, freshly cracked grain, with lots of toasty, biscuity maltiness. I can catch a wonderful appley esteriness even as i walk to a table. Some lighter pear and a touch of peach upon properly smelling. Some grassy herbal hopping, probably some goldings in there, with a slight margarine diacetyl aroma.
The sip explodes with a strong maltiness. A biscuity, toasty malt flavor starts out the sip, with a little bit of toffee towards the middle. Perhaps some wheat malt, particularly towards the end. A very pleasant appley juicyfruit esteriness comes through, continuing through the rest of the sip, although diminishing when the hops come through. Some pear and peach, with a bit of yeasty breadiness. A moderate herbal hoppiness finishes the beer, with some herbal and grassy flavor. A slightly grainy biscuity malt aftertaste, with lingering grassy hops. Medium to full bodied, with moderate, unassuming carbonation. A sort of rough, coarse mouthfeel. Very nicely balanced, with pronounced flavors equally represented.
Definitely robust and american, this is a great ale for New England in the fall. I'd prefer it to be a little smoother, without the grassiness, but it was a nice beer to enjoy at the farm.

I tried this yesterday on tap at the brewery. I asked to try the stout and the women behind the counter said "It says stout on the handle but this isn't a stout, it's our harvest ale".
Then the head brewer came out and confirned what she said and added that it is an esb.
Ok, heres the review. If this is a esb it's the weirdest esb I have ever had.
First of all it pours black with a whispy off white head.
Smells and tastes like roasted coffee with light malty sweetness and a dry ending similar to a dry irish stout.
I'm not going to argue with the guy that brews this stuff so if he says it's an esb, it's a esb....
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