Hoptopsy ESB
Barley and Hops
- From:
- Barley and Hops
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 6.6%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 11.63%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 05, 2014
- Added:
- Jun 27, 2011
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Usually an English pub classic ale, this Extra Special Bitter has an American twist. A brilliant copper color with ruby highlights and a toffee color that will try your patience. Upon first sip an immediate hop bitterness gives way to a sweet caramel and malt backbone followed by American flavor and aroma hops. Try the ESB with seafood and spicy foods.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by dmamiano from West Virginia
4.3/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Stopped here on a marathon trip back from DC(traffic nightmare) This,or any, beer was just what the doctor ordered.
poured a dark amber with nice head and decent lacing.
smelled of resiny hops, malt and sweet sugars all nicely intermingled.
Taste was very nice....for some reason more so than expected. Very nicely balanced with caramel malts sweetness fighting the bitterness of the hops.
Very good beer.
Jul 13, 2011poured a dark amber with nice head and decent lacing.
smelled of resiny hops, malt and sweet sugars all nicely intermingled.
Taste was very nice....for some reason more so than expected. Very nicely balanced with caramel malts sweetness fighting the bitterness of the hops.
Very good beer.
Reviewed by therica from Maryland
4.37/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.37/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at Barley & Hops last night.
A= very nice chestnut, modest head when served.
S= bitters, dry hops florals, burnt roasted malts, a rather nicely bold nose. Some liquor notes.
T= definitely bitter in the IPA realm although listed at only 40 IBU. Plentiful carbonation but it set well with the overall blend of the beer. An almost oak-aged taste to it.
M= fizzy and bitter with slight liquor notes, enough to cause me to have another one with our late-night dinner.
O= very decent, my first favorable impression of a Barley & Hops offering after 3 years of visits. The former Flying Dog brewmaster has switched to Barley & Hops where he hopes to have more creative opportunities and this is certainly a great indication of more to come! These two pints went well with loaded baked potato skins and creamy Maryland crab soup plus a salad. I'd choose something else if I were just having a beer with salad but it was great otherwise, if you enjoy IBU bitterness.
Jun 27, 2011A= very nice chestnut, modest head when served.
S= bitters, dry hops florals, burnt roasted malts, a rather nicely bold nose. Some liquor notes.
T= definitely bitter in the IPA realm although listed at only 40 IBU. Plentiful carbonation but it set well with the overall blend of the beer. An almost oak-aged taste to it.
M= fizzy and bitter with slight liquor notes, enough to cause me to have another one with our late-night dinner.
O= very decent, my first favorable impression of a Barley & Hops offering after 3 years of visits. The former Flying Dog brewmaster has switched to Barley & Hops where he hopes to have more creative opportunities and this is certainly a great indication of more to come! These two pints went well with loaded baked potato skins and creamy Maryland crab soup plus a salad. I'd choose something else if I were just having a beer with salad but it was great otherwise, if you enjoy IBU bitterness.
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