Looking for a decent mild, special, ESB

I've been drinking a lot of Southern Tier Harvest lately- a really nice beer that I look forward to every year, and it's seasonal so it's always fresh.

Yards Brawler is another recent fave, though it is a Dark Mild. Really nice yeast siganture and overall balance on that one.

Another suggestion, though on the strong side, is Anderson Valley. Their ESB is fantastic, but also check out the Amber which is similar but lower in gravity and not as hoppy.

 

Not trying to stir any pots or anything but FYI the interest in these types of beers in Scotland is diminshing at break neck speed. The innovation and experimentation bug has caught on big time with fiesty new young brewers here.

 

Yards makes a very good ESB they call ESA (Extra Special Ale). It is available in bottles but I personally prefer it on cask. Unfortunately for the OP, Yards is not distributed in Indiana. Perhaps you could trade for it?

If the OP ever makes it to the Philly area, ESA on cask is something he should seek out.

Cheers!

P.S. Below is from the Yards website:

“Extra Special Ale

Our First Brewed

Crafted from the finest ingredients and originally intended for the cask-ale connoisseur, Extra Special Ale is a traditional English-style ale with notes of chocolate and hop spiciness throughout. We consider this our flagship beer, appreciated by Yards aficionados for more than 15 years.

How special is Extra Special Ale? Well, it won the Bronze medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup.

ABV 6%

Available year-round.”

 

^Good call on the Yards ESA, Jack. I don't think I've had that one since 2005 and it must've slipped my mind. I've been enjoying the Brawler and Thomas Jefferson a lot lately, and it would seem that any consistency problems that I have had with them are long in the past. Time for me to revisit that ESA, I'd say, because I'm really enjoying their approach as a welcome change of pace.

 

Not sure if you can find it but I love Yards ESA (extra special ale)

 

a favorite of mine (seasonal ) is Surly Bitter Brewer probably still some around good stuff @4%

 

Alesmith Anvil is rockin'
As is the aforementioned Anderson Valley stuff.

 

Not mentioned above, but I thought Theakston XB was quite good.

 

I love ESBs, I wish more brewers made them... Anyhow, my suggestions include Bateman's XXXB, Yards ESA, and Gritty McDuff's Christmas Ale...

 

seconding, thirding, whatever # i'm at, Yard's ESA. However, you don't get them in Indiana =(

 

Not sure if Victory puts Uncle Teddy's bitter into distribution outside of PA, but it kicks a fair amount of ass on cask. Honestly, any serving style other than cask is just a shadow to me of what it can be.

 

I'm a big fan of Stranahan's Well Built. Mmmmm...

 

ST Harvest Ale is pretty good, I would recommend trying that.