Redhook ESB is modeled after the premium Extra Special Bitters found in English pubs. Brewed since 1987, this full-bodied amber ale is Redhook's signature brew with its toasted malt flavor and pleasant finishing sweetness. It's eminently drinkable style has established Redhook ESB as a benchmark brew in the amber ale category.
Redhook ESB is made with a careful blend of two-row Klages and Caramel 60 barley malts and two hop varieties: Willamette and U.S.-grown Tettnang. This rich, copper-colored ale is styled by a complex balance between the bitterness of the hops and the sweetness of a heavier caramel malting. A late addition of hops highlights the fresh aroma.
The well-rounded finish of our ESB makes it a wonderful companion to all manner of fowl and is great with grilled meats, game and cheeses.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by keal from Wailuku, HI, USA who has tried this beer many times. (12/14/2008 2:05:47 AM)
"Old-school microbrew. I remember before they were merged with Anheiser-Busch, the taste of ESB was a little more... bitter? I think it's easier to drink now. But it's been 15 years. I might just be more taste-challenged. For what it's worth, this is a must-try before you die.
I'm not a lager person these days. This is a bitter ale? Haha! It is to laugh! It's a lager, don't you even go there. I like my heavier doppelbocks, imperial stouts and trappist ales. But when I'm having friends around who don't drink the upscale stuff, Redhook ESB (along with Guinness Draught) is usually my first choice for what to bring to the square dance. Keep in mind that I won't turn down a cold can of Steel Reserve, so take my comments with a grain of salt."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.5)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 144oz @ $13.99 Unit Cost: $1.55 per Pint
[2] Review by Cybercat from Atlanta, GA, USA who has tried this beer once. (11/26/2008 9:01:30 PM)
"Color is a fairly typical clear amber; head is white, minimal, and not persistent. Aroma is fairly strong and as hoppy as it is malty. Flavor is fairly mellow and well-rounded, not complex but still pleasing, mainly malty with a nice nippy bitter undertone. Texture is smooth so it goes down the pipes easily. A good party brew."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
6/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
6/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.2)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[3] Review by hantran from New Fairfield, CT, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (11/19/2008 11:38:56 PM)
"Good balance of malt and spice in the nose, perhaps a bit too floral for style. Light copper body with decent short lived head and moderate lace. Mouthfeel is bready and medium bodied, good for style but perhaps a bit thin. Very malty flavor with strong bittering hops ends perhaps a bit too sweet, but aftertaste is bitter. There is a metalic/chemical taste in the finish that is objectionable. Not a bad effort, I prefer their IPA."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.5)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $1.5 Unit Cost: $2 per Pint
[4] Review by quaternio from Tupelo, MS, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (11/15/2008 4:35:49 AM)
"If poured vigorously enough it can achieve a decent sized off-white head that lasts a couple of minutes before disappearing. The body is a reddish golden color without any discernible haze. It left a few sloppy bands of lacing. Mouthfeel was pretty good compared to others that I've had in the style. It smells of floral hops and vague, toasted malts. Can be pretty bitter tasting depending on your palate. I taste hops, non-specific malts, and a little citrus peal; it occasionally reminded me of herbal tea, I even tasted a tinge of mint near the end of the glass. I don't think I'm really a fan of the style, but it did go quite well with a meal."
Aroma:
6/10
Appearance:
6/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
6/10
Overall:
6/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.1)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $1.32 Unit Cost: $1.76 per Pint
[5] Review by funk from grand forks, ND, USA who has tried this beer many times. (11/3/2008 8:42:12 PM)
"Pour is copper with a smallish off-white head. Hops dominate in the aroma and taste is of earthy hops, malt and caramel. Very enjoyable session beer; better out of the tap than the bottle; seems closer to an APA than ESB."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Sampled: Bottle, Forced Draught Sample Size: 12oz @ $1.33 Unit Cost: $1.77 per Pint
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(3.5)
