Anderson Valley Boont ESB (Extra Special Beer)

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Lively, subdued hoppy aroma. Really nice light amber colour. Limited head/lacing. Hops, caramel, a touch of spice, a delicious brew, though the finish is really A bit bitter.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

This beer pours too thin and foamy for an ESB. It has a hazy copper appearance and a strong aroma of dirty hops. The foamy head dies down quickly and the smell fades to a musty floral aroma. The mouth feel is surprisingly thick. The taste is complex. It is sweet, malty and hoppy all at once. The finish is sweet, bitter and metallic. This ESB starts weak, but finishes strong. A little cloying, but if you like ESB’s I think you’ll appreciate this one.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

This beer looks similar to apple juice. It's cloudy brownish/orange in color with an off white head that was not very large nor did it have any worth while lacing. Only held it's retention for a few moments then the head was gone. A very strong malt aroma that seems to consist of mostly caramel and fruity hints of apple and peach. Nothing elaborate. Just pretty straight forward. In the taste I got the nice stab of bitterness with the caramel malt and no discernable alcohol presence. Some of the fruity esters (peach, apple) along with a hint of nuttiness. A bit earthy in the taste also. Medium mouthfeel. Smooth with nice carbonation. Nice bit of bitterness and flavor is left on the palate. Seemed a little bit chewy even. Mostly dry. Slightly above average. This beer is pretty good. Honestly, I thought it might be a little bit better. It's nothing bad. Decently solid. Worth a try I guess to change things up. I could have a few no problem.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Solid ESB. Very well-balanced. Poured a smooth and hazy amber-ish with a moderate head. Floral and hoppy to the nose, only slightly bitter to the pallette - and more so in the beginning than end.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.8%. Hazy golden colour, big white head. Moderate but pleasant aroma of fruity American hops. The flavour has first a distinct malty sweetness, immediately followed by a powerful hoppiness. Overwhelmingly bitter finish and aftertaste with grapefruity and resinous notes, even hints of wormwood..

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Not exactly an ESB by my understanding of the style, but a solid beer nonetheless. Poured a faintly cloudy light copper with a hoppy nose. Moderate ivory colored head with clingy lacing lasting the entire glass. Resinous, sticky mouthfeel, hoppy bitter flavors of grapefruit balanced nicely with malt sweetness. Somewhat hefty ABV makes it a rewarding quaff. I'd drink more of these for sure. Picked up two on closeout at Discount Beverages in Milwaukee, for 99c each. I'd say I got a deal!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

This pours an amber color with a moderate sized off-white head which yields some lacing after each sip. The aroma here is fruity (apricot?) and malty. Medium-bodied, slick and smooth, with a very nice hop/malt balance. Flavors are bready and caramel malts with fruity and floral hops. Nice crisp bitter finish. A real nice drink. This is one of the best ESB's I've had. Solid!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

The case I bought said 'Belks' on it, and had a best before date of March 2011. An English style bitter with a nice malty backbone and some florally hops in the mix. Pours an orangy-red with a decent sized head.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Poured into a pint, firm 2-finger head with fair staying power. Lacing gave an accurate swig count throughout. Hazy orange-amber color. Nose is floral/citrus over a nice malt base. Taste is very well-balanced with tart, mildly spicy hops and sweet malt. One of the best american ESBs I've tried! (Thanks to the forum guys who recommended it!)

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

more on the nose and taste than you expect from the style, but not overdone. a nice balance of floral and bittering hops, and just enough malt to keep it honest.