Start 14-Day Trial Subscription

*No credit card required

Full Sail ESB

Oregon
United States
Full Sail ESB
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
95
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Appearance:
6 / 6
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Description 

This three time gold medal winner is a traditional ale brewed with attention to balance, highlighting both malt and hops. A combination of crystal malts give this beer its orange hue, and caramel complexities. UK and US Challenger hops were used exclusively throughout. Aromas of dry caramel and herbs are followed by a malty, medium-bodied palate finishing with caramel flavors and a crisp bitterness. 

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.5%
IBUs: 
35
Hops: 
UK Challenger and US Challenger
Malts: 
Crystal
Judges Review 
Nelson Crowle's picture
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

A nice big billowing head leaves some lace, and the beer is a brilliantly clear medium amber that you can read a book through. The malt aroma has several layers -- from slightly grainy bread crusts and freshly baked bread to some caramel notes and a smidge of golden raisins. The malt flavor adds to all of the aroma characteristics with some nutty tones and a little bit of peanut-brittle toffee.

The hop aroma and flavor bring out floral and earthy English notes with a background piney aroma and a low grassy (dry-hopped?) flavor, with a bit of herbal hoppiness too. Bittering is fairly high, but almost balanced by the complexity of the malt character. Some slight pomme fruitiness like a ripe pear appears mid-palate.

A tongue-tingling fairly high initial carbonation fades quickly to the traditional moderate carbonation. The finish is clean with moderate alcohol warmth. This is an elegant beer to pair with English pasties (the food, not the tassel!) smothered in spicy tomato sauce.

Advertisement