What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Light coffee, toasted bread, biscuity malt, sweet caramel, citrusy/earthy hops. Very estery—mostly cherry but also some banana, rose, and blueberry. Light bready malt sweetness, but all I can think of is Pop-Tarts.”
Flavor: “Very nice bready malt flavors edge out the esters, but they’re still pretty strong. The fruitiness is as strong as in some cherry wheat beers. Initial sweet malt, custard notes on the tip of tongue. Sweetness doesn’t linger. Citrusy/earthy hops. Mild astringency, with a lingering light bitterness and a dry finish.”
Overall: “A well-executed American amber ale with just the right amount of hops character to balance the malt. The malt aroma leads the drinker in. Nice malt flavors with a light dry finish. Very drinkable and ‘more-ish.’ ”
What the Brewers Say
“This deep copper ESB is the definition of balance. With each sip, rich malt opens up, revealing an earthy hops flavor and just enough bitterness to round it all out.”
