Extra Special Bitter
4 oz tap pour in a mini American tumbler pint glass. 5.7% ABV. Had at Alcatraz Brewing Co. at The Block in Cali. A - ESB is a clear golden yellow surprisingly. I'd expect it a bit darker. A foamy white head sits nicely on top and leaves good lace all over the glass. S - Strong grassy hops don't come across like much in the aroma thankfully. A toasty amber malt backs up the hops fairly well but it becomes another one-dimensional brew. T - The hops become even more grassy in flavor than the nose lets on. In fact, they outright overwhelm the toasted malt flavor. A touch of skunkiness in the flavor isn't helping it either. M - Rather medium-light bodied and smooth with a very mildly bitter finish from the dry hops. D - This ESB is fairly drinkable but in the end I'm not a fan of the hops used so much. It needs to have better balance between the hops and malts and use more English hops.