Offbeat copper-toned ‘09 Extra Special Bitter allows tannic grape acidity, moldy orange tartness, and mild nuttiness to affect honey-soured caramel-toasted malting. Citric-hopped cider sharpness gets diacetyl at tea-like tobacco-dried backend.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: RED HOOK BREWERY, PORTSMOUTH, N.H.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: GRAND TETON BREW. CO., VICTOR, ID.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Tremendous full-bodied double-hopped version of bottle-conditioned bomber-bottled ‘20th anniversary reserve’ Extra Special Bitter brings dark-spiced India Pale Ale-like fruiting to rich cocoa-chocolate malting. Orange-grapefruit peel bittering anchors brownish crimson commemoration as prune-raisin souring rises above tongue-tingling nutmeg-cinnamon spicing. Mushroom-like fungi yeast adds funky Belgian farmhouse ale underside.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: GOOSE ISLAND BREW. CO., CHICAGO, IL.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
On tap, traditional autumnal Extra Special Bitter brings sweet and sour dry-fruited nature to piney floral-spiced Cascade hop bittering. Grapefruit, pineapple, and apricot surge ahead of buttery caramel-roasted malts lining mild-bodied gold-hazed seasonal.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ROCK ART BREWERY, MORRISVILLE, VT.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Alluring ‘Extreme’ ale with emboldened 80 IBU hop measurement, viscous saffron body, and thick yeast sediment perfect for bitter hopheads. Floral herbaceous fruiting fronts hop-oiled wood-chipped grapefruit peel and orange rind bitterness. Tropical pineapple, guava, and tangerine tang counters ascending piney brashness.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: SOLE BAY BREWERY, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Dry wheat husk, toasted hop sass, and ashy caramel malting seduces laid-back soft water flow as aromatic tobacco-peat earthiness lingers. Secondary rye-pumpernickel and wet cedar sweetness recede to smoked wood tinge. Surprisingly lacks advertised bitterness though redeeming novice appeal is undeniable.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALASKAN BREWING, JUNEAU, ALASKA
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Russet Extra Special Bitter gives laid-back fruity waft concise chocolate-caramel initiation quickly juxtaposed by peppery hop bite, orange peel souring, and floral spicing to complex finish. Warning: high acidity may prelude amateurs.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALESMITH BREW. CO., SAN DIEGO, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Sweet malt-scented English-styled Extra Special Bitter lacks appropriate enriched bitterness then finishes weak and predictable. Blunt hops disturb initial toasted grain development, blemishing delicate chocolate malt insistence and maple sap suggestion. Nowhere near as thick and heavy as false “”Anvil”" signifier.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ANDERSON VALLEY BREW. CO., MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Refreshingly spry bitter with mellowing barley recession to crisp mineral water finish. Off-dry hop bitterness underscores grain intimacy for mild pilsner elan that lager fans may find tempting.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ANDERSON VALLEY BREW. CO., MENDOICINO COUNTY, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Fruitier upgraded version of Belk’s E.S.B. brings serenely cereal-grained orange-grapefruit tang to lemony floral-hopped bittering. Soapy finish slightly downgrades well-balanced easy-to-drink medium body.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ARCADIA BREW. CO., BATTLE CREEK, MI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Middling phenol-fizzed bitter loses Fuggle-hopped sass as well as barley-roasted toffee-butterscotch sweetness by unresolved cereal grain finish. Raspberry-cider tartness dissipates in tea-like midst.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: AVERY BREW. CO., BOULDER, CO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Chaotic fizzy grained sweetness merely gets in the way of off-dry mild hop bittering and thin berry afterburner, becoming too predictable by dissolving cracked wheat finish. Grapefruit-orange peel souring needs sharper identity.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BADGER BREWERY, DORSET, ENGLAND
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Red-fruited chestnut-hued English bitter draught envelops wild honey bittering and zesty hop zing with heavenly chocolate nuances. Indistinguishable mocha finish and failing aftertaste lighten initial promise. Serve to aggressive rookies not fully prepared to switch to heavier Guinness Draught.