Passably abstruse ESB brings prickly piney-hopped bittering to tart fig-prune-plum souring and orange-dried apricot-grapefruit clamber. Peanut-shelled walnut astringency, dainty herbal-floral notions, and slim bread-crusted spine backup Saison-like sour ale template.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: LAUGHING DOG BREWERY, PONDERAY, ID.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: RED HOOK BREWERY, PORTSMOUTH, N.H.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
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: 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 BEER 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-peeled 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-husked toasted hop sass and chalky caramel malting seduce laid-back soft water flow as aromatic tobacco-peat earthiness lingers. Secondary rye-pumpernickel breading 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
- 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
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ANDERSON VALLEY BREW. CO., MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ARCADIA BREW. CO., BATTLE CREEK, MI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: AVERY BREW. CO., BOULDER, CO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None




