On tap, dry-bodied chocolate malting persists as vegetal backdrop builds above honeyed cocoa restraint. Fig-date recess hides oxidized acidity, but grassy hop bitterness recedes to styptic bark-like parch. In bottled version circa 2011, overpowering foam burst forth, forming ridiculously rocky tan head, so please pour slowly. Dry-honeyed rye-breaded caramel malting and sweet tobacco roast contrast mild orange-dried nut-soured hop-toasted bittering, creating sleek ESB flavor profile. Contract brewed and bottled by Mercury Brewing, Ipswich, Massachusetts.

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.

Delicate barley-hopped roasting, sugary malt zip, and clean mineral water flow provide ballast for efficient pearly-headed pale-toned dry body. Floral hop continuance, yellow fruited souring, and minor quince-pear-peach coquetry offer contrast but traditional golden ale gets phenol and lacks staying power.

Volcanic bubbly flow tops beige-headed malt chocolate-influenced bitter. Roasted barley overtones and cereal-mineral grains inform butterscotch finish, providing traditional British essence. Happily lacking tinny disturbance of most canned ales.

With pulsing candied sweetness confronting crisp hop bitterness, the rustic Beast Bitter carves out its own distinctive niche. The dragon regalia is a gas. (So as long as we’re celebrating the Middle Ages, hand me a beer, wench!) Pale-hued foamy white-headed full body counters honeyed apricot motif with buttery malts, leafy earthiness, and unusual assortment of spicy adjuncts.

Parched caramelized malts lie atop bitter hop canopy darkened by dry floral spicing and miniscule tart fruiting. But clean mountain water consistency can’t save phenol finish from diluted astringency.

Harshly carbolic, foam-ridden Bitter folds subdued cardboard graining beneath honeyed biscuit vestige and earthen hops. But alcohol coarsening and diacetyl nature ravage dry toffee smidgen.

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.

Softly textured ‘draught pasteurized’ premium ale with desolate barley-hopped malts supporting meager quince blitz and ester-y grape snip to bland creamy caramel finish. Watery texture similar to most British canned draughts, except this is an ale, not pilsner or lager.

Bright citrus aroma and dry hop graining ensure mild barley-toasted honey wheat contour. On close inspection, hints of mandarin orange, apricot, and coarse nut fill out bitter backdrop, but restrained mineral-grained finish remains under-whelming. Worthwhile for pilsner and lager fans as a crossover.

Pour slowly honey-glowed, flesh-headed, bottle conditioned, peach-sweetened ale, allowing five minutes to properly aerate (or risk overt foam reaction). Expressive apricot-orange-grapefruit juiciness gains coriander-ginger insistence as vivacious ambrosia-dandelion-rosebud-spearmint-sandalwood allure saturates embittered hops. Grassy wheat fringe underscores protracted off-dry spicing. Fine as tangy fruit dessert alternative.

Healthy, hearty, heady Extra Special Bitter counters heavy grain influence and silken yeast sweetness with vinous grape touch. Toasted barleymalts enrich edgy hop bitterness matching pungent earthy aroma. Well balanced and sturdy from first swallow to finish.