Anderson Valley Belk's ESB: This should be the brewery's flagship
Written: Jun 17 '01 (Updated Jun 25 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Well balanced malt and hop, very versatile
Cons: For once I can't think of one
The Bottom Line: Probably the best I've tried from AV. Perfectly balanced chocolate malt and citric hop. Versatile ale that would work well any time and any place.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Belk's ESB |
It’s late and I was about to go to bed. However, why leave a good memory pending when I could write about it now? Anderson Valley Belk’s ESB, just became the fourth beer I have tried from this brewery.
Before I start here’s a quick recap of what I said about the other three:
Boont Amber (4 Stars): “Best suited to fans of Pale ales or Brown Ales, good mix of fruit and malt with hoppy finish.”
Deep Enders Porter (3 Stars) “A pleasant porter, nice aroma, good coffee, chocolaty and bitter aftertaste. Not quite assertive enough and a little too lightweight for a porter.”
Hop Ottin’ IPA (4 Stars) “A typical US IPA, very well made from a top class microbrewery. May be too hoppy and bitter for some, but still worth checking out.”
Anderson Valley is a brewery that I have been quickly gaining an affection for, not only for its pleasant brews but also the cultural tributes in the naming of them.
The Brewery
The brewery is based in Boonville, Northern California, a region well known for its wine expertise and quickly gaining recognition in the microbrew industry. OK, so Anchor, in San Francisco was probably the pioneering microbrewery, but most activity had settled around Portland and Seattle with a gradual southbound movement
Starting out in 1987, on the lower level of a brewpub, Anderson Valley’s brewing capacity was a mere 10 barrels. This brewery has recently been growing in stature and demand caused the construction of a new facility in 1996, which has also since been redeveloped. Anderson Valley beers are brewed with only pure ingredients, and have received many awards in the brewery’s short history.
The Names
At the turn of the century, when Anderson Valley was an isolated farming community, the locals created their own dialect known as Boontling. The language still exists to a limited extent today and is understood by local residents. Anderson Valley’s beer are named in tribute to the community’s culture. Some, such as Hop Ottin’ meaning hard working hops, are imaginatively named. Others, such as Belk’s, named after a scenic valley northeast of Boonville, are not quite so exciting.
The Beer
Belk’s pours to a golden-amber color with a slight haziness. It carries an impressive carbonation for an ale, and is topped off with a firm eggshell colored foam. The head is enduring, leaving layers of lace down the sides of the glass.
Having spent the last few weeks tasting mostly lagers, this beer became very inviting, very quickly. The nose was immediately tempting, with strong signs of chocolate malt, while further whiffs revealed a little perfumey aroma and a subtle flowery hop.
The palate holds very well. On the one hand it’s not too heavy, somewhat medium bodied. On the other hand there’s a nice firmness, slightly creamy and it certainly runs smooth.
I held the beer at the tip of my tongue for a second in the initial sip, which as I expected, and wanted, showed the chocolaty malt again, but also revealed an immediate hoppiness. The chocolate becomes even more noticeable as it passes over the middle of the palate, which is followed by a distinct citric tang. Although this was certainly not as hoppy, it seemed very similar to an IPA. The aftertaste is very enjoyable with a perfect balance of malt and hops balancing each other out.
Remarks
This is certainly a versatile ale. It would make a great summertime brew, it’s refreshing and easy drinking. At the same time there is a subdued heartiness to this beer that would make it an excellent late night relaxation. I would consider it a suitable everyday, or session beer, except for the fact that the alcohol content (6.8% ABV) is a little too high for that.
I’m sure this beer will please many people, so much so that I would recommend it to any bitter, pale ale, IPA, ESB, or brown ale drinker. It’s also not too difficult a beer for micro-beginners to get used to.
Serving Suggestions
This may be an ale, and generally you should lift them out of the refrigerator 30-45 minutes before serving. I usually find that ESB’s and IPA’s lose a little maltiness and body if served too cold. However the malt in this one loses nothing when served cold, while the citric tang does subside a little as the beer warms. In light of this I would have to suggest serving it straight out of the fridge.
If you’re looking for food, I would imagine that this would pair well with char-grilled meats such as pork chops and apple sauce. If you’re like me, however, forget the food, sit back, enjoy the beer, while contemplating whether this Lakers team really was the greatest ever.
Price/Availability
I paid $3.39 for this 22oz bottle, although I did notice on the same receipt that Anderson Valley’s Porter only cost $3.19. Imagine the grocery store’s surprise if I go in and dispute that one. This beer, although not all of their brews, is also available in 12oz 6-packs. The website has one of those location searches if you would like to find out about distribution in your own state.
Awards (or just a few of them)
Gold Medal: Bitter Ale - 1998 World Beer Championship
Gold Medal: Bitter Ale - 1997 World Beer Championship
Gold Medal: Bitter Ale - 1996 World Beer Championship
Gold Medal: Traditional English-Style Bitter - 1995 Great American Beer Festival
Gold Medal: Strong Ale - 1994 Great American Beer Festival
Recommended:
Yes
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andaryl
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