I’m having a Bachelor Party
Written: Nov 05 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quaffable and characterful interpretation
Cons: N/A
The Bottom Line: If you like Fuller’s ESB you’re probably going to like this too. A good session beer with a nice fruity palate.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Belk's ESB |
The more studious of you may recall that I reviewed a Deschutes Brewery beer just a couple of days ago. For those who didn’t, I mentioned how I’d tried three Deschutes beers already, and was so impressed that I’m constantly on the look out for anything else from this Oregon based brewery. Obsidian Stout was my fourth Deschutes, and I picked up the Bachelor ESB at the same time from Beverages & More in Newport Beach, CA.
My previous review of Deschutes Black Butte Porter (*) offers a little more background information on this fine brewery, but for the intents of this review it’s straight down to the beer.
So first things first, what is an ESB?
ESB is an abbreviation of Extra Special Bitter. Now that doesn’t mean that it’s excessively bitter, or particularly special although the word extra does carry some significance.
The beer is actually based on an English style locally referred to as Bitter, which is more or less synonymous with the more recognizable and less confusing term Pale Ale. In spite of the name Bitter, these beers are really not that bitter at all. The variation from a pale ale is that ESB is higher in malt content, which as a consequence of the brewing process will result in a fuller bodied and slightly stronger beer.
A typical example from the UK will be rich, malty and fruity. If you ever get a chance to try Fullers ESB, I highly recommend it as a classic and benchmark for the style. The style is now widespread in the USA, and if you go to any good bar here on the west coast you’re almost certain to find Redhook ESB. As is the case with most US interpretations of a British beer style, an American ESB will usually be higher in hops and therefore slightly more bitter.
Deschutes Bachelor ESB
According to the brewers:
This "Extra Special Bitter" has a deep copper color and rich malt body. English Kent Golding hops provide a balanced bitterness and traditional finish.
Alcohol Content is 5.4% by volume.
Tasting Notes
I’d describe the color as a reddish amber, while it’s pretty clear and light looking with moderate head formation that does die down quickly but never completely disappears. It’s real fruity in the nose; some sweet fruitiness from the malt, as well as a sour grapey/winey fruitiness which I’m assuming comes from the hops.
On the palate this is a medium bodied brew, not quite as full as I’d like, with just the right amount of carbonation. The malt is a little more definitive on the tastebuds, lightly carmelized and sweet at first, turning to an initially light mid-palate fruitiness and citric bite in a moderately hoppy finish. As the beer warms, the fruitiness does gain in stature and asserts itself very well in the aftertaste.
Verdict
I kind of swayed a little on this one, from an initial 3 to an eventual 4 , the reason being that the more I drank it the more I liked it. Often the beer hunters among us will hop around beer festivals trying to assess a beer in a 4 oz plastic cup and if I’d done that with this one I probably wouldn’t have been impressed. But the flavors, especially the malt do become more assertive as the beer warms.
It seems to fall between the traditional UK ESB’s and the more hoppy US versions. In fact that’s pretty much what I’d expect from the label description. It’s not quite a Fullers but a pretty good version in itself. I put this down as an ideal session beer, that being the kind you can enjoy a few of with friends or out in the garden. But while it is instantly quaffable, it also has a fair amount of character. A good recommendation to ESB fans, and a decent example of the style.
Food Compatibility
Braised beef, beef stew, lamb chops and roast chicken.
Ratings, Awards, & Notables
Gold Medal, Individual Category Awards, English-syle Bitter Ales
2002 Real Ale Festival, Individual Awards, 3/4/2002
Bronze Medal, Best of Bottles
2002 Real Ale Festival, Bottle Conditioned Beer Awards, 3/4/2002
Bronze Medal, ESB category
2002 Real Ale Festival, Individual Category Awards ~ Cask Ales, 3/4/2002
Gold Medal, Best of Bottles
2001 Real Ale Festival, Bottle-conditioned Beer Awards, 03/01/01
Gold Medal, Bottled English-style Ales
2001 Real Ale Festival, Individual Category Awards, 03/01/01
Bronze Medal, English Pale Ale
2001 West Coast Brew Fest, 05/13/01
Footnotes
(*) For more on the brewery:
http://www.epinions.com/content_33922715268
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
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