Bottle/Tap: Bottle
When you hear phrases like “single barrel” or “oak-aged”, a lot of the times you could be talking about whiskey, cognac or scotch. If you see those phrases on a bottle of beer, you’re in for a treat. I’ve had a lot of aged beers, be it oak or plastic, and they all taste very good. I have never seen a beer that proclaimed to be a single type of hop instead of a variety. I was intrigued and decided to check this off the 100 Barrel Series Harpoon is promoting. I haven’t had very many in the series (this is 31), but all the bottles I’ve found have been great.
I had this beer in the fridge for a while and then poured it in my big glass to let it come to temperature and take in the full aroma. It isn’t easy finding a good ESB, extra special bitter, in a bottle. The best ESB beers are on tap (Redhook and Fuller’s are my favorites). I have yet to recreate that flavor from a bottle, but this beer comes very close. The red color was inviting and the aroma wasn’t overpowering.
Brewed with Delta hops, a new American varietal, I was impressed. There was a good smooth taste that got a little dryer as it got warmer. I enjoyed the smoky burned quality and there was a solid malt body in this glass. I felt bad that I had no one to share it with, but not that bad. Unlike a pale ale or IPA, an ESB is often a malty beer with strong qualities that doesn’t dry out your mouth.
If you are sitting around on a warm summer evening, or a cool fall night, I would reach for this beer. Pour it in a wide mouth glass, let it come to temperature and then enjoy the flavor.
Tweet This Post 
