Houndstooth
Grimm Artisanal Ales in Brooklyn, New York, United States 🇺🇸
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Rotating|
Score
7.03
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ESB pouring with a brilliantly clear amber hue. Exceptionally balanced, this beer features ample malt flavors of toasted bread, light caramel, and a hint of dried fruit alongside well-matched orangey hop bitterness. It has a snappy finish that benefits from a traditional gypsum-rich Burtonized water profile.
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7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Poured from and undated can into a nonic pint glass
Pours semi transparent amber to chestnut with a slight haze, one and a half fingers of off white to tan head eventually settles leaving minimal lacing.
Aroma of toasty bread, caramel to honey, orange and spice hops are present as well.
The taste tends to follow with the hops playing a pronounced roll. Plum and raisin meld with the carmel and toasty malt lead into the spice orange from the hops.
Rather sharp and aggressive bitterness throughout the drinking experience finishing dry and clean. Medium body with long bitter finish.
Overall it's a nice ESB but I wish the bitterness was dialed back some. I assume the burtonized water is playing with the hops and it's throwing off the balance. It's still a nice experience I just wish the bitterness was dialed back a touch.
Pours semi transparent amber to chestnut with a slight haze, one and a half fingers of off white to tan head eventually settles leaving minimal lacing.
Aroma of toasty bread, caramel to honey, orange and spice hops are present as well.
The taste tends to follow with the hops playing a pronounced roll. Plum and raisin meld with the carmel and toasty malt lead into the spice orange from the hops.
Rather sharp and aggressive bitterness throughout the drinking experience finishing dry and clean. Medium body with long bitter finish.
Overall it's a nice ESB but I wish the bitterness was dialed back some. I assume the burtonized water is playing with the hops and it's throwing off the balance. It's still a nice experience I just wish the bitterness was dialed back a touch.
Tried
from Can
from
The Craft Beer Center at East Branch Organics
on 17 Mar 2026
at 00:27
7.5/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
A4 draught, 2/8/26.
Smells the part. Slight toast with not too strong caramel. Not very fruity. Low hop showing slight earthiness. Not getting a huge yeast signature; it's very clean.
Bitter hop with light toast but the creamy, watery nitro helps soften the blow. Grain and biscuit with toast and a bit of sweet caramel and honey. Not sure why the bitterness is so sharp and persistent but it's a bit too much, as a result.
Smells the part. Slight toast with not too strong caramel. Not very fruity. Low hop showing slight earthiness. Not getting a huge yeast signature; it's very clean.
Bitter hop with light toast but the creamy, watery nitro helps soften the blow. Grain and biscuit with toast and a bit of sweet caramel and honey. Not sure why the bitterness is so sharp and persistent but it's a bit too much, as a result.
Tried
from Draft
at
Area Four
on 08 Feb 2026
at 20:04