ESB
Ridgeway Brewing in South Stoke, Oxfordshire, England 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
6.37
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Extra Special Bitter is an English style, which first became popular in London. We are faithful in our use of exclusively whole English hops – Challenger and Wye Target, exactly as it should be. The result is a full warm and rich ale, with a distinct character from the yeast and an earthy orange peel note from the late hops.
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6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle from Drankenhandel Leiden. Bitter and malty with notes of dark bread, caramel, light earthy. Mild sweet with a long bitter finish. Medium body. Nice.
Tried
from Bottle
from SpeciaalBierPakket.nl
on 12 Apr 2026
at 19:11
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
From Bine and Vine, bb looks like 2026, can't read month and day because of a sticker.
It pours reddish gold with a finger of foam that lasts. Lacing is excellent.
Smell is a nice mix of malty sweetness and hop bitterness. Earthy notes popped in my nose.
The taste is English malt that brings sweet and earthy
notes, nice English hop bitterness that provides balance, little bit of grass. I'm digging this ESB..
Medium bodied, I would drink this again.
It pours reddish gold with a finger of foam that lasts. Lacing is excellent.
Smell is a nice mix of malty sweetness and hop bitterness. Earthy notes popped in my nose.
The taste is English malt that brings sweet and earthy
notes, nice English hop bitterness that provides balance, little bit of grass. I'm digging this ESB..
Medium bodied, I would drink this again.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Bine & Vine Bottle Shop
on 14 Mar 2026
at 12:48
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to becher glass.
Appearance: glossy rustic orange to copper color with a subtle transparency about it; two and a half fingers of white foamy head dissipated to leave some light messy lace
Aroma: earthy to floral to dried grassy hop scents mesh with a bitter malt base, somewhat herbal and dry
Flavor: combines the prior noted aromas to a bitter malty quality; herbal/earthy and floral finish
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable; pretty smooth along the tongue
Overall: as an ESB, this one works, I know it's not a popular style in this day and age but I don't mind this for me. Pass the fish n' chips for this one!
Bottle to becher glass.
Appearance: glossy rustic orange to copper color with a subtle transparency about it; two and a half fingers of white foamy head dissipated to leave some light messy lace
Aroma: earthy to floral to dried grassy hop scents mesh with a bitter malt base, somewhat herbal and dry
Flavor: combines the prior noted aromas to a bitter malty quality; herbal/earthy and floral finish
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable; pretty smooth along the tongue
Overall: as an ESB, this one works, I know it's not a popular style in this day and age but I don't mind this for me. Pass the fish n' chips for this one!
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Feb 2026
at 20:13
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
500ml bottle from Corkscrew in Jersey, pours amber with a white head. Aromas & tastes of caramel, toffee, hints of flora, grass & light malt. Medium body. Smooth light bitter finish. Enjoyable
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Jan 2025
at 13:59
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Tried
on 03 Sep 2023
at 10:27
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle@PBF XIII. Goldeny orange colour with some white head. Aroma is floral, some fruity and mild herbal and wooden tones. Flavour is floral, some wooden tones.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Sep 2023
at 22:13
4.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 8
Overall 4.5
--Bottled at PBF XIII. -- Clear deep golden, small head. Fruity, leafy vegetable nose. Sweet with medium body and clean, rounded mouthfeel. Doughy and fruity with the trademark leafy decomposing leafs. Mid bitter finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Sep 2023
at 22:03
5.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Bottled 500ml (PBF XIII)
Golden colour, small white head. Malty, slightly fruity aroma. Light-bodied. Very hoppy flavour, some fruityness and nutty notes. Unbalanced.
Golden colour, small white head. Malty, slightly fruity aroma. Light-bodied. Very hoppy flavour, some fruityness and nutty notes. Unbalanced.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Sep 2023
at 22:01
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
50cl bottle. PBF XIII. Clear and light amber in color. Malts and nutty notes. Some dark fruits.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Sep 2023
at 21:58
6/10
Ruby.malty,herbs,hops.some bitterness.dry with slightly rough finish. Bbe:21/04/2025
Tried
on 29 Jul 2023
at 17:44