I found another good reason to drink beer during daylight hours. Just look at how nice the sunlight illuminates this glass of Red Hook ESB. Makes my mouth water every time. I've been buying this beer at my local grocery store for only $6. Every other premium selection there is at least $8 to $9. Just like everything else, catching a buzz costs more in NYC. So when I find something thats reasonable and enjoyable I become a loyal consumer.
Light amber color with some good suds. Aroma of fruity hops, but overall not very intense on the nose. The taste really hits the spot for my palate. I love ESB and by that I mean the classically thick and aggressively bitter ones. This beer has only a trace of that style, but enough to know you're not drinking your average ale. The bitterness is complemented by citrus undertones that make this a thirst quenching beer, which is not what I'd expect from an ESB. The texture is also refreshing while still having substantial body that coats the mouth. The finish reveals a minor metallic quality but that's one of the only negatives I can find.
I wouldn't try to pass this off as a classic ESB in style, but I think for the average drinker this would be enjoyable, as well as drinkable for those of us that see the six pack as a serving size. This might also make a good stepping stone beer for someone who hasn't tried ESB and wants to take their domestic beer guzzling in another direction. I'm now on the lookout for the Red Hook Sun Rye Ale. It's just so damn hard to find rye beer these days and summer is on the way. My grade: B
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