I am a hop head. A hop heart if you will… I love hops in all their herbal, citrusy, piney, floral, bitter beauty. I’m also frequently on a quest for solid Extra Special Bitters (or ESBs… capital “B”). Red Hook makes my standard ESB—Otter Creek used to make a fantastic ESB, but unfortunately retired it. Brown’s Brewing Company‘s ESB is a solid rendition, and I’ve recently discovered that Pretty Things Hedgerow Bitter hits the (hop) spot for me too (with a touch of grapefruit!). What’s your favorite ESB?
India Pale Ales are, without a doubt, my go-to beer style… especially the West Coast varieties: Green Flash West Coast IPA, Avery IPA, and Lagunitas Hop Stoopid are three of my favorites.
Needless to say, I was thrilled to see the buzz hops were getting yesterday cause of this lovely little Huffington Post article:
America’s Bitterest Brews
By Joshua M. Bernstein
The Daily Meal/Huffington Post, March 1, 2011
But in this era of craft beer, drinkers are shunning simple brews like Keystone and Coors for coffee-seasoned stouts, burly Belgian ales and, most of all, bitter beers like the India Pale Ale, a.k.a., the IPA… [read the article]
Read more articles I’ve collected (not by me) in the Press Pints tab!
6 comments
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March 3, 2011 at 6:59 pm
JJM
I prefer ESB’s to IPA’s. I wish Otter Creek would re-brew their ESB. My favorite though was the Hunter Gatherer’s Brewpub’s ESB, served at the pub only, adjacent to U. of South Carolina in Columbia, SC.
March 4, 2011 at 9:38 am
Alison
Yeah, I didn’t realize until I was writing that post that they had actually retired the ESB, very sad. I need to get down south again finally and try this spot I hear so much about!
March 7, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Lauren
Hops!!!!!! I’ve never met a hoppy beer I don’t like. Need to work on trying some more ESBs though as I don’t have any that stick in my mind as favorites. You know I love a Dogfish Head 60min IPA though.
I will welcome your ESB suggestion(s) next time we are out.
March 7, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Alison
Yeah! I like where your hop head is at! 😉
March 10, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Dave W.
Alison – Ever tried Ska’s Special ESB? Or our Modus Hoperandi IPA? I am biased of course, but I share your hop-heartedness and happen to think these are two standout examples of the styles. Nice work on the blog. Cheers, Dave W. – Ska Brewing Co.
March 10, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Alison
Hi Dave! No, I have not had anything from Ska Brewing, but you’ve got me intrigued! I see it may be hard for me to get it here in Massachusetts, but now that it’s on my radar I’ll keep an eye out for it when I travel… thanks for the recommendation! (I’ll have to visit the brewery next time I’m in Colorado!)