HomeBeer discovery

Extra Special Bitter (ESB)

Category
Independent reference

What is Extra Special Bitter (ESB)?

An independent guide to the Extra Special Bitter (ESB) beer style, including typical flavor notes and representative beers.

Related styles

Gallagher's Beer Guide is an independent reference. We never accept payment to recommend beer.

Representative Extra Special Bitter (ESB) beers

  1. Traditional English E.S.B. made with English malt and hops. Fruity aroma with an imparted tart flavo
  2. Caramel and toasted malt notes balanced by a gentle floral hop bitterness, smooth and approachable w
  3. Caramelized malt sweetness leads the way in Lord Rear Admiral, balanced by earthy and floral hop not
  4. Rich caramel malt notes blend seamlessly with restrained earthy hop bitterness, creating a harmoniou
  5. Notes of honeysuckle, followed by a mildly sweet maltiness which balances its piney, not-too-bitter
  6. Alaskan ESB offers toasted malt richness with a touch of caramel sweetness, balanced by earthy hop b
  7. Amherst ESB showcases toasty caramel malts balanced by herbal and earthy hop bitterness, delivering
  8. Angle Tree ESB balances toasty caramel malts with a touch of earthy and floral hop bitterness, true
  9. Extra Special Bitter with a strong malt presence and a firm bitterness with hints of fruity esters.
  10. Hearty malt richness with notes of caramel and toasted bread takes the lead in Bent Paddle 14° ESB,
  11. Present Tense ESB offers caramel malt richness balanced by earthy and floral hop bitterness, with a
  12. English Ale made with English malt and hops. Amber in color, Crumble has fruity notes with a balance
  13. Bravo Parliament ESB showcases rich caramel malt sweetness balanced by earthy and floral hop bittern
  14. A simple traditional ESB with a light copper colour and malty sweetness. East Kent Goldings hops imp
  15. BridgePort ESB balances rich caramel malt sweetness with earthy, floral hop notes and a gentle bitte
  16. Rich caramel and toffee malt flavors dominate, balanced by a gentle earthy bitterness and subtle flo
  17. A malt-forward English ale, rich in texture, with a well-balanced hop presence. Crisp & satisfying w
  18. Cheshire Craft Small Town showcases toasty Maris Otter and caramel sweetness balanced by the earthy,
  19. Pours a darker hue of amber, with an off-white head, hints of bitter chocolate, floral, and mineral
  20. Clipper City Winter Storm balances toffee and biscuit-like malts with assertive pine and earthy hop
  21. Conclave English Rain highlights warm toffee and biscuit malt character balanced by mild earthy and
  22. Deschutes Bachelor ESB offers rich caramel and toasted malt flavors balanced by earthy and floral ho
  23. Deschutes Bachelor ESB balances caramel and toasty malts with a gentle earthy and floral hop bittern
  24. Elysian The Wise ESB features a rich malt backbone with notes of caramel and biscuit, complemented b
  25. Saranac Extra Special Bitter balances caramel malts with a gentle earthy hop bitterness, creating a
  26. A traditional British-style pub ale showcasing bready and biscuity malt flavors with rich caramel an
  27. Smith Cove ESB combines rich caramel and toffee malt flavors with a gentle floral and earthy bittern
  28. Fitger's Witchtree ESB balances toasted malt sweetness with subtle earthy and floral hop notes, offe
  29. A definitive ESB. A reddish beer of medium malt flavor with a crisp dry hop finish. This beer is a h
  30. This ESB is a classic British extra special bitter made fresh with an American slant. A beautiful co
  31. Flying Fish ESB Ale features toasty caramel malts balanced with a gentle earthy and floral hop bitte
  32. A balanced ale with a malt-forward character complemented by a single hop profile.
  33. Toasty malt richness with caramel undertones balanced by a gentle earthy hop bitterness.
  34. A copper-colored Pale Ale/ESB, medium-bodied, and balanced with a malty backbone and fruity, dry-hop
  35. English version of a Pale Ale, more malt flavor and a bit nutty. Lightly hopped, dark gold color. A
  36. Salmon Bay E.S.B. by Maritime Pacific Brewing (Seattle, WA): A balanced Extra Special Bitter at 5.5%
  37. Merino ESB showcases caramel and toffee malt sweetness balanced by earthy, floral hop notes in true
  38. MSB delivers a toasty malt backbone with caramel sweetness balanced by a mild herbal hop presence, f
  39. Old Louisville The Brit Extra Special Bitter showcases toasty biscuit malt notes, mild earthy and fl
  40. Original Pattern Easy Bird highlights light caramel sweetness and biscuit malt richness, layered wit
  41. Assertive bitterness meets a distinctly complex malt profile with toasty and nutty bread flavors, co
  42. Rich malty sweetness leads the way, complemented by earthy and floral hop notes with a clean finish
  43. Caramel malt resonates with a delicate yeast fruitiness and neatly balances hop bitterness for a dis
  44. Salmon River Extra Special Brundage showcases rich caramel and toffee malt flavors balanced by a gen
  45. Toasty caramel malt flavors balanced by a gentle earthy hop bitterness.
  46. Some Nerve Idris Extra Special Bitter offers rich malty caramel flavors balanced with earthy and flo
  47. Start Line English Pub Ale ESB features earthy hop bitterness balanced by biscuity malt flavors, del
  48. Stoudt's Scarlet Lady Ale showcases toasty caramel malt with a hint of nuttiness, balanced by earthy
  49. Sturdy Shelter Pitchside ESB showcases light caramel malt character with subtle fruity esters and ea
  50. The Cambridge House Old Mill Pond ESB showcases rich caramel malt sweetness balanced by earthy and f
  51. The Cambridge House Old Mill Pond ESB offers a harmonious blend of toasty malt sweetness and earthy,
  52. Toasty malts with subtle caramel sweetness take center stage in this Extra Special Bitter, balanced
  53. Rich caramel malt sweetness takes center stage, balanced by earthy and floral hop notes for a classi
  54. Tröegs E.S.B. extra special bitter is dry hopped in the old world traditions. It has a full bodied
  55. Upstream Firehouse ESB showcases caramel and toasty malt flavors balanced by gentle earthy hop bitte
  56. Upstream Old Market Firehouse ESB brings caramel and toasty biscuit malt notes, subtle earthy hop bi
  57. 'My beers are on the house, or the house burns down.' - Tommy, probably, if he ever visited us. Malt
  58. Our British-style session beer is cask conditioned and dry hopped. Tea colored with a toasted malt f
  59. Toast malt flavors complemented by gentle hop bitterness and caramel sweetness, smooth and easy-drin
Want a faster way to find beers you'll like? Try the Beer Discovery guide.