El Pistolero
Well-Known Member
I'm sipping my first ever ESB...Thames Welsh ESB. I thought ESB stood for Extra Special Bitter, but this sucker isn't bitter at all...it's actually kind of sweet. What gives?
London and Wales? What did you expect? Double the trouble......El Pistolero said:I'm sipping my first ever ESB...Thames Welsh
El Pistolero said:No, it's Extra Special Bitter. I guess it's more to do with the historical definition of a bitter.
cweston said:I think that's it: a bitter was called a bitter to distinguish it from a mild. A stronger bitter is "special" and stronger than a special is "extra special."
Actually, I think most ESB's have a higher IBU to gravity ratio than English Pale Ales. Fullers ESB is about 1.050 and 45 IBUs. Bass is about 1.052 and 37 IBUs. ESBs probably are made with a little more crystal malt, though.
We now conclude this beer geek moment.
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