My ESB tastes watered down

[schubes24]

Ok so my 3rd beer ever is an ESB. All extract and grains to steep only. The recipe I used was 6# LME, 12 0z crystal 55, 4 oz aromatic and 4 oz amber. Added 2 oz challenger for 60 and .75 oz KG. Primary for 12 days and secondary for 12 days. Bottled with table suger b/c I forgot to get corn sugar. When I tasted it after 2 weeks it wasn't good. Bitter, but not in the way it should be, and it tasted watered down. Any thoughts.

 

[Grizzlybrew]

As far as the bitterness, you are on the high side. Not out of style, but at the high end. Depending on the yeast you used, you may have converted more of the fermentables than you wanted and ended a little dry. A lbs. of crystal should have left a little sweetness, but you never know... What were your OG and FG?

 

[avidhomebrewer]

Let it age; it is still green beer. I'd say let it sit another 2 weeks, then try again.