Redhook ESB
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with earthy English hops and a mild caramel malt sweetness, with faint hints of toffee and dried fruit. On the palate, it's medium-bodied with a firm but not aggressive bitterness balanced by toasty, biscuity malt. The hop character leans herbal and woodsy rather than citrusy or piney. The finish is moderately dry with lingering malt warmth and a clean, grounding bitterness that keeps things honest.
About the Brewery
Redhook is based in Seattle, Washington, and was one of the founding craft breweries of the American craft movement, established in 1981. They played a significant early role in shaping the Pacific Northwest brewing scene before expanding operations to the East Coast. Their ESB became a flagship and helped introduce American drinkers to British-style ales at a time when the domestic beer landscape was almost entirely dominated by light lagers. They have since merged under the Craft Brew Alliance umbrella, now part of Anheuser-Busch's portfolio.
Food Pairings
The firm malt backbone and earthy bitterness make this a natural match for a classic burger, where the caramel malt echoes the char of grilled beef. Fish and chips work well because the moderate bitterness cuts through the fat without overwhelming the delicate fish. Sharp cheddar or aged Gouda pair cleanly, with the nutty malt tones reflecting the cheese's own savory depth. A roasted chicken with root vegetables is a comfortable match, where the herbal hop character aligns with thyme and rosemary. Pub-style dishes broadly — shepherd's pie, sausage rolls — suit the beer's English-ale roots.
Style Guide
Extra Special Bitter, or ESB, is a British ale style defined by a balance of earthy hop bitterness and rich, biscuity malt rather than the hop-forward aggression of American styles. Despite the word 'bitter' in the name, it's not an intensely bitter beer — the term refers to a historic British classification distinguishing hopped ales from milder ones. ABV typically falls in the 4.5–6% range, and the style features moderate carbonation, a medium-to-full body, and flavors that skew toward toffee, toast, and subtle dried fruit. It sits above an Ordinary Bitter and Standard Bitter in strength and malt complexity, distinguishing it from the lighter, more sessionable end of the British ale spectrum.