Beer # 36 Patrick's Pick Extra Special Bitter

Well as I said it's St David's Day.

Flag of St. David

All around the world my ancestral countrymen are wearing leeks and daffodils singing and hoisting a pint to the Saint. Slightly outside the scope of this blog so I won't get into the history of Wales or the state of Christianity in the "The Time of Living Saints" in Wales from 400 to 800 CE which brought about the stories and legends of old Dewi Sant. If you would like to know more hit up Wikipedia here.  I'll leave the point on this: "Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd" Taken from the final words of St. David to his followers it means "Do the little things in life." I'm sure it wasn't exactly what St. David had in mind but today's little thing is drink some beer.

Tonight's beer is one of my all time favourite styles the: ESB. Extra Special or Extra Strong Bitter refers to a Pale Ale that the brewer has put his best or most expensive hops and or malts into. ESB lacks a true definition so the style is often up for discussion. However, there are several main features, a copper to amber colour, ABV in the 4.1 to 5.0% range, although well hopped and bitter, malt is the dominate flavour. Beers within these parameters can be called an ESB, or a Pale Ale, it is up to the brewer. And tonight's brewer is Trafalgar Ales and Meads. www.alesandmeads.com. Started in Oakville just outside of Toronto, Ontario in 1993 as the Trafalgar Brewing Company. Over the last 20 years it has grown into one of Ontario's most innovative craft beer companies. They launched a successful line of Meads (Honey Wines) which I think I can blur the lines of my blog enough to include them in a tasting. They also have a line of  beers that are the srongest brewed in Canada. 15% Black Bullet, 16% Korruptor, and 17% Critical Mass; which will be featured in upcoming blogs.

Onto tonight's tasting:

Light copper in colour with a slightly cloudy appearance, however there doesn't seem to be any sediment. Dense creamy off-tan head made up of small bubbles. 5.0% ABV in a brown glass "quart-sized" 650 ml bottle. The aroma is fruity with a leaning towards tropical: pineapple and papaya some caramel, hoppy, and toasty. First sip gives us a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, the fruit continues on the attack as the malt is brought forward Aeration intesifies the malt. Finish is long with a hint of sulfur on the end.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $3.95)
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Exceptional

Experience: Pass

Final Thoughts: a very good, not great, but very good ESB. I would definitely drink this again especially since ESBs are hard to come by in my neck of the woods. And yes I know the bottle was all kitted out for St. Patrick's day I should have waited until the 17th to do this beer... but, there are't any Welsh beers in Canada to review and St. Patrick was born in Wales ('tis true faith and begorrah! Look it up here) Plus a lot of people believe he was born in the town in Wales that sprung up around the monastary of.. St. David. Nice tie in eh?

Well I've had my traditional Cawl (soup) and Toasted the Saint it's time to close another blog.

Cheers

CJT