Style: ESB

ABV: 5.0

99/100
Aroma: 12
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 20
Mouthfeel: 5

Vitamin Sea Brewing Lost Harbor

What the brewers say

“Our small-batch ESB. Prominent malt presence with flavors of caramel, toffee, biscuit, and a rich, slightly sweet taste. Noticeable hop bitterness balances the sweetness.”

What our panel thought

“English hops in the aroma, with an ester-and-malt complexity. Dominant orange and Fruity Pebbles, with low English Breakfast–tea notes, supporting biscuit, and warm bread malt. Crisp, well-balanced, with malt flavors of caramel and toffee. Underlying malt sweetness balances a somewhat assertive hop bitterness. A more hop-forward interpretation of the style.

What our editors thought

“Significant Noble-ish hop nose with bits of yellow flowers, orange blossom, and a touch of herbal spice alongside sweeter bread notes. Rich bready malt in the sip is balanced by rather strong but classically refined hops. Feels bigger and bolder than its advertised ABV—an unusual twist, but one that fans of classic English IPA will embrace.”

Review printed in: The Malt Is the Message (Spring 2024) (View All Issues)


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