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Redhook ESB

United States·Extra Special Bitter
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Redhook ESB began in the mid-1980s as a winter seasonal recipe and has been brewed continuously since 1987; in the early years it earned a reputation as "banana beer". Caramel malt sweetness meets subtle spicy and citrusy hop flavors, with toffee, floral spiciness, baked bread, fruity esters and stone fruit alongside. Despite the name it is not extra bitter, true to the British ESB style. 5.8 % ABV, hopped with Willamette.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter28 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelfruitymalty
caramel
fruity
malty
floral
citrusy
spicy
Aroma
The nose leads with warm caramel and baked bread, followed by subtle floral spice and restrained citrus notes from the Willamette hops.
also:bready,dark fruit,hoppy
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Redhook ESB

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue with excellent clarity and a dense, off-white head that builds quickly and holds with fine lacing across the glass. The carbonation is brisk and persistent, creating a lively visual presence characteristic of a well-conditioned ale.

deep amberdense white headfine lacingbrisk carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with warm caramel and baked bread, followed by subtle floral spice and restrained citrus notes from the Willamette hops. Fruity esters add complexity, hinting at stone fruit and a gentle spiced undertone that avoids sharpness.

caramel maltbaked breadfloral spicestone fruit esters

◐ Taste

Entry brings pronounced caramel malt sweetness and fruity depth, with the mid-palate revealing toffee notes and a delicate hoppy spice that integrates rather than dominates. The 28 IBUs provide gentle bitterness without aggression, allowing malt character to remain centered throughout.

caramel sweetnesstoffeesubtle hoppy spicebalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

Smooth and clean, with the bitterness fading gradually while stone fruit and baked bread persist in the aftertaste. The finish is neither harsh nor clinging, leaving a pleasant malty warmth.

smooth closemalty warmthlingering stone fruit
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
76
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Redhook ESB

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About Extra Special Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Extra Special Bitter?

Extra Special Bitter is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Extra Special Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, fruity, malty character as Redhook ESB will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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