Craft beer enthusiasts often have comprehensive knowledge about IPAs, yet ESBs remain somewhat enigmatic. ESBs, an acronym for extra special bitter, are a variation of pale ales that originated from England. These beers present a pleasant variation to IPAs in terms of both alcoholic potency and taste profile. Where IPAs typically have an alcohol by volume concentration between 5% to 7%, ESBs usually are in the range of 4.5% to 5.5% ABV. This lower ABV makes ESBs more suitable for session drinking, that is, they can be enjoyed in multiple servings in one occasion without causing severe inebriation.

In terms of taste, ESBs do not hold up to their name’s implication of significant bitterness. These brews are generally less bitter than the majority of IPAs in the market, yet they still offer a robust, malt-forward flavor that leaves a strong impression on the taste buds. Although ESBs have not yet reached the popularity level of other craft beers in the United States, they have been gradually acquiring a dedicated fan base among discerning beer drinkers since their inception many decades ago.

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ESBs trace back to traditional English bitters, a beer style that has been enthralling beer aficionados in England since the 17^th century. Besides the English malts used in brewing the beer, the distinctive taste of the original bitters resulted from the mineral-rich water used during the brewing process during those times. Their popularity saw a surge over the years as beer enthusiasts started favoring less darker-style ales. As time progressed, traditional bitters split into three separate types: Ordinary, best, and extra special.

Most beer connoisseurs credit Fuller’s brewery with creating the ESB that’s known and loved today. The London-based brewery already offered versions of ordinary and special bitters when they added the extra special type in 1971. Fuller’s ESB recipe proved to be quite popular and eventually influenced other breweries to create their versions of the beer. These days, ESBs reside within the wide selection of flavorful craft brews, which includes many iterations of IPAs, sours, lagers, and much more.

India pale ale, more commonly referred to as IPA, is a wildly popular style of beer known for its intensely hoppy flavor. These hops are what give IPAs their characteristic bitterness, which is accompanied by a substantial ABV. When compared to ESBs, IPAs turn up the bitterness. And while lots of beer drinkers enjoy those qualities in their brews, ESBs are generally considered cleaner and more easy-drinking.

As mentioned, ESB is a style of pale ale and is known for being pleasantly hoppy but also malty and sweet. Compared to blond ale, which also falls under the pale ale category, they are more flavorful. Blond ales are so mild that they don’t have any discernable malt or hop flavor, are lighter in color, and typically come in between 4.1% and 5.1% ABV. ESB is a wonderfully session-able style of beer for those who enjoy a moderate amount of body and flavor and want to be able to drink a few in one sitting. If you’re wondering where to get one locally, there are plenty of stellar craft breweries throughout the U.S.

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