Tasting Notes and Review of Shipwreck ESB from Swashbuckler Brewery

From the brewery:
The Extra Special Bitter or ESB is our Asst. Brewer's 1st recipe at Swashbuckler Brewing Company. This style of English Bitter has subtle toasty and fruity notes while remaining perfectly balanced.

Call it an American ESB, at least with respect to the perceived IBU. Bitter is perhaps the most contradictorily named beer style for it is most decidedly not bitter; or shouldn't be.

This one, however, is noticeably bitter and full of English hops character. The beer pours clear and amber with a thin, off-white head. Piny and floral notes dominate both the nose and the taste of the ale. This is not quite balanced by roasty, toasty malt notes but the resulting blend is very agreeable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beer although I question calling it an ESB. Although hops dominate the major issue is too little malt character. ESBs are well balanced between toasted malt goodness and hops. This very nice ale tips decidedly towards hops with a supporting role played by the barley.