Customer Reviews

Easy drinking ESB Review by Tim

Rating

I have had only a couple commercial versions of an ESB, so wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I have to say I'm very happy with it. It is super easy to drink, but still filling. I have only had 1 other beer that I've made go as quickly as this one did. I can easily see myself ordering this extract kit again, or trying the all grain version to see if there is a difference. Excellent choice if you're looking for a beer you can bottle and then enjoy without aging more than a couple weeks. (Posted on 2/25/12)

Good Solid Beer Review by Danni

Rating

Accidentally left this one in primary for 6 weeks, then went to bottles for 7 days... ended up working out anyway. It's smooth and delicious. A good choice to have as a nice stock beer. I was trying to get a good pseudo-clone of Goose Island Harvest Ale and this one actually tastes better in my opinion. (Posted on 2/12/12)

Update: My favorite extract kit... Review by Rifester

Rating

This was by far my favorite extract kit. This beer was great and well balanced. I have since moved on to all grain, and brewed other ESB recipes, but this one will be my standard. The other recipes I tried claimed tobe award winning but were not nearly as good as Northern Brewer's ESB. If you like this style you will love this beer. (Posted on 12/31/11)

Great!! Review by nick

Rating

Nice easy drinking brew. Darker in color than shown. Beside the point it's a good drink'n beer. Gets better with age so I'll have lock a few bottles up to keep me from drinking them. Just a good blend of malt, grains and hops. So many beers... so little time. (Posted on 11/10/11)

Awesome Review by AGC

Rating

I just got into ESBs and I wanted a kit that would give me something close to fullers... and man... I have to tell you this kit is fantastic... I haven't tasted the 2 side by side but this is a great kit. will definitely be buying again. (Posted on 9/17/11)

Was not sure I would like it... Review by Rifester

Rating

But I LOVE it. I have tried many of the commercial ESB's. I enjoy this beer much more. It is very balanced. I don't like an overpowering, caramel taste I have found in some of the ESB's I have tasted. NB's version only has a hnit of sweetness on the finish and I find it perfect. I was very worried I would not like this kit, but wanted to try a beer out of the norm for my taste. I will always have this around my house. After a bunch of reading about this yeast (used the liquid) I decided to bottle right at the two week mark. I opened the first at two weeks. This beer was WONDERFUL at three weeks in the bottle. If you want a great beer that can come together in a shorter period of time this is it. (Posted on 9/11/11)

Great Beer Review by EAH64

Rating

I've brewed 6 NB extract kits, and this is probably my favorite (tied with the Dead Ringer). I have spent a lot of time in the UK, so I have a great fondness for bitters. I wouldn't say this is a genuinely authentic ESB, but it's a really rich, flavorful beer. Everyone that has tried is has immediately said wow - awesome. (Mine turned out quite a bit darker than the picture.) With so much super-hopped American IPA out there (which I love too), these English style beers are a great change of pace. I'm going to try The Innkeeper next to see how it compares. (Posted on 7/14/11)

ESB as expected Review by bernbrew

Rating

I just returned from 2 weeks in Great Britian and while I enjoyed sampling their cask ales (also called real ales) I was disappointed in the lack of bitterness in their ales. It appears that the Brit's taste has changed and the usual bitter ale is no more. I kept ordering Bitter, IPA and ESB only to be somewhat dissapointed. Don't get me wrong, all their ales are delicious and satisfing from a beer stand point. But, please give me some hops. Back home I am drinking my NB ESB that I brewed up in February 2011 for the first time. This brew is exactly what I expect in an ESB. I will brew this again. (Posted on 6/26/11)

Fresh ingredients make a huge difference Review by Jeff

This is my first NB kit. I normally use the BB kits from my local HB shop. Who knows how old the canned extract and hops are, and their liquid yeast is has been around for a while. This NB kit had fresh LME and fresh crushed grain. You can smell the difference. The yeast was manufactured 2 weeks ago! I'm used to smacking my yeast 2-3 days before brew day hoping that I get noticeable swelling. This stuff puffed up in a few hours and the pouch was rock hard by brew day. The lag time after pitching was only 4 hrs and by morning the airlock was going 130 bpm at 65deg. Fermented out in < 5 days and I just racked to secondary. Right now it tastes clean. I can't wait to taste the finished product. Getting ready to order 3 more kits. (Posted on 2/11/11)

VERY good ESB Review by txbrewer

Rating

10/08/09 batch (OG: 1046, FG: 1017) that was kegged, and left in the fridge. I tapped the keg 12/31/09 for the new year party. What a success. I have brewed this ESB many times and each time the resulting beer was great. (Posted on 4/28/10)