Top 10 ESB or Extra Special Bitter Brewed in North America
This Top Ten ESB list is from the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. Extra special bitter possesses medium to strong hop qualities in aroma, flavor, and bitterness. English hop varieties or others that approximate their resulting character are used in this Subcategory. The residual malt sweetness of this richly flavored, full-bodied bitter is more pronounced than in other bitters. It is light amber to copper colored with medium to medium-high bitterness. ABV: 4.80% – 5.80%. IBU: 30-55
1. Minnesota Special Bitter – Badger Hill Brewing – Minnesota
2. Public Ale – Community Brewing – Texas
3. Echo Sierra Bravo – Old Rail Brewing – Louisiana
4. True Brit IPA – Summit Brewing – Minnesota
5. Calico – Ballast Point Brewing – California
6. Bronze: Fed, White & Brew – American Brewing – Washington
7. Lord Admiral Nelson – Three Floyds Brewing – Indiana
8. Bitch Creek ESB – Grand Teton Brewing – Idaho
9. AleSmith Anvil ESB – AleSmith Brewing – California
10. Lord Admiral Nelson – Three Floyds Brewing – Indiana
History of English Special Bitters
Extra Special Bitter (ESB), a style of English pale ale, emerged in the late 20th century as a stronger, more robust version of traditional bitters. The term “bitter” dates back to the early 19th century, when pale ales, brewed with coke-dried malt, were distinguished from sweeter porters and mild ales. By the 20th century, bitters became England’s quintessential pub beer, with variations like Ordinary, Best, and Extra Special defined loosely by strength. The modern ESB was pioneered by Fuller’s Brewery in London in 1969, initially as a winter beer, before becoming a flagship offering in 1971. Fuller’s ESB, with its rich copper hue, complex malt profile, and balanced hop bitterness (around 34 IBUs), set the standard, blending English hops like Challenger and Goldings with international varieties. Its creation marked a response to the demand for a fuller-bodied, moderately hoppy ale that retained the sessionable charm of traditional bitters.
The style quickly crossed the Atlantic, finding a foothold in the burgeoning American craft beer scene of the 1980s, where brewers like Redhook and Great Lakes embraced it as a balanced alternative to hop-heavy American pale ales. Unlike its British counterpart, the American ESB often leaned darker and maltier, sometimes incorporating American hops for a fruitier profile. While Fuller’s trademarked “ESB” in the UK, the term became a generic style descriptor in the US, leading to diverse interpretations. Typically ranging from 4.5% to 6.2% ABV, ESBs are characterized by a biscuity malt backbone, often from British Maris Otter malt, and earthy, floral hop notes, with bitterness (30–50 IBUs) that complements rather than dominates. Despite being overshadowed by IPAs in the 21st century, ESB has seen a revival among craft beer enthusiasts for its drinkability and nuanced balance, cementing its place as a bridge between England’s pub heritage and global craft innovation.
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