Beer tasting 48: Red Hook Extra Special Bitter Seattle, USA

[MikroBadass]

I like you, you remind me of my dad

[Mooktopia]

put the dog back on

[michaelyblam]

Ha ha. The dog is actually a kangaroo! I named him Gibson as I 'rescued' him from a junk / second hand shop MANY years ago at Gibsons, BC, Canada. The pesky pet is a constant drunk - stealing my beer, wine and especially whiskies when I am not watching...

[lifeonmars56]

Because it's dubbed in English.... LOL

[Chad9976]

why are the video and sound so far out of synch?

[thegreatbasher]

IPA= Idia(n) Pale Ale if I am right, hope so!

[papouliot]

I get my Red Hook ESB from the east coast New Hampshire brewery. Great stuff. For some reason they changed the meaning of ESB to Extra Special Beer now.

[papouliot]

10 months ago I made a comment and favorited this video.

[LoUsIf]

I live near Seattle, I can drink these by the case. Also the Longhammer IPA's mmmmmmm, those are tasty...

[Photoguy77]

This is one of my favorite beers, great choice for ur video.

[fuckyourmamma]

You da man with those stuffed aminals! One time you have to let the animal sip the beverage and give a review!

[orecul42]

Hi Michael, can you make a mention of the temperature at which you are tasting. Even rough estimate will help. Also..can you review some BC beer? Like the Granville Island Brewery. I am always delighted with their beer when I visit from Seattle. Thanks for your videos.

[michaelyblam]

Rough guide is to chill the bottom fermenting ale type beers as you normally do then take it out the fridge for 15-25 minutes to warm it up (10-14 range). The bottom line is you don't want to drink those beers too chilled or the temperature will disguise the complexity of the brew. Pilsner and lager, like a white wine should be drunk at colder temperature (5-7C say) including dark lager to enhance the crispness and focus of the brew.

[michaelyblam]

I will taste local brews every now and then but my priorities would be to focus on international brews of good/fair/outstanding/excellen­t qualities so that most global viewers can gain access to these brews.

[GhostMint]

HAHA! That pesky roo! You are quite a character. Anyway, what's the difference between the flavour of a bitter and a stout?

[michaelyblam]

A bitter is an ale that usually employs medium roasted malt but would have a high level of hops (especially IPA) to create the bitterness. A stout is much darker in colour (usually have a creamier body especially when nitrogen pumped).  It has a burnt, roasted coffee, dark chocolate and somewhat sharp / tart grainy taste. Low level or no hops are employed in brewing stout. The bitterness in a stout is mainly derived from the burnt characters of the heavily roasted malted grain.

[stratocasterz]

You should try Rogue Shakespeare stout, thats like chewing on a pine cone (well not really but it is hoppy).

[Stonebrews]

haha. Shakespeare stout is so not hoppy. Its a dark creamy stout. I think you are confused about what hops taste like. Try Stone Ruination IPA, that's hoppy. :)

[Stonebrews]

I was replying to someone's comment by the way. I enjoyed the videos though!