ESB

Saint Arnold Brewing Co

I had this beer at Saint Arnold's Beer Garden on tap and that is the only place you can get it.

This beer embodies what an ESB ( Extra Special Bitter) should be. It has a carmel, toffee sweetness in the begining which trails off with an earthy hop fininsh. There are notes of fruitiness from the english yeast and is served with low carbonation as is traditional in the UK.

Despite the name, an ESB isn't intensely bitter like an American IPA; instead, it's about balance, drinkability, and a rich, satisfying malt profile with a firm hop backbone.   

Keep in mind that an ESB is a category with in English bitters , representing the strongest nad most premium version. Traditionally English beer was low ABV coming in around 4.2% and and with low earthy hops.

If you like ESBs than this is one definetly worth making the trip to the beer garden to try but dont wait becasue it will only be on tap during January.

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Victoria

Grupo Modelo

The beer pours with just the right amount of head which is maintianed during the entire session. There is a soft malt sweetjness with carmel notes and a crisp finish with little to no hop taste.

Over all this is a good Vienna Lager. At risk of upsetting some purest I recommend adding a lime. This is a specific cultural tradition that originated with Mexican-style lagers most likely to mask off or skunky flavors. But the citric acid in lime adds a crisp, tart, and refreshing quality that balances the malt sweetness and perceived bitterness, making the beer highly drinkable, especially in warm weather.

Yes Victoria is a Mexican beer and the oldest beer brewed in Mexico but what most people do not know is that it is also a Vienna Lager. Yes this "Mexican" beer has its origins in Viena! In this case it has been brewed since about 1906.

At 4% this is a greast session beer and surprise, it goes great with Mexicna food!

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Storm Trooper IPA

Robinsons Brewery

The beer pours with nice head which maintains throughout the session. It has an interesting British ESB flavor, being malty with carmel notes which goes to a more fruity hop finish.

What they have done is taken the original Trooper and bumped up the alcohol from 4% to 6% and pushed the hops up to make an more "American style" IPA. Its made with british malt and American Bobec, Golding and Cascade hops.

Over all its not bad but I think I prefer the original Trooper.

It should be noted that the Trooper series is made by Robinsons Brewery which has been family owned and opperated since 1838.

Paradise Wild Berry

Urban South Brewing

New Orleans,

LA

I should start by saying that Urban South makes some .... well interesting beers.

For this one they took thier base American Lager made with 2-row malt and Huell Melon hops and added some Wild Berries to it.

It pours with a lot of head. Mine was very cold almost to the point of being frosty. The head is maintained throughout the session.

First impression is you smell the berries and can see a slight tint to the beer. I am happy to say that the berry smell carries through to the taste.

Am I a fan? Well no. This beer was not made with me in mind. As a counter view Linda, AKA the Brew Cheif thought it was great and rated it a 4.5! I guess the beer was made for her.

So, if your not a big beer drinker and you do not like hops in your beer than this is one you should try!

Unwind Your Mind

Hop Butcher

Well the beer is named Unwind Your Mind so I was expecting something different and I was not disapointed. This is a bit different.

It pours with some head but that disipates as your drink. It looks well like a glass of juice and it smells as it looks. You get a smell of pineapple and grapefruit. I has a thick taste and the fruit flavor carries over as you taste it.

Its made with Mosaic, Motueka & El Dorado hops.

I am a bit stumped on how to grade this one. They call it a Double IPA and at 7.5% that is what it should be but the taste is well...... more like a breakfast juice.

To complicate things Linda who hates hops said it was not that bad and not offensive like IPAs are. She gave it a 3.5.

When I went to their website they say that this was last canned in June of 2025 so this beer is 7 months old. This makes me wonder what this beer was when fresh.

Over all if your looking to "Unwind Your Mind" and try something completely different go ahead and give it a try. Just be warned that this is not an IPA in any shape or form.