How To Brew Extra Special Bitter(ESB)

Extra Special Bitter is best known as ESB. While researching this style, I was surprised to learn that English bitters have their start with coke development around 1642.

“Coke is a high carbon fuel made from coal.”

Coke is a grey, hard, and porous fuel with high carbon…made by hearing coal or oil in the absence of air.

Prior to this coke development, malts were roasted using wood and peet, which inevitably gave the malt some smokey character and dark color. The new fuel made it possible to create lighter malt, both in color and character, without the dreaded smokiness.

The Convoluted Pale

The term pale ale was utilized due to the pale color of this new malt. By the 19th century, pale was a rather blanketed term that referred to the three different strengths of English bitters and English IPA.

Such a simple term proved to be convoluted and rather confusing.

The Water of Burton-upon Trent 

The rise of brewers around Burton-upon Trent helped to dramatically change the quality of the bitters being brewed.

The water in the area was high in calcium sulfate giving the beer a vibrant, clear appearance with a robust hop character.

Style Profile for Extra Special Bitter

Appearance

Pale amber to medium copper color. Brilliant to good clarity. Low to moderate white to off-white head. Low carbonation results in little head retention.

Aroma

Low to moderate malt aroma. Low to medium-low caramel aroma. Bready, biscuit, or light toast complexity is very common with the style. Mild to moderate fruitiness. Hop aroma can range from medium-low to medium.

The hop aroma that may arise will be floral, earthy, resiny, and or fruity character. Usually no diacetyl is detected. Some examples of the style can have low sulfur and/or alcohol notes.

Mouthfeel

Medium-light to full body. Low carbonation, but some packages versions have moderate carbonation.

Taste

Mid- high bitterness. Moderately low to moderately high fruity esters.

Moderate hop flavor, usually earthy, resiny, fruity, and/or floral. Low to medium maltiness with a very dry finish. The malt profile is bready, biscuity, or lighty toasty. Low to moderate caramel or toffee flavors may exist.

Food Pairing

The toasty, lightly sweet caramel notes pair well with an English Cheddar. Traditionally speaking, a classic Fish and Chips pairs wonderfully with the batter of the fish.

The sweet caramel characteristics of the beer will add a nice contrast to the malt vinegar usually used in this dish. Roasted chicken or duck will also pair nicely with a nice Bitter.

Tips for Brewing your own Extra Special Bitter 

Grain

Usually a good Extra Special Bitter starts and ends with a good British pale malt. In this case Maris Otter as your base malt is your best choice. Maris Otter lends itself to the biscuit flavor that you should be after with this beer.

After your base malt, a British crystal malt should be also considered. Dark crystal will give the caramel and toasty/roasty tones while lighter crystal malt will give sweeter caramel character. Keep the crystal malts in the 5-10% range.

Also keep the lovibond from 10 to 150L. Going any darker will make the beer too heavy and sweet. Just another note on speciality malts.

Biscuit, Victory and light colored Roast malt can all be considered. Chocolate malts can be used to darken the beer up a lit. If using dark malts, keep it to an ounce or two per five gallons.

Hops

When considering the hops, you need to forget the American notion of a “bitter beer.” 30-50 IBU for this beer should be plenty.

Using English hops would only be proper. Hops such as Fuggle, East Kent Golding is what you should consider.

Yeast

Researching your yeast will really pay off in the end when it comes to brewing your own Extra Special Bitter.

Some British yeast strains can be neutral and others can be more estery, others ferment dryer, and some leave some residual sweetness. Some yeast to consider include:

Wyeast 1275 Thames Valley Ale

Wyeast 1318 London Ale III

White Labs Burton Ale ALP023

Water

Beer purists will say an ESB is an ESB due to the Burton-upon-Trent water. Sulfates do enhance the bitter perception of the beer.

Knowing your water profile can really help you to determine what water treatments you should add to your beer.

No matter where you start, keep in mind the breakdown of Burton-upon-Trent water profile:

• Calcium — 295.0 ppm
• Chlorine — 25.0 ppm
• Sodium — 55.0 ppm
• Sulfate — 725.0 ppm
• Magnesium — 45.0 ppm
• Bicarbonate — 300.0 ppm

Extra Special Bitter By the Numbers

• Color Range: 6 – 16 SRM
• Original Gravity: 1.048 – 1.060 OG
• Final Gravity: 1.010 – 1.016 FG
• IBU Range: 30 – 40
• ABV Range: 4.6 – 6.2%

Extra Special Bitter Recipe

Grain

87% 5 lbs Maris Otter

9% 8 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt – 80L

4% 4 oz Brown Malt

Hops

1.00 oz Fuggle Pellets – Boil 60.0 min

0.50 oz East Kent Pellets – Boil 20.0 min

0.50 oz East Kent Pellets – Boil Flameout

Yeast

1.0 pkg London Ale III WYeast #1318

Mash at 152°F (66°C) for 60 mins

Boil for 60 mins

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is ESB Beer?

ESB stands for Extra Special Bitter, a style of beer that originated in England. It is known for its balanced flavors, featuring moderate to high bitterness, fruity esters, and a malt profile that can range from bready and biscuity to lightly toasty.

ESB beer is a stronger version of the traditional English bitters and is categorized as a “strong bitter.

What Does the ESB Water Profile Mean for the Beer?

The water profile, particularly the Burton-upon-Trent water, plays a crucial role in the taste and quality of ESB beer.

This water is high in calcium sulfate, which enhances the beer’s bitter perception and gives it a vibrant, clear appearance with a robust hop character.

How Do You Create an ESB Beer Recipe?

An ESB beer recipe starts with a good British pale malt, preferably Maris Otter, as your base malt. For hops, traditional English varieties like Fuggle and East Kent Golding are recommended.

The yeast should also be carefully researched; some British yeast strains can be neutral, while others can be more estery. The water profile should mimic that of Burton-upon-Trent for an authentic ESB experience.

How Long Does It Take to Brew ESB Beer?

The brewing process for ESB can vary, but the article suggests that it took about three and a half hours to go from having nothing prepared to having wort in a fermenter.

This time frame can differ based on your equipment and preparation.

Why Might My Homebrew ESB Taste Too Bitter?

If your homebrew ESB turns out too bitter, it could be due to various factors such as the type and amount of hops used, the water profile, or even the yeast strain. A balanced IBU range of 30-50 is recommended for ESB beer. Knowing your water profile can help you adjust the bitterness levels effectively.