By: Billy BeerSlugger
I’m at the beer distributor with Zaccurulo and we’re deciding on what case of beer to get wasted on. We see a sign for this Flying Fish ESB Ale in the front of the store for $20.00 and 2 free flying fish glasses. It wasn’t cold so we went and looked in the freezer for it and asked one of the workers if they had another case of it or if all the Flying Fish was on special. He said that the flying fish in the front of the store was past the born on date by a couple of days and that’s why it was on special.
That gets me to thinking whether or not most of the “on sale/special” beer is close to or past it’s born on date? The difference between a regular case of Flying Fish and the “on special” Flying Fish ESB was over $10. Eventually we compromised and got the ESB and the two free pint glasses.
At 5.5%abv they sneak up on you and after 4 or 5 you get a pretty good buzz on. It’s got some bite to it but still drinks like an ale. Which for me means schwilling them back with no regard for work in the morning. I’m not sure if I was hungover or still drunk when I woke up.
I made my signature macaroni and cheese with ground beef, onions and green peppers but this time added some spaghetti and hot sauce to it. One of the most amazing drunk foods ever invented. Eventually I’ll put the recipe on here.
This ESB is a classic British extra special bitter made fresh with an American slant. A beautiful copper color with an amber head, this classic style features five different malts, including imported English malts, and three hop varieties. The rich malty start features caramel notes that develop into a smooth, pleasurable hop finish.
Malts: Two-row pale, Munich, Aromatic, and English Medium Crystal.
Hops: Magnum, Fuggles, Yakima Golding
Yeast: English Ale
Original Gravity: 14.3 Plato
Alcohol by volume: 5.5%
Formats: 12 oz. bottles,1/2 kegs, 1/6 kegs, cask-conditioned
Availability: Year round