Leave it to the Brits to make distinctions between beers (bitters) that are Ordinary, Special, and Extra Special when in reality they are all super Awesome. Think of them as pale ales with slightly different jobs to do: Ordinary is your morning beer (low abv), The Special is for afternoon (a bit more...), and The Extra Special (ESB) as your sipper for a fine meal and long-winded discussions amongst friends. We built our ESB with Marris Otter and some Crystal Malt that lends a nice burnt sugar note and Chinook bittering hops offering a slightly rustic bitterness. Obviously we kept to England for the finishing hops - Fuggle all the way home.
Extra Special Bitter
Civil Life Brewing Company
St Louis, Missouri