When I first compiled
my list of all time favourite beers, Fuller's ESB featured near the
top spot in fact at one point in time it held the top spot. I popped
my ESB cherry the first time I went to the Fuller's 'Griffin Brewery'
in Chiswick and took the tour. I arrived early enough so I could
relax in The Mawson's Arms/The Fox and Hounds pub situated on the
corner of the brewery site. It is one of the only pubs to have two
names for one pub a bit odd and possibly pointless but I have no idea
on the matter. I had recently turned 18 and already built up a taste
and love of fine British ales. I was so into beer that I dreamt one
day of becoming a head brewer of an established brewery or even
starting my own, my passion for beer has only gotten stronger over
the years.
Before the tour began I
thought I'd better order some food as I knew part of the tour
involved a tasting session and I didn't want to get so drunk as to
make a fool of myself. After reviewing the menu over the duration of
a pint of Fuller's Honeydew I came to a decision. I ordered the steak
and Fuller's London Pride pie. It arrived at my table along with a
selection of condiments and cutlery. I looked it over for a moment
then dived my fork through the pastry and plunged it into a chunk of
slow beer braised beef. The meat was so tender and flavoursome that
soon enough the whole pie was gone complete with the fresh vegetable
sides. To this day it is still one of the greatest steak and ale pies
I have ever had. To go with such a great pie was and even greater
beer... Fuller's ESB.
The beer was served to
me in a bulbous chalice glass with a very thick stem, a perfect glass
for such a powerful beer. It was deep, dark mahogany in colour with
an off white mallow-like head. The only thing that could have made
that moment any more special would have been if there was a ray of
afternoon sunlight shining directly onto the pint. I should never
have taken my first sip, from then on it became very hard for me to
put the glass down again. The beer was so rich and malty with an
almost toffee sweetness, it is so smooth and velvety with a finish
that never really seems to vacate your palate, a memory of how
unbelievably tasty it is stays forever. As I'm writing this memories
are flooding into my mind about it, would it be so wrong to want an
ESB at 11.50am? The beer isn't heavily hopped, enough to detect the
mellow bitterness but nothing to overpower the body and robust
maltiness. ESB is quite a high strength ale and would fit into the
special bitter category as it's name rightly suggests; Extra Special
Bitter. I like my beers to be strong and malty which is probably one
of the reasons why I regard ESB so highly.
I'd more than recommend
the pie as a perfect start to the brewery tour, I must do the tour
again soon, it's been years since I last went.
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