I’m the type of guy that can drink any style of beer at any time during the year.  that winter warmer taste just as delicious to me poolside as it does fireside.  Nvertheless, the idea that certain beer styles are seasonal has some weight to it.  A good Saison, when sipped on a humid summer night in the country with the natural smells of hay and grass in the air, tastes that much better.

Some beers, in my opinion, transcend seasons.  They are absolutely fitting to any climate, temperature, setting, etc.  For me, the English Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB) is that beer for me.  (For more information on the ESB style, this BJCP guideline is helpful) It’s bold enough to warm you up in winter, and bright enough to wet your palate in the summer.

So this weeks Sip With Us Saturday beer is any authentic English ESB.  By authentic, I mean, imported from England.  While there are plenty of American Breweries that mimic the style quite well (in fact, my own ESB style homebrew was one of my best) sometimes it’s best to get a grasp on the originals before dissecting replications.