R.S.B or Regional Special Bitter is my antipodean take on the English Extra Special Bitter style which I brewed in Dunedin at Emerson’s Brewing co with Richard Emerson.

What is an Extra Special Bitter?

Extra Special Bitter or E.S.B. is a style of English ale that combines all the drinkibility of English draught bitter but packs a slightly bigger punch in terms of flavour and body. A classic E.S.B. will contain between 5 and 6 per cent alcohol by volume, will have a full rich malt profile often with flavours of nutty caramel, and toffee, a fruity rounded yeast profile and a bright earthy hop character. In the UK only Fullers ESB can call its self ESB as Fullers own the trademark to the term. The popularity of Fullers ESB in the States has secured the style as one of the classic American brewpub staples with thousands of different Extra Special Bitters being brewed across America.

An Antipodean approach

R.S.B. is a new world interpretation of the English E.S.B. style utilising Nelson grown hops, Canterbury grown barley along with an American yeast, one malt from England and one malt from Belgium. R.S.B. gains a lot of its fruit character from the fruity New Zealand hops rather than English examples which often have yeast driven fruit characters.

Why an E.S.B?

I chose to brew an E.S.B. as the Regional-Emerson’s collaboration brew as I think it’s a style that makes for great winter drinking having enough body and strength to stand up to hearty winter fare. I also think that there is a gap in the New Zealand beer market for hoppy fruity amber beers. I think the recent popularity of Emerson’s Hoppiest Indian and 8 Wired Red Dwarf pays testament to this.

R.S.B.

Malt:

- Gladfield Pale Ale Malt

- English Crystal Malt

- Belgian Dingeman’s Special B Crystal Malt

Hops:

- NZ Goldings

- NZ Styrian Goldings

Water:

- Soft Dunedin Water with Calcium Carbonate added.

Yeast:

- Wyeast 1272

O.G. 1.055 ABV 5.3%

Regional Special Bitter will be launched in-store at Regional on Friday the 23^rd of July and will also be featured at the Regional stand at Beervana 2010 on the 27^th and 28^th of August.

Cheers

Kieran Haslett-Moore