West Branch Riffle Trout ESB

Fog lifting off the river at first light

An Extra Special Bitter named for the West Branch of the Delaware, toffee malt and earthy hops at 5.4%, for a slow evening by the water.

Brewed to order

West Branch Riffle Trout ESB carries a label of three spotted trout swimming through curling river water. The label is coloured in slate blue, cream and olive gold under a copper-orange band.

ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 35
Colour: 14SRM
OG to FG: 1.0541.013

Toffee, biscuit and earthy English hops
5.4% ABV, 35 IBU, copper at 14 SRM
Maris Otter base with London ESB yeast
Three spotted trout in slate-blue water
Soft carbonation, dry and bitter finish

In the glass

A glass of Extra Special Bitter: clear copper, low cream head, nonic pint glass.

14SRM

Toffee and biscuit up front, a touch of orange marmalade, earthy hops and a firm, dry bite at the end

Serve: 50-54°F in a nonic glass
Alongside: Fish and chips, aged cheddar, a pork pie

Three trout drift through swirls of slate blue and cream, gold flanks freckled dark. A copper band sits above them. Behind, grey water slides past wooded hills with fog still clinging to the ridge.

It pours deep copper. Toffee and biscuit come first, then a little marmalade, then earthy hops that dry it out and invite the next sip. Open one on the dock when the rods are down and the light is going soft.

The warm rest at 68°F is where this one is won or lost. London ESB yeast leaves a buttery note behind if you rush it, so taste before the cold crash and wait until it is clean.

The numbers

5.4%Alcohol by volume

(1.054 − 1.013) × 131.25

35Bitterness, IBU

Bitterness only means anything against the style. This one is a Extra Special Bitter.

14Colour, SRM

The swatch above is this number on the standard reference ramp, not an impression of it.

Gravity1.054 down to 1.013 — 76% apparent attenuation.

Named for the West Branch of the Delaware

Catskills · NY, PA

The water it is named for

Water type: Tailwater

Details

River: West Branch of the Delaware
Style: Extra Special Bitter
ABV: 5.4%
Tasting notes: toffee, biscuit, caramel, orange marmalade, earthy hops
Colors: copper orange, slate blue, cream, olive gold, brown

Make it yourself

A home brew day set up in a garage: kettle steaming on a burner, mash tun and chiller beside it.

At a glance

Style: Extra Special Bitter
Gravity, OG → FG: 1.054 → 1.013
ABV: 5.4%Derived from OG and FG
Bitterness: 35 IBU
Colour: 14SRMdeep amber
Difficulty: Second batchthe warm rest and the cold crash need a steady hand on temperature.
First pint: 35 daysFrom brew day, including conditioning
Brew day: 2 h 10 minKettle on to kitchen clean. The rest is the yeast.
You supply: brew kettle, mash tun, fermenter with airlock, thermometer, hydrometer, wort chiller, sanitiser, siphon, bottles and capper or a kegging setup
Written for: 5 gal (18.9 L)
Efficiency assumed: 72%Brew-in-a-bag, full-volume. House guidance

Grain bill

5 malts · 10.44 lb for 5 gal

Piles of pale, amber and dark malted barley on a wooden bench beside a scale.

Milled grain, weighed for each batch size. The percentage is each malt's share of the grist and stays the same at every size.

Malt	% of grist	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Maris Otter	86.2%	2.25 lb (1.02 kg)	9 lb (4.08 kg)	27 lb (12.25 kg)
Crystal 60L	8.4%	3.5 oz (99 g)	14 oz (397 g)	2.63 lb (1.19 kg)
Biscuit malt	2.4%	1 oz (28 g)	4 oz (113 g)	12 oz (340 g)
Crystal 120L	2.4%	1 oz (28 g)	4 oz (113 g)	12 oz (340 g)
Chocolate malt	0.6%	0.3 oz (7 g)	1 oz (28 g)	3 oz (85 g)
Total grain	100%	2.61 lb (1.18 kg)	10.44 lb (4.73 kg)	31.31 lb (14.2 kg)

Hop schedule

4 additions · 60 min boil

Whole green hop cones and hop pellets on slate, one cone split to show the yellow lupulin.

Pellet hops, weighed in grams. Boil times count down to the end of the boil, so 60 minutes means the first thing in the kettle.

Hop	Use	Time	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Target	Boil	60 min	5.3 g (0.19 oz)	21 g (0.75 oz)	64 g (2.25 oz)
East Kent Goldings	Boil	15 min	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
East Kent Goldings	Boil	Flameout	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
East Kent Goldings	Dry hop	3 days	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)

Yeast and pitch

Wyeast 1968 London ESB · 1 liquid pack for 5 gal

Wyeast 1968 London ESB. Pitch at 64°F.

Yeast	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Wyeast 1968 London ESB	1 liquid pack	1 liquid pack	3 liquid packs

One pack per 5 gal, and one more above 1.060 OG in a batch over 3 gal. Never fewer than one. House guidance

Water

8.09 gal into the mash for 5 gal

Full-volume brew-in-a-bag: all the water goes in at the start and there is no sparge. Volumes are the total to heat, so the kettle has to hold the mash and still leave room to boil: the 12-pack kit sells a 5 gal stockpot and the 12×12 kit a 30 gal kettle for that.

Water	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Into the mash	2.11 gal (8 L)	8.09 gal (30.6 L)	19.75 gal (74.8 L)
Boiled off	0.5 gal (1.9 L)	1.25 gal (4.7 L)	1.25 gal (4.7 L)
Held by the grain	0.21 gal (0.8 L)	0.83 gal (3.2 L)	2.5 gal (9.5 L)
Left as trub	0.15 gal (0.6 L)	1 gal (3.8 L)	1 gal (3.8 L)
Into the fermenter	1.25 gal (4.7 L)	5 gal (18.9 L)	15 gal (56.8 L)

Boil-off, grain absorption and trub are typical figures for a stovetop pot and a propane kettle, not measurements of your own gear. Brew once, note what you end up with, and adjust. House guidance

Water profile Moderately hard water with sulfate leaning over chloride gives the hops a crisp, dry edge.

Mash

152°F · 60 min

The mash turns starch into sugar. Hold the temperature steady and the beer finishes the way the recipe intends.

Rest152°F for 60 minutes
Strike waterHeat to 162°F; the grain cools it to the rest temperature. House guidance
Mash-outRaise to 168°F and hold 10 minutes, then lift and drain the bag. House guidance

Mash inhold it steady, because this rest sets the body
Mash outit stops the enzymes and loosens the sugars

Boil

60 min · 3 hop additions

Hops go in on a countdown from the end of the boil. Early additions give bitterness; late ones give aroma.

Length60 minutes
60 minTarget
15 minEast Kent Goldings
FlameoutEast Kent Goldings
15 minA kettle fining (whirlfloc or Irish moss) clears the beer if you have one. House guidance

Chillto 64°Fa cool start keeps the yeast from throwing harsh esters

Fermentation

3 steps · 1 dry hop · first pint in 35 days

A glass fermenter of amber beer with foam on top and an airlock.

The recipe's own schedule, in order. Temperature control matters more than almost anything else on this page.

66°F for 5 days
68°F for 3 days
38°F for 2 days

Dry hopEast Kent Goldings, 3 days

First pint 35 days from brew day.

Packaging and carbonation

2 volumes CO₂ · bottle or keg

Plain aluminium cans and a small keg on a workbench beside a priming-sugar measure.

Target 2 volumes of CO₂.

Bottling	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Corn sugar to prime	0.76 oz (22 g)	3.05 oz (86 g)	9.15 oz (259 g)
12 oz bottles it fills	12	50	144

Dissolve the sugar in a little boiled water, stir it gently into the beer, then bottle. The amount is worked out for 68°F, the warmest the beer got while it fermented.

Kegging Set the regulator to 6 psi at 38°F.

Kegging instead Skip the bottles with 3 × 5 gal ball-lock kegs, 1 × 5 lb CO₂ tank, 1 × dual-gauge regulator, 1 × gas and beer lines with picnic taps: the kegging upgrade for the 15 gal home brewery, $594.

Brewer's notes

3 tips

This yeast flocculates hard, so rouse it gently on day three if the airlock slows early.From the recipe
Taste for butterscotch before you cold crash and give it two more warm days if you find it.From the recipe
Keep the carbonation low so the toffee and hops stay soft on the tongue.From the recipe

A fermenter, airlock, siphon, hydrometer, thermometer and bench capper. — The kit

Every kit size

Ingredients only

Ingredient kit · 12-pack batch

$28.18

$2.35 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 12 caps, for 1.25 gal.

Includes Maris Otter · Crystal 60L · Biscuit malt · Crystal 120L · and 10 more

Every item in this kit · 14 items

Ingredients

Maris Otter$5.832.25 lb (1.02 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$0.633.5 oz (99 g) · Milled to order
Biscuit malt$0.181 oz (28 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$0.181 oz (28 g) · Milled to order
Chocolate malt$0.050.3 oz (7 g) · Milled to order
Target (60 min)$1.505.3 g (0.19 oz)
East Kent Goldings (15 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
East Kent Goldings (flameout)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
East Kent Goldings (dry hop, 3 days)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Wyeast 1968 London ESB$11.991 pack · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$0.320.8 oz · Primes to 2 volumes of CO₂
Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Ingredient kit · 12×12 batch

$180.94

$1.26 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 144 caps, for 15 gal.

Includes Maris Otter · Crystal 60L · Biscuit malt · Crystal 120L · and 10 more

Every item in this kit · 14 items

Ingredients

Maris Otter$69.9327 lb (12.25 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$7.592.63 lb (1.19 kg) · Milled to order
Biscuit malt$2.1712 oz (340 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$2.1712 oz (340 g) · Milled to order
Chocolate malt$0.543 oz (85 g) · Milled to order
Target (60 min)$8.9864 g (2.25 oz)
East Kent Goldings (15 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
East Kent Goldings (flameout)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
East Kent Goldings (dry hop, 3 days)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Wyeast 1968 London ESB$35.973 packs · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$3.689.2 oz · Primes to 2 volumes of CO₂
Crown caps$6144

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery

Complete home brewery · 12-pack batch

$222

$18.50 a bottle

Bought separately $243.54 · you save $21.54

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 1.25 gal. Works on a kitchen stove.

Includes 5 gal stainless stockpot · Fine-mesh brew bag · 1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung · 3-piece airlock · and 24 more

Every item in this kit · 28 items

Equipment

5 gal stainless stockpot$49.991
Fine-mesh brew bag$9.991
1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung$17.991
3-piece airlock$2.491
No-rinse sanitizer, 4 oz$12.991
Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
Digital probe thermometer$14.991
Mini auto-siphon with tubing$13.991
Spring-tip bottle filler$5.991
12 oz amber bottles$16.9912
Wing capper$19.991
Brewery wash, 1 lb$9.991
0.1 g kitchen scale$14.991
Long stainless spoon$8.991

Ingredients

Maris Otter$5.832.25 lb (1.02 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$0.633.5 oz (99 g) · Milled to order
Biscuit malt$0.181 oz (28 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$0.181 oz (28 g) · Milled to order
Chocolate malt$0.050.3 oz (7 g) · Milled to order
Target (60 min)$1.505.3 g (0.19 oz)
East Kent Goldings (15 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
East Kent Goldings (flameout)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
East Kent Goldings (dry hop, 3 days)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Wyeast 1968 London ESB$11.991 pack · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$0.320.8 oz · Primes to 2 volumes of CO₂
Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery · 12×12 batch

$1,276.94

$8.87 a bottle

Bought separately $1,398.72 · you save $121.78

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 15 gal. You supply a propane tank and water.

Includes 30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer · 72 · 30 gal brew bag · 50 ft copper immersion chiller · and 27 more

Every item in this kit · 31 items

Equipment

30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer$3991
72,000 BTU propane burner and stand$991
30 gal brew bag$44.991
50 ft copper immersion chiller$1291
7.9 gal fermenting buckets with lids and airlocks$89.973
No-rinse sanitizer, 32 oz$32.991
Brewery wash, 4 lb$34.991
Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
Refractometer$29.991
Digital thermometer$24.991
½" auto-siphon with tubing$24.991
Bottling buckets with spigots$55.982
Bottle filler$5.991
12 oz amber bottles (6 cases)$119.94144
Bench capper$59.991
Mash paddle$24.991
Digital scale$24.991

Ingredients

Maris Otter$69.9327 lb (12.25 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$7.592.63 lb (1.19 kg) · Milled to order
Biscuit malt$2.1712 oz (340 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$2.1712 oz (340 g) · Milled to order
Chocolate malt$0.543 oz (85 g) · Milled to order
Target (60 min)$8.9864 g (2.25 oz)
East Kent Goldings (15 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
East Kent Goldings (flameout)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
East Kent Goldings (dry hop, 3 days)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Wyeast 1968 London ESB$35.973 packs · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$3.689.2 oz · Primes to 2 volumes of CO₂
Crown caps$6144

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

The creator

Sunny

@sunny

Strips it fast and stays for the grab.

See everything by @sunny

Remixes

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Where this came from

river beer · made September 16, 2026

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esb
extra special bitter
west branch
delaware river
trout
fly fishing
maris otter
east kent goldings
homebrew recipe
copper ale
river label