Steam Town Ralph Dutton ESB

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	03 May 2026
Philip Pirrip		03 May 2026	Tired, little condition
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	02 May 2026
Philip Pirrip		30 Apr 2026	New cask on today. Very malty and hardly displayed any of the tasting notes' characteristics
Hogan Sampling		30 Apr 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Second night on for this Hampshire extra special bitter from Eastleigh, some 5–6 miles north of Southampton, and named after Ralph Dutton, the Chairman of the London and South Western Railway Company who moved his railway works to Eastleigh in 1891. Presenting a very foamy head and lacing and lasting well. A malty first hit from its Maris Otter mixed with Crystal, Chocolate and Wheat malts. A gentle bitterness rising from its earthy Goldings with dark fruits evident, and mixed with UK Jester hops lending a citrusy edge. Its maltiness prevailing on the sail out. It was like a soup in its consistency and not really at all quaffable and so a half sufficed, as I was lucky to be able to decant from this pint glass into my now empty Birchwood Bitter glass before donating the rest of it.
Philip Pirrip		15 Feb 2026	Heavy ale with lots of maltiness
Hogan Sampling		15 Feb 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Second night on and still displaying a very good head with its lacing clinging on, on this Hampshire extra special brew from Eastleigh, north of Southampton. A sweetened malty first bite with hints of stone fruit. A dark fruited hoppiness rising from its UK Goldings and fruit-filled Jester hops. This was balanced by a good helping of maltiness emanating from its Maris Otter, crystal, chocolate and wheat malts. A pleasant bitterness winning over before paddling downwards. Still perfectly palatable to me.
Hogan Sampling		14 Feb 2026	2nd beer of this visit: This light brown Hampshire extra special brew from Eastleigh, a railway town north of Southampton, and from a micro-brewery which began brewing in early 2018, was fresh on and presented very good head and lacing and sticking to the glass to the end. Named in honour of the individual who was instrumental in establishing Eastleigh as a town after moving the railway works there, there was a very malty first bite. A touch of fruity sweetness rising with hints of stone fruit among its earthy bitterness and derived from its spicy Goldings and modern fruit-filled UK Jester hops. A blend of bitter maltiness from its Maris Otter, crystal, chocolate and wheat malts winning over with touches of caramel and toffee lingering. In perfectly good nick was this ESB and I think my first sampling from Steam Town Brew Co.