A new beer from Boulder Wine Merchant & Diebolt Brewery! Extra Special Boulder (ESB)

Taste Extra Special Boulder (ESB), a partnership between Diebolt Brewery and Boulder Wine Merchant, this Friday, 3/7, 5-7pm (in-store, complimentary tasting)!

Diebolt Brewery & Boulder Wine Merchant Present: Extra Special Boulder (ESB)!

We’re excited to unveil our latest collaboration with Diebolt Brewery — a true-to-style Extra Special Bitter (ESB) with a playful Boulder twist: Extra Special Boulder. This beer pays homage to the great English ales that have defined pub culture for generations, while celebrating our local craft community with a name that reflects both its classic roots and its modern home in Boulder.

A Classic Reimagined: The Legacy of ESB

Despite its name, an Extra Special Bitter isn’t aggressively bitter. Instead, it is a beautifully balanced, malt-forward ale that highlights the toasty, caramelized flavors of English malts alongside the earthy, floral character of traditional UK hops. Made famous by legendary brewers like Fuller’s, ESB became the gold standard for English bitters and remains a pillar of sessionable, nuanced beer.

This style embodies approachability, depth, and drinkability, making it a staple of British pubs and a refreshing alternative to today’s hop-heavy IPAs. It’s a beer meant to be enjoyed in good company, sip after sip, pint after pint.

Extra Special Boulder: Our Take on Tradition

In crafting Extra Special Boulder, we aimed to honor the tradition of ESB while adding our own signature touch. We started with a base of English Maris Otter malt, providing the rich, biscuity backbone that defines the style, and layered in notes of toffee, toasted bread, and subtle dried fruit. Carefully selected East Kent Goldings and Fuggle hops bring in the gentle bitterness and herbal spice, while a classic English yeast strain adds a hint of fruity esters to round out the profile.

ABV: 6.1% | IBU: 35

Why ESB? Why Now?

With so many breweries pushing boundaries with hop bombs and pastry stouts, the ESB remains an underrated gem — a reminder of beer’s roots in balance and seasonability. We believe this style deserves a modern revival, and what better way to bring it back than with a nod to Boulder’s adventurous spirit?

So whether you’re a longtime ESB lover or just discovering the style, we invite you to raise a pint of Extra Special Boulder—a beer brewed with tradition, collaboration, and a little bit of playful Boulder charm.

Cheers to balance, history, and great beer!