XX Bitch Creek 2012
Double ESB Ale

Twenty-four years ago Charlie Otto began making beer in Wyoming’s first modern brewery, a 210 square foot cabin in Jackson Hole. Since then, Grand Teton Brewing has grown into its present 11,000 square foot facility in Victor, Idaho, winning dozens of major awards and bringing innovations like the reusable glass growler to the brewing world.

Bitch Creek ESB (Extra Special Brown) Ale was first brewed in 2003, and perfectly balances big malt sweetness and robust hop flavor to make a full-bodied mahogany ale. Southern Idaho 2-row malted barley and four German specialty malts provide massive body and flavor. Two hop varieties developed in Idaho, Galena and Chinook, balance the maltiness with clean bitterness and citrus flavors. Late additions of Centennial hops add piney, resinous flavors and aroma.

Bitch Creek ESB has quickly become one of our best selling and most critically acclaimed beers. At last count, it has won eleven gold medals at major national and international competitions.

XX Bitch Creek Double ESB is all that and more. To celebrate our twentieth anniversary in 2008 we took the Bitch Creek recipe and doubled everything: double the malt, double the hops, and twice the flavor. It was one of the most popular and best-reviewed Cellar Reserves we’ve brewed. It is also one of the most requested of our retired Cellar Reserves.

Over the years we’ve learned a lot about cellaring beers, and for 2012 we’ve refocused our Cellar Reserve program on beers that will taste great now and will lay down and mature over one or two years’ time. Now that we have a large catalog of previously brewed styles, we’ll bring back one or two of our best aging beers each year. It is fitting that XX Bitch Creek be the first to make a repeat appearance. This beer will change over time—the hops will mellow and the bitterness diminish, but the solid malt backbone will carry through, eventually taking on vinous, sherry-like notes.

This is a strongly flavorful beer, which should be paired with only the most flavorful of foods. Drink it alone as a nightcap, try it with the best steaks, game meats and hearty stews, or pair it with strong blue cheese or rich bread pudding.

XX Bitch Creek Double ESB Ale is a one time release available September 1st, 2012 in 1/2 and 1/6 bbl kegs and bottle-conditioned 750 mL cases.  

Original Gravity (Plato): 18˚
International Bitterness Units: 60
Alcohol by Volume: 7.5%
Color (Lovibond): 18˚  

Signature Brews
Old Faithful Ale • Teton Ale • Sweetgrass APA
Bitch Creek • Howling Wolf Weisse Bier

Brewers' Series
Lost Continent Double IPA • Black Cauldron Imperial Stout
Pursuit of Hoppiness Imperial Red • Fest Bier Märzen Lager

2013 Cellar Reserve Releases
Double Vision • Oud Bruin • Bone Warmer
• Coming Home Holiday Ale 2013

2012 Cellar Reserve Releases
5 O'Clock Shadow • Snarling Badger • XX Bitch Creek ESB • Coming Home Holiday Ale 2012

2011 Cellar Reserve Releases
Persephone Imperial Pilsner • The Grand Saison
Wake Up Call • Coming Home Holiday Ale 2011

2010 Cellar Reserve Releases
Tail Waggin' Double White • Trout Hop Black IPA
Coming Home Holiday Ale

Past Cellar Reserve Releases
Double Vision Doppelbock • Howling Wolf Weizenbock
Pursuit of Hoppiness American Red Ale • Sheep Eater Scotch Ale

XX Sweetgrass Double IPA • XX Mountainberry Double Wheat
XX Au Naturale Double Red • XX Bitch Creek Double ESB
Mammoth Maibock • Oud Bruin Belgian Style Ale
Bone Warmer Amber Ale • Black Cauldron Imperial Stout
Paradise Pilsner • Double IPA • Scotch Ale

Retired Signature Brews
Moose Juice Stout • Huckleberry Wheat
Workhorse Wheat • Au Naturale Organic