review: Central City Brewing Red Racer ESB

Todays Beer Adventure: Red Racer ESB  355ml Can, 5.8% ABV. Purchased at Willow Park Wine and Spirits in Regina. ~$2.75. Served in a glass mug I got at a work function.

The pour is amber gold with two fingers of thick, foamy, long lasting white head. Nose is flowery hops and citrus (grapefruit, lime?)..not a trace of anything else. Good carbonation.

Flavour is of flowery, citrusy hops - grapefruit, lime, grass, lemongrass. Pine? Lingering bitterness is enjoyable. Very similar to a "West Coast" IPA. I don't get much malt out of this, but others disagree..

Rating: 7.0 dogs. Solid beer. I do have a question though..what is the difference between this "Extra Special Bitter" and those West Coast IPAs?  I have had the Red Racer IPA as well and it is bigger yet with the floral hops and such, but really..what is the difference?

What other people think:

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/central-city-red-racer-esb/113319/

Woof.