Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Nut Brown/Brown Ale Tasting Jan 16-31

• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  January 14, 2009

  Something about the beginning of the year, and winter time brings out the nuttiness in all of us. Let's taste some nut brown ales, and if we can't find them, just some good old brown ales. Let's feel all warm inside...

  Something about the beginning of the year, and winter time brings out the nuttiness in all of us. Let's taste some nut brown ales, and if we can't find them, just some good old brown ales. Let's feel all warm inside...
• Rick

  

  Member
   

  January 16, 2009

  As Newcastle is one my favorites already, and because I hadn't tried it, I got some Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale.
  
  The head dissipates quickly, and the color is beautiful. First sip, I was impressed. Very flavorful and highly recommended. There is a bitter, roasted note to it that works very well.

  As Newcastle is one my favorites already, and because I hadn't tried it, I got some Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale.
  
  The head dissipates quickly, and the color is beautiful. First sip, I was impressed. Very flavorful and highly recommended. There is a bitter, roasted note to it that works very well.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  January 16, 2009

  Ellie's Brown Ale 5.80% ABV
  Avery Brewing Co., CO
  12 ounce bottle
  
  This Ellie's Brown Ale from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, CO pours out a deep chestnut brown that is very clear with a nice frothy tan head. Toasted malt, roasted nut, cocoa powder, dark molasses and light floral hop aromas fill the nose. In the mouth I can taste nutty malt, raisin-pumpernickel bread followed by a slightly sweet finish and a creamy mouth coating. Just past medium bodied, decent carbonation, smooth drinker. Loved it!
  
  
  

  Ellie's Brown Ale 5.80% ABV
  Avery Brewing Co., CO
  12 ounce bottle
  
  This Ellie's Brown Ale from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, CO pours out a deep chestnut brown that is very clear with a nice frothy tan head. Toasted malt, roasted nut, cocoa powder, dark molasses and light floral hop aromas fill the nose. In the mouth I can taste nutty malt, raisin-pumpernickel bread followed by a slightly sweet finish and a creamy mouth coating. Just past medium bodied, decent carbonation, smooth drinker. Loved it!
  
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  January 16, 2009

  Moose Drool Brown Ale 5.30% ABV
  Big Sky Brewing Co., Missoula, MT
  12 ounce bottle
  
  The Moose Drool Brown Ale pours out a nice dark brown with good clarity and a frothy tan head. A very toasty aroma full of nuts, brown sugar and malt. This is packed with nutty, malty, sweetness that is offset by a touch of hop bitterness in the mouth. Lighter than the Ellie's Brown Ale from Avery but very flavorful. Sharp carbonation, good lacing on the glass. The finish is nice with some bitterness. Another good brown ale.
  
  

  Moose Drool Brown Ale 5.30% ABV
  Big Sky Brewing Co., Missoula, MT
  12 ounce bottle
  
  The Moose Drool Brown Ale pours out a nice dark brown with good clarity and a frothy tan head. A very toasty aroma full of nuts, brown sugar and malt. This is packed with nutty, malty, sweetness that is offset by a touch of hop bitterness in the mouth. Lighter than the Ellie's Brown Ale from Avery but very flavorful. Sharp carbonation, good lacing on the glass. The finish is nice with some bitterness. Another good brown ale.
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  January 18, 2009

  Fireside Nut Brown Ale 4.90% ABV
  Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Chippewa Falls, WI
  
  The Fireside Nut Brown Ale from Leinenkugel in Chippewa Falls, WI pours out a deep brownish copper with good clarity and a decent size, almost tan colored head. On the nose you get fresh baked peanut butter cookies, chocolate and spice. Very nutty flavor in the mouth accented with caramel and very faint hops. Fairly light medium bodied. Easy drinker. Little to no lacing. Medium length finish.
  
  
  

  Fireside Nut Brown Ale 4.90% ABV
  Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Chippewa Falls, WI
  
  The Fireside Nut Brown Ale from Leinenkugel in Chippewa Falls, WI pours out a deep brownish copper with good clarity and a decent size, almost tan colored head. On the nose you get fresh baked peanut butter cookies, chocolate and spice. Very nutty flavor in the mouth accented with caramel and very faint hops. Fairly light medium bodied. Easy drinker. Little to no lacing. Medium length finish.
  
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  January 18, 2009

  Double Nut Brown Ale, 5.80% ABV
  Mammoth Brewing Company, Mammoth Lakes, CA
  
  The Double Nut Brown Ale from Mammoth Brewing Company is a dark espresso brown in color with a rather small tan head. A lot more coffee than nut on the nose accompanied by scents of chocolate and slight hazelnut. In the mouth you can taste the coffee and a little chocolate but the nut flavor is very subtle. A little lacing on the glass. Light carbonation. Medium bodied. Some hops in a lingering finish.
  
  
  

  Double Nut Brown Ale, 5.80% ABV
  Mammoth Brewing Company, Mammoth Lakes, CA
  
  The Double Nut Brown Ale from Mammoth Brewing Company is a dark espresso brown in color with a rather small tan head. A lot more coffee than nut on the nose accompanied by scents of chocolate and slight hazelnut. In the mouth you can taste the coffee and a little chocolate but the nut flavor is very subtle. A little lacing on the glass. Light carbonation. Medium bodied. Some hops in a lingering finish.
  
  
  
• Matt

  

  Member
   

  January 19, 2009

  Duck Rabbit Brown Ale
  The Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery, Farmville, NC
  
  Dark brown, almost red in appearance. About a one and a half finger, fluffy head begins to dissipate about half way down the glass leaving light lace. Smells sweet, almost chocolaty. Taste is hoppy with a little bit of coffee. Mouthfeel is almost chewy, medium carbonation. Almost has a coffee stout-like aftertaste with lots of hops lingering just long enough to make you crave another sip.
  
  The label says "Hoppy and Beautifully Bitter" and does not lie. You could almost call it a Brown IPA. Overall, a great beer. One of my instant favorites.

  Duck Rabbit Brown Ale
  The Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery, Farmville, NC
  
  Dark brown, almost red in appearance. About a one and a half finger, fluffy head begins to dissipate about half way down the glass leaving light lace. Smells sweet, almost chocolaty. Taste is hoppy with a little bit of coffee. Mouthfeel is almost chewy, medium carbonation. Almost has a coffee stout-like aftertaste with lots of hops lingering just long enough to make you crave another sip.
  
  The label says "Hoppy and Beautifully Bitter" and does not lie. You could almost call it a Brown IPA. Overall, a great beer. One of my instant favorites.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  January 19, 2009

  Hazelnut Brown Nectar, 6.20% ABV
  Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
  
  The Hazelnut Brown nectar from Rogue Ales pours out mahogany in color with some cloud to it and a small tan head. On the nose you really get coffee, hazelnut, malt, banana-nut bread and whole wheat bread. The flavors are rich and creamy with the nut, coffee and treacle being the most prominent. The malts are in there too. Almost a little chalky but in a good way. Little to no lacing, medium bodied, moderate carbonation. The finish is long and a little drying. What a great brew. Very enjoyable. No wonder it was crowned "World Champion" Brown Ale.
  
  
  

  Hazelnut Brown Nectar, 6.20% ABV
  Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
  
  The Hazelnut Brown nectar from Rogue Ales pours out mahogany in color with some cloud to it and a small tan head. On the nose you really get coffee, hazelnut, malt, banana-nut bread and whole wheat bread. The flavors are rich and creamy with the nut, coffee and treacle being the most prominent. The malts are in there too. Almost a little chalky but in a good way. Little to no lacing, medium bodied, moderate carbonation. The finish is long and a little drying. What a great brew. Very enjoyable. No wonder it was crowned "World Champion" Brown Ale.
  
  
  
• MikeLovesBeer

  

  Member
   

  January 20, 2009

  Name - Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale
  Country - England
  Type - English Brown Ale
  
  Appearance - Poured a medium brown to very dark red color. Had an ever so slightly tan head.
  
  Smell - A sweet nutty smell with slight hints of caramel and toffee.
  
  Taste - Starts off with a sweet creamy taste of toffee mixed with so roasted hints. Finishes with a nice hoppy flavor that isn’t overpowering. Finishes crisp and clean.
  
  Sam Smith hits another home run with the Nut Brown Ale. From appearance on down to the taste they just know how to make a really good brew. Highly recommended.
  
  Overall Grade - A

  Name - Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale
  Country - England
  Type - English Brown Ale
  
  Appearance - Poured a medium brown to very dark red color. Had an ever so slightly tan head.
  
  Smell - A sweet nutty smell with slight hints of caramel and toffee.
  
  Taste - Starts off with a sweet creamy taste of toffee mixed with so roasted hints. Finishes with a nice hoppy flavor that isn’t overpowering. Finishes crisp and clean.
  
  Sam Smith hits another home run with the Nut Brown Ale. From appearance on down to the taste they just know how to make a really good brew. Highly recommended.
  
  Overall Grade - A
• MikeLovesBeer

  

  Member
   

  January 20, 2009

  Name - Downtown Brown
  Country - United States
  Type - English Brown Ale
  
  Appearance - Poured a brown color with deep red highlights around the outside of the glass. Had a very foamy off white head.
  
  Smell - Some sweet malts with roasted smells like coffee.
  
  Taste - Roasted grains with some hints of sweet toffee and coffee.
  
  With my first Lost Coast product I went with Downtown Brown. I tend to find brown ales hit or miss. Some are just right with nice sweetness to them while others I find too roasted in flavor with that coffee taste sticking out too much. This one was a little more on the roasted side. While not over powering I couldn’t help but taste the coffee (sorry not a coffee fan). If you like your brown ales with that taste then you may like this.
  
  Overall Grade - C-

  Name - Downtown Brown
  Country - United States
  Type - English Brown Ale
  
  Appearance - Poured a brown color with deep red highlights around the outside of the glass. Had a very foamy off white head.
  
  Smell - Some sweet malts with roasted smells like coffee.
  
  Taste - Roasted grains with some hints of sweet toffee and coffee.
  
  With my first Lost Coast product I went with Downtown Brown. I tend to find brown ales hit or miss. Some are just right with nice sweetness to them while others I find too roasted in flavor with that coffee taste sticking out too much. This one was a little more on the roasted side. While not over powering I couldn’t help but taste the coffee (sorry not a coffee fan). If you like your brown ales with that taste then you may like this.
  
  Overall Grade - C-