Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Ale

Ale’s What Cures Ya!

English-Style Brown Ale

The precise definition of English brown ale would depend on where you are in England. It is nowadays much more closely associated with Northern England, specifically Tadcaster and Newcastle, home to Newcastle Brown Ale. These medium-bodied reddish-brown beers are malt-accented with a nutty character, a gentle fruitiness, and low bitterness. Alcohol is moderate, a maximum of 5 percent ABV. The much less prevalent Southern English style, not seen abroad, is much darker in color, sweeter on the palate, and made in a lighter style. English-style brown ales of the former type have become very popular with U.S. brewers, no doubt for the same reason as they took hold in England: namely, they offer great drinkability.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

94 Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Rogue Ales (OR). 6.2% ABV (2/09)
Deep copper brown color. Aromas of milk chocolate-covered hazelnuts follow through on a supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with lively carbonation and a honeyed pumpernickel toast notes. Finishes with a crisp, white grapefruity-like hops and a lingering subtle hazelnut mocha latte note. Very tasty and refreshing.

92 Nut Brown Ale, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery (England). 5% ABV (3/08)
Copper brown color with a loose bubbly head. Roasted nut and burnt sugar aromas. A lively, effervescent entry leads to a tangy, dryish medium body of bittersweet chocolate-covered citrus peel and roasted grain flavors. Finishes with a crisp, nut, mossy earth and grilled citrus tang with mildly astringency. A spot-on English brown ale for easy drinking pleasure.

91 Samuel Adams Brown Ale, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.3% ABV (3/09)
Deep ruddy brown color with a frothy khaki head. Dark raisin toast and cocoa aromas follow through on a very smooth, mouth coating entry to a dry light-to-medium body with roasted nuts and toasted grain notes. Finishes with a lightly crisp citrus pith and earthy dusty nut fade. A dead-on English style brown with great poise and comforting drinkability.

91 English Brown, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 4.6% ABV (2/07)
Deep reddish brown color. Sweet dark chocolate and warm caramel aromas are inviting. A round supple entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium body of raisins, dark caramel and wheat toast flavors. Finishes with earthy nuts and orange marmalade-covered with layers of baker’s chocolate and tangy, slightly smoky hops. Very intriguing–a good foil for barbecued beef.

91 Brown Ale, Cucapa (Mexico). 5.8% ABV (2/07)
Deep chestnut brown color with a medium brown head. Sweet toffee, roasted nuts and brown sugar aromas follows through to a smooth, dryish medium body with great roundness, purity and depth. Finishes with a rich dark roasted nut, baker’s chocolate and earthy hop fade. Very nice!

90 Voodoo Brown Ale, Bastone Brewery (MI). 6.4% ABV (2/09)
Reddish mahogany color with a lacy manila head. Aromas of caramelized nuts and grain with a hint of cocoa follow through on a supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with raisin, dark rye toast and toffee notes. Finishes with a pleasant dried pear, chalk and burnt sugar fade. Very nice and high drinkable brown ale.

90 Robert Strong Brown Ale, Flying Goose (NH). 5.67% ABV (2/07)
Deep copper brown color with a frothy manila head. Rich roasted grain and baked citrus aromas. A smooth, rich entry leads to a dryish medium body of ripe citrus, rye cracker and milk chocolate flavors. Finishes with a nice, tangy citrus and bittering hop fade. Nicely balanced and richly flavored.

90 Beertown Brown, BridgePort Brewing Co. (OR). 5.3% ABV (2/08)
Deep reddish copper brown color. Buckwheat honey, oily roasted peanut and delicate spicy caramel aromas. A round smooth entry leads to a dryish medium body of succulent roasted nut, cocoa and honeyed toast flavors. Finishes with a long, clean and refreshingly crisp fade. A classic US version of the venerable brown ale style that really nails drinkability.

88 Nut Brown Ale, Goose Island Brewing Co. (IL). 5.3% ABV (3/09)
Deep russet brown color with a lacy taupe head. Aromas of dark toasted fruit nut cake and mocha have a dried turkey accent and follow through on a rich, frothy entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with treacle and dried citrus peel notes. Finishes with a crisp, bread flour, nutshell and mineral-accented fade.

88 Buzzsaw Brown, Deschutes Brewery (OR). 4.8% ABV (2/09)
Rich brilliant copper color. Aromas of ripe honeyed orange and tapioca follow through on a plush entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with roasted walnut, grain bread and tangy kumquat marmalade and spice notes on the refreshingly crisp finish. A very nice food beer with a zesty citrus character.

87 The Gak, Flying Goose (NH). 5.25% ABV (2/07)
Deep reddish brown color. Creamy chocolate and caramel aromas. A frothy, smooth entry leads to a dryish medium body of cocoa, citrus and nutty toast flavors. Finishes with a long, tart citrus and bittering hop fade.

85 Brown Ale, Capital Brewery (WI). 5% ABV (2/07)
Pale amber color. Sour citrus, toasted nut and slight dishrag aromas have a vegetal edge. A frothy entry leads to a dry, tangy medium body of buttered dark toast, roasted nut and faint citrus marmalade flavors. Finishes dryly with touch of dry caramel and baked citrus-tinged hops.

84 Antler Brown Ale, Barley Creek Brewing Co. (PA). 5% ABV (2/09)
Rich hot chocolate and honeyed raisin toast aromas and flavors with thin milky texture and a quick milk chocolate, wax and toasted marshmallow finish.

83 Moose Drool Brown Ale, Big Sky Brewing Co. (MT). 5.2% ABV (2/07)
Deep mahogany color. Dusty, ashy hop and charred nut aromas. A brisk entry leads to a dry medium body of tangy, dark roasted nuts, toasted sourdough bread and ashy tobacco flavors. Finishes with a lean, smoky fade. A beer for Tiparillos?

83 Big Bertha Brown Ale, Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery (NC). 4.4% ABV (2/09)
Deep copper color. Burlap grain bag, nutshell and creamy cocoa aromas follow through on a round, brash entry to a dryish medium body with earthy silt and grass notes. Finishes with a mélange of wet grains, toasted peanuts in the shell and faint caramelized grapefruit peel accents.

82 Hedgehog Brown Ale, Flying Goose (NH). 4.2% ABV (2/07)
Deep reddish brown color. Toffee and mocha aromas have a steely mineral edge. A tangy, frothy entry leads to a dry medium-bodied palate with dusty earth, citrus rinds and charred nut flavors. Finishes with a touch of vanilla and bitter, burnt rye toast.

80 J Dubs Wild Ale, Govnor’s Public House (IL). 4% ABV (2/07)
Burnt nut and molasses aromas and astringent bitter charred nut and burnt sugar flavors. Overbearing and bone dry with a singed citrus fade.

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