Bell's Best Brown Ale (mini-keg)
Kalamazoo, MI
5.8% ABV
While at the Bell's General Store buying some homebrew supplies, I happened to see the new Best Brown mini-kegs. The design of the can was so cool I had to buy one.
The beer's better than I've ever tasted it, too.
Zymurgical Explorations rating: 8.0/10
Showing posts with label American Brown Ale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Brown Ale. Show all posts
12 October 2010
24 June 2010
Video: Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron (bottle)
Milton, DE
12.0% ABV
Am I posting too many videos? I'm hoping to get more text-based content out soon, but for right now I'm just having a lot of fun playing with the camera. It's a new experience for me putting myself out front a little bit more in these reviews, and I've learned a lot about the need for performance and entertainment even from just doing very simple locked-off shots like these.
I'm still working out technical issues. I know these kind of look like crap, partly because I'm using a cheap video camera and partly because there's virtually no place in my house that has decent lighting. Sorry.
Milton, DE
12.0% ABV
Am I posting too many videos? I'm hoping to get more text-based content out soon, but for right now I'm just having a lot of fun playing with the camera. It's a new experience for me putting myself out front a little bit more in these reviews, and I've learned a lot about the need for performance and entertainment even from just doing very simple locked-off shots like these.
I'm still working out technical issues. I know these kind of look like crap, partly because I'm using a cheap video camera and partly because there's virtually no place in my house that has decent lighting. Sorry.
06 January 2010
Short's Good Humans
Short's Good Humans Imperial Brown Ale (bottle)
Elk Rapids, MI
What is a beer style, anyway? The bottle on this one lists it as an "Imperial Brown Ale," which certainly isn't a style recognized by the BJCP or by most beer geeks. Nonetheless, it's pretty clear what this is meant to be: a high-alcohol brown ale with perhaps some enhanced hoppiness.
Tasting it, though, I don't really get that same impression. It's more interesting than that. It has a pretty intense earthiness in the aroma and flavor -- it reminds me more of their wet-hopped Kind Ale than anything else, which definitely isn't a bad thing. Overall flavor is a mix of this strange grassy flavor with a nice nuttiness underneath, which leads me to suspect that this beer was wet-hopped. In any case, it's a very nice beer, rich and complex, and while it may not fit into a neat box on a style guideline sheet it's definitely worth a try. Another winner from Short's.
My overall BA rating: 4.3/5
Elk Rapids, MI
What is a beer style, anyway? The bottle on this one lists it as an "Imperial Brown Ale," which certainly isn't a style recognized by the BJCP or by most beer geeks. Nonetheless, it's pretty clear what this is meant to be: a high-alcohol brown ale with perhaps some enhanced hoppiness.
Tasting it, though, I don't really get that same impression. It's more interesting than that. It has a pretty intense earthiness in the aroma and flavor -- it reminds me more of their wet-hopped Kind Ale than anything else, which definitely isn't a bad thing. Overall flavor is a mix of this strange grassy flavor with a nice nuttiness underneath, which leads me to suspect that this beer was wet-hopped. In any case, it's a very nice beer, rich and complex, and while it may not fit into a neat box on a style guideline sheet it's definitely worth a try. Another winner from Short's.
My overall BA rating: 4.3/5
28 September 2009
Beer Review, Terrapin India Brown Ale
Terrapin India Brown Ale (bottle)
Athens, GA
6.2% ABV
Appearance: Dark brown hazy body, thin brown head that dissipates quickly. Translucent. 4.0/5
Smell: Surprisingly hoppy, a nice crisp bitterness over a nutty malt backbone. Dark and roasty. Very interesting. 4.5/5
Taste: A nice balance of malt and hops. Sweet nutty flavors with a delicate hop bite to finish it off. 4.0/5
Mouthfeel: Moderate thickness, high hops, and a nice carbonation. 4.0/5
Drinkability: Quite drinkable. If this India Brown Ale concept takes off, I will for one be a very happy man. 4.0/5
Overall: 4.1/5
Athens, GA
6.2% ABV
Appearance: Dark brown hazy body, thin brown head that dissipates quickly. Translucent. 4.0/5
Smell: Surprisingly hoppy, a nice crisp bitterness over a nutty malt backbone. Dark and roasty. Very interesting. 4.5/5
Taste: A nice balance of malt and hops. Sweet nutty flavors with a delicate hop bite to finish it off. 4.0/5
Mouthfeel: Moderate thickness, high hops, and a nice carbonation. 4.0/5
Drinkability: Quite drinkable. If this India Brown Ale concept takes off, I will for one be a very happy man. 4.0/5
Overall: 4.1/5
21 March 2009
Beer Review, Berghoff Sundown Dark
Berghoff Sundown Dark
Monroe, WI
Unknown ABV
Appearance: Translucent brown body, thin tan head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. Some bubbles from bottom of glass. 3.5/5
Smell: Malty and nutty, slightly astringent. Some hints of barley and wheat. 3.0/5
Taste: Not a lot, actually. A bit of malt up front and a dry finish and vaguely unpleasant aftertaste. Just not a lot here. 2.0/5
Mouthfeel: Fairly thin, but not badly so. 3.5/5
Drinkability: Not a great beer, or even a very good beer, but certainly drinkable. 2.5/5
Overall: 2.65/5
Monroe, WI
Unknown ABV
Appearance: Translucent brown body, thin tan head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. Some bubbles from bottom of glass. 3.5/5
Smell: Malty and nutty, slightly astringent. Some hints of barley and wheat. 3.0/5
Taste: Not a lot, actually. A bit of malt up front and a dry finish and vaguely unpleasant aftertaste. Just not a lot here. 2.0/5
Mouthfeel: Fairly thin, but not badly so. 3.5/5
Drinkability: Not a great beer, or even a very good beer, but certainly drinkable. 2.5/5
Overall: 2.65/5
23 January 2009
Beer Review, Leinenkugel Fireside Nut Brown Ale
Leinenkugel Fireside Nut Brown Ale
Chippewa Falls, WI
4.9% ABV
Okay, I call shenanigans. I'm usually on board with BeerAdvocate's style listings even when they don't quite match my experience, but there's no way this is a Winter Warmer. Reviewing as a Brown Ale.
Appearance: Dark brown/orange, clear but opaque due to coloration, with a thick khaki-colored head that sticks around and leaves some lacing. 4.0/5
Smell: Rich with sweet roasted malts, syrupy. Very nutty, of course, with hints of dark hops and yeast. It's within the guidelines for a nut brown, but it's almost more like a dopplebock in aroma than a brown. 4.5/5
Taste: Strong sweet hazelnut flavors, slightly astringent, dry but cloying on the finish. A bit more complexity than you usually get from a brown, but not exactly the most pleasant complexity, if you get my drift. 3.5/5
Mouthfeel: Thicker than expected, goes down smooth. 3.5/5
Drinkability: This is a bit sweet and syrupy for my taste, but it's a decent brown ale and the price is usually right. 4.0/5
Overall: 3.85/5
Chippewa Falls, WI
4.9% ABV
Okay, I call shenanigans. I'm usually on board with BeerAdvocate's style listings even when they don't quite match my experience, but there's no way this is a Winter Warmer. Reviewing as a Brown Ale.
Appearance: Dark brown/orange, clear but opaque due to coloration, with a thick khaki-colored head that sticks around and leaves some lacing. 4.0/5
Smell: Rich with sweet roasted malts, syrupy. Very nutty, of course, with hints of dark hops and yeast. It's within the guidelines for a nut brown, but it's almost more like a dopplebock in aroma than a brown. 4.5/5
Taste: Strong sweet hazelnut flavors, slightly astringent, dry but cloying on the finish. A bit more complexity than you usually get from a brown, but not exactly the most pleasant complexity, if you get my drift. 3.5/5
Mouthfeel: Thicker than expected, goes down smooth. 3.5/5
Drinkability: This is a bit sweet and syrupy for my taste, but it's a decent brown ale and the price is usually right. 4.0/5
Overall: 3.85/5
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