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Best Brown Ale
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- From:
- Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
Ranked #140 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #18,330 - Avg:
- 3.84 | pDev: 11.2%
- Reviews:
- 996
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 21, 2024
- Added:
- Jun 10, 2002
- Wants:
- 119
- Gots:
- 564
A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown is a mainstay in our fall lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Gmann:
Reviewed by Gmann from New York
3.74/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a yeasty chocolate brown color with a tight bubbled cream colored head that settled into a light ring with some lacing on the glass.
The aroma is sweet with caramel notes. Some brown bread and toasted scents from the malt. Nothing outrageous but inviting.
Good nutty flavor from the toasted malt. Some bark and bitter chocolate notes as well. The caramel sweetness comes in and balances the brew and makes it quite smooth; almost tastes as if there is some oatmeal in the mix.
The feel is moderate with prickly carbonation. Good balance between sweet and bitter. Some bitterness in the finish. Probably could use some softer carbonation to help bring out the good flavors some more.
A very enjoyable brown ale, good representation of the style.
Jan 12, 2013The aroma is sweet with caramel notes. Some brown bread and toasted scents from the malt. Nothing outrageous but inviting.
Good nutty flavor from the toasted malt. Some bark and bitter chocolate notes as well. The caramel sweetness comes in and balances the brew and makes it quite smooth; almost tastes as if there is some oatmeal in the mix.
The feel is moderate with prickly carbonation. Good balance between sweet and bitter. Some bitterness in the finish. Probably could use some softer carbonation to help bring out the good flavors some more.
A very enjoyable brown ale, good representation of the style.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
4.15/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had on tap at Vitale’s in Ada, MI. Waitress stated that it was the freshest tap they had.
Poured closer to an amber color than brown, but the head was a good inch tall and left sheets of lacing.
The taste had light chocolate and caramel flavors along with what I could only describe as nutmeg- I’m sure that’s not right, but I did get something similar.
The feel was very good, almost too easy to slam down.
OA, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, may need to pick up a 6 pack.
Feb 14, 2024Poured closer to an amber color than brown, but the head was a good inch tall and left sheets of lacing.
The taste had light chocolate and caramel flavors along with what I could only describe as nutmeg- I’m sure that’s not right, but I did get something similar.
The feel was very good, almost too easy to slam down.
OA, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, may need to pick up a 6 pack.
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois
4.24/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
poured from a 12oz can into a half pint glass. pours an extremely light brown and even settles in the glass closer to amber than brown with a two finger off-white foam head. little bit of chocolate on the nose with some earthy hops. taste follows with a medium-full mouthfeel. haven’t had this one in years but enjoy it just as much as i remembered liking it.
Jan 26, 2024Reviewed by AZgman from Arizona
4/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz can into a pint glass. Nice head and aroma. Definite caramel finish, but not too sweet. This is close to a Sam Smith's Nutbrown Ale which is my go to standard for brown ales, so that says something.
I got this in a Bells variety pack at Costco at a bargain price to boot.
Dec 30, 2023I got this in a Bells variety pack at Costco at a bargain price to boot.
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.93/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours deep red with a small off white head. Smells of fruit and nuttiness. Tastes of nuttiness and nice caramelized grain. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carboation. Overall,
Nov 25, 2023Rated by FredTetusky1952 from Michigan
4.02/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.02/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
I love brown ales. This one is great. The flavor has many different tones. Love that roaster barley. Bells knows how to do it! Good job Larry!
Nov 12, 2023Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
3.67/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
October 30th, 2016 - It is difficult for me to get excited by brown ales. But every once in awhile one comes along that offers something new and exciting, and Bell's American Brown Ale is one of those. I'm drinking it straight from the bottle today, so there's not much aroma for me to parse, but the flavor is excellent, and well supported by the mouthfeel. There's a profound depth of toffee and apple (though not a candied apple), and the flavor leans a little on the sweeter side. But the mild fig touch at the front of the palate eases me into the sweeter brew. The aftertaste is also short, escorting the sweeter notes away quickly enough to just be missed.
Nov 15, 2022Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey
3.68/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Muddy brown pour with an off-white head. This is a gentle beer--hints of caramel, a moderate roasty quality that never gets too BIG. Smooth texture makes it silky down the hatch. Great malt/hop balance. This is a wonderful beer to accompany the first falling leaves.
Sep 05, 2022
Best Brown Ale from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
3333 ratings
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