Best Brown Ale
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

Best Brown AleBest Brown Ale
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From:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #140
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,365
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 11.2%
Reviews:
996
Ratings:
3,333
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 Gwalchgwynn67:
Photo of Gwalchgwynn67
Rated by Gwalchgwynn67 from New York

3.76/5  rDev -2.1%

Oct 19, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.5 by doctorgary from New York

Feb 21, 2024
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

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, 2024
 
Rated: 4.08 by snowmageddon from Massachusetts

Feb 11, 2024
 
Rated: 3.64 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Feb 08, 2024
 
Rated: 3.87 by dkbrew85 from Illinois

Feb 05, 2024
 
Rated: 4.1 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Jan 28, 2024
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
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
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, 2024
 
Rated: 3.83 by wisegreensoul from Idaho

Jan 14, 2024
Photo of AZgman
Reviewed by AZgman from Arizona

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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by tbeer40 from New Jersey

Dec 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.82 by evergreen_machine from Washington

Dec 06, 2023
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

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, 2023
Photo of FredTetusky1952
Rated 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
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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.89 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Oct 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.83 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by TP2MSU from Michigan

Apr 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.01 by SoundMakesSense from Indiana

Mar 05, 2023
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

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, 2022
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed 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
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