Downtown Trolley Brown
Carolina Brewery

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Carolina Brewery
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
English Brown Ale
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.42 | pDev: 11.4%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
16
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 28, 2021
Added:
Feb 10, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DmanGTR:
Photo of DmanGTR
Reviewed by DmanGTR from New York

3.04/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The second in a series of beers I sampled at the brewpub.

A deep maple brown shines nicely in the moderately dim lighting. Not much head to speak of, but a ring of bubbles is constant. Quite clear. Nice nutty and caramelly nose. Touch of esters and a hint of pears. The flavor is akin to the aroma, yet lacks that characteristic sweet aftertaste. The finish has some sort of harshness, then dies. I'm not sure what to pinpoint but it didn't impress me too much. The body is like that of Yeungling. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the first thing that came into mind was that! With that said, this beer is obviously not one of their best offerings.
Jan 03, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by BrewSTL from Missouri

Jun 28, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by LooseMoose1978 from North Carolina

Aug 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by JoshuaWilkins-38 from Tennessee

Jun 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by fire34fighter from Virginia

Apr 16, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by lupercmda from North Carolina

Jan 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by BigGingDrinker from North Carolina

Jan 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by SFTBLMOSS2 from North Carolina

Nov 21, 2012
Photo of Cylinsier
Reviewed by Cylinsier from Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
tap

Pours a clear brownish color with an off-white head.

Brown sugar and toffee notes in the nose.

Bready and coppery malts with a hint of hop.

Medium body with soft carbonation.

All in all, pretty decent. Not fantastic but a good sessionable medium dark brew. I've never been a huge fan of the style for what that's worth. As it goes, seems as good as many of the EBAs I've had.
May 28, 2012
Photo of tdm168
Reviewed by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the brewpub on 3/3/12.

Pours a dark brown with a reddish hue. There's a very small layer of creamy, off white head that has little retention. The nose is toasty and caramelly. The flavor is caramel and sweet up front followed by some nutty, burnt, toasty malt notes and finishes with a smooth bitterness. There is also a note of something that reminds me of gumball machine bubblegum. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth, and crisp.

This is a decent beer. It's complex and interesting. The bubblegum note for me was a little off putting. Overall, I would probably have this again.
Mar 05, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by BigTrubble from North Carolina

Jan 28, 2012
Photo of VncentLIFE
Reviewed by VncentLIFE from North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Their beers are alway lacking in head, no idea why.

Pour is light brown. Decent head, but nothing spectacular.

Smell is almost lifeless. Hints of bitter oakiness, hickory, charred malt, and a touch of smoke.

The taste is exaclty what the nose led you to believe. All those amazing flavors of burnt wood and bitter malt. It kind of reminds me of Foothills People's Porter. Overall, its bitter, but its very light and drinkable. The bitterness only lingers for seconds and vanishes.
Dec 21, 2011
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

2.95/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
On tap at the brewpub.

Brown in color with a small off-white head and good lacing.

The aroma is on the better side of average, with nuts and caramel but maybe a slight oxidative note.

The flavor is on the worse side of average. Nice caramel and nuts but mild cardboard, which keeps showing up in this brewery's beers for some reason.

Medium-bodied with average carbonation and standard mouthfeel.

This is almost a good beer, but just barely misses the mark with whatever that cardboard flavor is.
Mar 01, 2011
Photo of CampusCrew
Reviewed by CampusCrew from Florida

3.65/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Solid brown. I had the sampler and this was one of the samples I had.

appearance: light brown copper color

smell: slight hops, carmel

taste: great brown, slight harsh aftertaste though

mouthfeel: good carbonation and very tasty

drinkability: very easy and smooth. and goes great with salty snacks
Oct 22, 2008
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

3.36/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
a: medium brown with a low dark tan head that never quite disappears. standard for the style

s: nothing really stands out here. Grainy brown aromas, but not as bold or deep as I prefer. Actually pretty tame/lame. A slight off note that I can't quite pin down, maybe sour grain. Gently hopped.

m: medium carbonation and body, pretty standard

t: Similar to the aroma in that it's pretty uneventful and carries the same off note (very slight, doesn't really detract a whole lot). Good brown flavors nonetheless with a touch of nutty roast and good earthy hop finish. Somewhat watery and bland.

d: easy after a full day on the Eno
Sep 10, 2007
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.31/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: Medium brown body with a bit of a head and some lacing

Smell: Fairly light, but some dark breadiness on the nose

Taste: Toasty brown bread flavors predominate with a bit of hops to balance the malts

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with some carbonation

Drinkability: Certainly drinkable but somewhat bland. However, I tasted this after the Stout and the IPA so what would you expect.
Jan 06, 2005
Downtown Trolley Brown from Carolina Brewery
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 16 ratings