Brown Ale
Capital Brewery

Brown AleBrown Ale
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From:
Capital Brewery
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
English Brown Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
83
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 8.54%
Reviews:
68
Ratings:
71
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 22, 2021
Added:
Aug 15, 2001
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by scaliasux from Wisconsin

Feb 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Dec 27, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by scootercrabb from Illinois

Dec 20, 2011
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.15/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, brown color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Decent retention and poor lacing. Smells of yeast, grain, slight roasted malt, and acid. Fits the style of an English Brown Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt, sweet malt, yeast, and slight hops. Overall, not a very good example of an English Brown.
Aug 17, 2009
Photo of DeeMented
Reviewed by DeeMented from Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a glass beer mug.

The color was a clear, golden amber with maybe a quarter of an inch of white head. After the head finally receded, it left some soapy-looking lacing and a ring of white froth that stayed along the edge of the beer until almost the last sip.

The smell has a little toffee, and an aroma that's like a fruity, dry white wine.

In the mouth, it feels light. The carbonation is hardly noticeable.

The taste starts with malts and a little chocolate, and finishes a bit dry. The fruity dry wine from the aroma carries over, and is more noticeable in the finish. There's very little hops on the finish.

Not really sweet, and not really bitter, this is (was, as it's now retired) one of my favorite brown ales, but I realize in reviewing it that it's actually closer to an amber or red ale.

Very easily drinkable, and a beer that I hope they bring out of hibernation one day.
Jul 28, 2009
Photo of Fartknocker
Reviewed by Fartknocker from Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle

A- a dark amber almost brownish color
S- a minor malt aroma
T- like the smell, not a very strong malt flavor. Not the usual nutty brown ale taste
m- plenty of carbonation
d- average

According to their Facebook page, Capital is retiring Brown ALe, at least for now.
May 17, 2009
Photo of Ragingbull
Reviewed by Ragingbull from California

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Dark gold in color with little to no head. The nose is decidedly malty. Fresh and clean attack with a smoothness to the flavor and the mouthfeel. Almost a cream ale type of flavor coming through for me. It finishes clean, but with a rising sensation brought on by the combination of lighter body, and the effervescence of carbonation. Dries quickly in the mouth at the finish.
May 01, 2009
Photo of Atron67
Reviewed by Atron67 from Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I think this is a great version of a brown all. pretty solidly malty. crisp finish, smooth all over. not quite as 'nutty' as say fat squirrel but has a significant 'nut' character in itself. clear body smooth finish. all in all one of the top domestic examples ive had of it
Apr 10, 2009
Photo of roadhouse
Reviewed by roadhouse from Florida

3.46/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

Appears a medium brown, kind of orange, with a three-quarter inch off-white head. It sinks down to a cap and leaves some moderate lacing.

Aroma is nutty with a bit of caramel and some hop notes. Nothing special about it.

Taste has some caramel up front with the nuttiness coming in the middle and lasting into the finish. The end brings some earthy hops.

Mouthfeel is medium-light, with a nice creamy carbonation.

While it's not the best English Brown Ale, it's certainly solid enough.
Feb 14, 2009
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz bottle.

Poured a medium, see through brown color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of nuts, caramel and light chocolate. Tastes of pretty much the same - nutty, caramel and chocolate. Semi-sweet and tastes a little like maple syrup.

Notes from: 10/18/05
Jan 13, 2009
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.77/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A - Poured out a semi-opaque, burgundy color with a one-finger, thin, foamy head. It left minimal lace.

S - It smelled fairly floral with a roasted malt aroma.

T - It was sweet with a biscuity maltiness. It had some nice hop spice.

M - It was fairly crisp and smooth. A medium-bodied beer with a dry finish.

D - This is a nice brown ale. Very sessionable and easy-drinking.
Dec 31, 2008
Photo of Wisconsin
Reviewed by Wisconsin from Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a dark brown color with a two finger head that slowly fades after a few minutes. Five minutes into this review and the head is still standing as a thin lace.

S - Nuts, grains and some faint malts stand out.

T - The flavor is light with nutty grains and some malts standing out. After-taste is nice and smooth.

M - Smooth and crisp.

D - For the average drinker, this is one Capital beer that you could drink a lot of.

This is one of Capital's better beers.
Dec 22, 2008
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours light brown with a half inch off-white head that went away pretty quickly. Lacing is good. The aroma is toffee, toasted malt, bread, and nuts. It's a sweet and malty aroma. Taste is similar to the aroma, it tastes like toasted malt, caramel, toffee, nuts and bread. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, with average carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's smooth and easy to drink. I could easily have this as a session beer. Overall it's a good enough brown ale, it won't blow you away but it's definitely enjoyable. I'd try it again.
Nov 23, 2008
Photo of Rennpferd
Reviewed by Rennpferd from Wisconsin

4.04/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
It poured a deep golden brown with a two finger head that retreated down quickly. There was a lot of carbonation at first but it then slowed down to a trickle of activity.

It had a roasted malt aroma that was accented by a slight touch of some floral hops at first whiff.

It had a very nice malt taste. Like slightly cooled biscuits. It had a medium body that finished with a touch of alcohol tinge.

It's very drinkable. I had it stored at room temperature and then tossed it into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. It's like the perfect temperature. As it gets warmer it gets better.
Oct 26, 2008
Photo of ibashmuck
Reviewed by ibashmuck from Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Purchased as part of "build-your-own-six-pack" at local grocer. Medium head on a pancake syrup brown body. Smell and taste are what you'd expect from a brown ale: malts and nuts. Hint of a sweetness as well. Not too bitter, and fairly smooth on the mouth, this is a good brown. Not great, but good.
Jul 12, 2008
Photo of shbobdb
Reviewed by shbobdb from Indiana

4.27/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
I tend to group breweries into "countries of inspiration" categories, and Capital is a down-the-line German brewery. So it should come as no suprise that their "Brown ale" tastes more like a vienna lager. After all, that is the vibe they rock.

The beer pours a nice light brown, almost a deep gold with a nice white head. The head manages to survive the best efforts of my whiskers to destroy it, and it leaves some lacing on the way down to boot!

The beer smells like toffee and fresh cooked bread. There is also a vague estery presence from the yeast but I can't quite put my finger on it. It is very fruity, but not overwhelming.

The fresh, crusty bread note carries over into the taste. But the toffee is strangely absent and has been replaced by a nice, light chocolate. The fruit medly also makes a nice showing here, taking backseat to the malt but in doing so it compliments them.

The mouthfeel is nice a light. The beer has a nice, knacky, dry Germanic finish that I relish. The carbonation is light and doesn't get in the way, hardly noticable.

I dig this brew. But I think it suffers from being between worlds. The English esters get in the way of the overall Germanic quality of the brew, while the name of the beer leads one to expect more of an English malt character. I really like it, but it is a style bender in an area where styles are rarely bent.
Jun 18, 2008
Photo of tgbljb
Reviewed by tgbljb from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a deep reddish-amber color with moderate off-white head.

Smell is rich in caramel.

Taste also has some nice caramel notes, but is a bit too dry for liking of this style.

Finish is also a bit too fry for my enjoyment.

Not a bad beer, just not something I will soon revisit.
Jun 14, 2008
Photo of JDV
Reviewed by JDV from Texas

3.1/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
bottle from ketchepillar. Thanks.
Pours a mostly clear, medium maroonish brown with a moderate lasting offwhite head. Smell is as expected and malty and almost nutty. Flavor is malty and nutty similar to the nose and has a noticeable light hop character on the backend. Nothing fancy, but drinkable and a decent brown ale, all around.
Apr 06, 2008
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a clear, dark amber body ringed by a thin circle of white bubbles.

Smell: Mild aroma nutty malts with some hints of wood.

Taste: Sweetish maltiness with tastes of nuts and toffee. Leafy hop character. Very mild, balancing hop bitterness. Drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A nice, light session brown that goes down super easy.
Mar 29, 2008
Photo of morimech
Reviewed by morimech from Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
A very large head formed over this light colored clear brown ale. The head does settle down to a thick cap and a thick ring of lacing is left at the top of the glass.

I don't get much from the smell. Just a touch of roasted malt. Rather weak.

The taste is not overpowering. It delivers a nice malt flavor with chocolate hints. No bitterness and rather neutral in the sweetness department. Carbonation is active and the body is light. I can see this is a beer that could be drunk in large quantities. Goes down nicely. I could see myself buying this in the future.
Jan 27, 2008
Brown Ale from Capital Brewery
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 71 ratings