Brown Ale
Brooklyn Brewery

Brown AleBrown Ale
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From:
Brooklyn Brewery
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #239
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,818
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 12.4%
Reviews:
982
Ratings:
2,446
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 10, 2024
Added:
Jun 10, 1998
Wants:
  76
Gots:
  415
This is the award-winning original American brown ale, first brewed as a holiday specialty, and now one of our most popular beers year-round. Northern English brown ales tend to be strong and dry, while southern English brown ales are milder and sweeter. Brooklyn Brown Ale combines the best of those classic styles and then adds an American accent in the form of a firm hop character and roasty palate. A blend of six malts, some of them roasted, give this beer its deep russet-brown color and complex malt flavor, fruity, smooth and rich, with a caramel, chocolate and coffee background. Generous late hopping brings forward a nice hop aroma to complete the picture. Brooklyn Brown Ale is full-flavored but retains a smoothness and easy drinkability that has made it one of the most popular dark beers in the Northeast.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by PieOhMy:
Photo of PieOhMy
Rated by PieOhMy from Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

Mar 14, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Brilliantly clear reddish-brown, big khaki head, excellent retention, thick bands of lace
Caramel and toasted nut aroma
Candied nuts, a little bit of roast flavor
Medium bodied and appropriately carbonated
I remember this as being darker, roastier, and hoppier back in the day, but it may just be that things weren't as big back then. Still pretty good.
Feb 10, 2024
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

3.8/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
On tap:
I like malty brown ales - generally lean towards the English sub-style - but this is a classic. Unfortunately, for my tastes, the toasted malts seem covered in a moss-like veil of woody to piney hops.

But to start, the beer has a sustained head and a clear mahogany body that leans without reaching black in a full glass. Lacing is initially in sheets, dimpling as I slowly drink through my glass.

The nose has a spice that almost seems alcoholic (unlikely at 5%) and akin to an off flavor I recall from home brewing. I am sure it’s something else, but the association can’t be shaken.

The taste and feel seem right in line for the American erosion of a brown ale. The heavily toasted bread note exists, but is dried out by perceived woody bitterness. A little nuttiness sneaks in the mid-late taste to help things out, especially as the beer gets warmer.

A beer that fits the style, but I use overall to throw some personal opinion into the mix, which is why it is lower than the other components would indicate.
Feb 03, 2024
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

3.79/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
poured from a 12oz can into a half pint glass. light brown with a thin khaki colored foam head. slightly nutty, chocolatey and hoppy in the nose and taste. pretty even keel, but not quite bland. medium mouthfeel. decent.
Jan 16, 2024
 
Rated: 3.93 by Shiredave from New York

Jun 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by drews240 from Rhode Island

Nov 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.6 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 19, 2021
Photo of Jmsandberg17
Reviewed by Jmsandberg17 from Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle pours a deep reddish brown with a tan-white head that foams up quickly and disappears quickly. Aroma is rich, roasted malts and some hops. Flavor is those roasted malts, along with some nice nuttiness, earthiness, and a little sweetness. Some coffee and chocolate flavors are very faintly present in the beer. Bitterness is just at the right amount, and not over-hopped. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy and smooth.

Pretty good beer, will buy again.
Aug 07, 2021
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

3.74/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This one pours a darkish brown color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like nutty malt, caramel, and tea-like hops.

This is pretty solid, if not a tad unmemorable. There's a solid nutty and caramel malt sort of flavor, with a very light hop character. It does finish a little bit watery on the back end, a bit too watery for my personal preferences.

This is light bodied, slightly creamy but also thin, with a decent drinkability.

I wanted a bit more out of this one, although it's not bad by any means.
Jun 15, 2021
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

3.89/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best by 5/2021

Back with yet another discount rack beer, this one $1.50 for a single. I figured since it's one of Brooklyn's more popular beers that I should give it a shot. The bottle states "The O.G. Brown Ale" which I don't doubt, but the ratings don't exactly reflect on an exceptional beer. Regardless, I wanna find out for myself so let's dive in

Pours a clear dark amber with red hues and 2 fingers of light tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

The nose on this one reminds me more of an English brown ale, with more expressive malt and yeast, so I'm quite enjoying this so far. I'm picking up on aromas of toasted bread, caramel, nutty brown malt, light raisin, herbal hops, and chocolate

Considerably less English-leaning in taste, but it's made up for with a delicate balance. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting sweet malt, peppery hops, and a touch of fruit. The swallow brings notes of earthy English hops, toasted bread, raisin, and toffee

A light medium body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a slick and easy drinking beer. Finishes mostly dry with a lingering bitterness

This one was pretty good. It's nothing amazing, but it's quite solid and sessionable
Apr 06, 2021
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

3.69/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Fairly large beige head atop a deep brown body. Woodsy, roasted malt aroma, some caramel, with a whiff of walnut. Modestly sweet malt taste, dry, respectably hopped. Medium bodied, well carbonated mouthfeel. Short lived, slightly metallic finish.
Apr 04, 2021
Photo of Greywulfken
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear dark brown beer with a dense dark tan foam... An American brown ale but with lots of English trappings - mild and not too sweet, has a dry finish; some brown bread and bitter shellac, lightly hoppy with herbal and softly citrusy elements... Medium-light feel, a bit tacky...
Feb 13, 2021
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

3.91/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle from St. Louis MO
Best by Jan 2021
Into Carpe Brew Em Snifter.

Pours a bold brown coffee bean color with a tall creamy off-white head of 2 fingers, receding to 1, leaving walls of creamy lace up the sides. It's gorgeous and just doesn't quit.

Aroma from the glass is decidedly metallic, with a little bit of nutty brown malt and chocolate dust behind it. Not much else here.

Flavor is sweet and malty, with a touch of perfume and a touch of chocolate. It's very tasty and welcoming. There's not a whole lot to ponder, it just steps right out front and gives it all to you at once. The perfume note is a bit off-putting but thankfully it's not that loud and gets overshadowed by the nutty malt and chocolate malt.

Feel is roasty as well, with a medium body, semi-creamy, moderate-heavy carb, and mild alcohol heat. It's pretty textbook for a brown.

Overall, an enjoyable brown ale that would be a good choice on tap at a pizza house or just a good 6 banger if I were to get it near me. Unfortunately we don't get Brooklyn (not a huge loss), but if we were to, this would be in my beer rotation a few times a year.

Price paid : $1.79 / bottle
Would buy again : I'd entertain it
Jan 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by jewellrunner from Missouri

Nov 24, 2020
 
Rated: 3.1 by JAWS from New York

Aug 26, 2020
 
Rated: 2.75 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Jul 22, 2020
 
Rated: 1.86 by gorby67 from Pennsylvania

Jun 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.94 by Timfromthemainland from New York

Jun 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.62 by smi69 from New York

May 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.52 by TrojanRB from Texas

Mar 05, 2020
Brown Ale from Brooklyn Brewery
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 2446 ratings