Summer Brown Ale
McNeill's Brewery

 

Sampled from a growler on August 17, 2009. The pour was mainly brown to amber but a lot cloudier than I imagined. Little to no head. The aroma was nutty, kind of buttery, and like caramel. A bit surprising that. The mouthfeel was in the thin to medium range with a smooth texture. The taste was rather bitter, malty, and sweet. It was not unappealing.

Had on tap at the brewpub on 8/1/09. Served in a standard pint glass. Poured a hazy, reddish-brown with an off-white head that quickly dissipated. Nose was malty, with some caramel and coffee notes. Taste follows nose, but flavors were diluted - a bit watery. Mouthfeel was light-bodied and watery in consistency. Easy drinking and sessionable - a malty alternative to traditional summer beers, but flavor profile is a bit too muted.

Poured a light amber hue with a three finger foamy off white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a subtle toasted malt, some butterscotch and a grassy hop.

The taste consisted of a light, clean malt, a touch of cocoa and a slight smokiness.

The mouthfeel was toward the lighter side for the style with vigorous carbonation.

Overall a unique summer beer. Very light tasting and clean on the palate. Easy to drink.

A: Pours a dark tranparent brown, with a Reddish Brown hue when held up to the light. The head exploded on initial pour, running up the glass and over the top. Subsequent pours yielded the same head. Even with a careful pour, it was still 3 fingers. Head dissipated with little lacing.
S: Not much smell, but what was there was not appealing. Medicinal hoppy aroma.
T: Starts with a very thin malt taste, which is quickly overpowered with bitter hops. Finish was either bitter hops, with an occasional medicinal aftertaste.
M: Good carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel
D: Roasted Malts? Caramel? Light Hop finish?
I can't be drinking the same beer as the other reviews. It looked like
a Brown Ale, but tasted more like an ESB. Not what I expected.

22oz bottle purchased at Winooski Beverage Warehouse, Winooski, VT.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" beige head (an admirable one for an old McNeill's bottle), over the clear amber brown brew. Head is frothy and lasts well, with hunks of foamy lacing here and there. One of the best combination of head and lacing I have seen on a McNeill bottle. Aroma is lightly of grains, with possibly a touch of hops. The taste is brown malts, with a crisp close of balanced hoppiness with the slightest of citrus/sour tinge to it. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both great. This almost-mild could be an all-day drinker with no sweat, and an enjoyable one at that.

Thanks to wyllder for the sample. This is a good, but unsepectacular brew. Pours a nice dark brown...smell is mainly hops...pleasant, but not spectacular. Taste runs the range from lightly sweet on the front palate to lightly hoopy on the finish. This is defintely a summer brew. Mouthfeel is light to medium in quality. Very drinkable...no doubt due to lower abv. Worth a try in teh summertime.

Pours out a hazey brown with a full light tan head. Tastes are full of roasty munching malts. Hops are certainly around more than one would expect from the style, but it helps this beer in my opinion. Mouthfeel works, as does drinkability. Certainly a worthy summer brew to try.

22 oz bottle with a label that looks like my kid brother made it. Typical McNeil's style which is also pretty cool.
Appearance: brown, light head that sinks along with the beer.
Taste: By BJCP (since that was brought up elsewhere) I would go Northern or Southern more than American. There are hoppier brown ales out there. However, when I want brown ale, I am not looking for hops. Traditional "brown" flavors roll throughout with hints of caramel/crystal malts and perhaps a touch of roasted.
The mouth feel and finish are dry and some hop bitterness is noticeable.
Overall a nice summer session beer that allows you to not be afraid of drinking dark beer in the hot weather. (fhf)

Mahogany colored, with a beige frothy head. The head runs away sorta quickly, but leaves lacing on the glass. Aroma is way too low, and consists of roasted malt. Low carbonation, mouthfeel is a bit watery, but the flavor hits big. Roasted malt, some brown sugar, nice round smokey flavor, and a teeny bit of hops in the finish. The flavor gets deeper and rounder as the glass warms. Why a summer brown? I would drink this all year long.

Hell yeah. I really don't enjoy many american brown ales, but this one's a keeper. Deep brown in color, with a thick off white head. Aroma is chocolate and a good bit of roasted malt. Very mild hops. Slightly earthy taste. Roasty and clean, with some chocolate and nuttiness. Mild fruitiness. Body is pretty light, with moderate carbonation. Lingering chocolate aftertaste. Slightly dry.