Mann's Brown Ale
Thomas Hardy Burtonwood Limited
- From:
- Thomas Hardy Burtonwood Limited
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Brown Ale
Ranked #205 - ABV:
- 2.8%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #84,844 - Avg:
- 3.47 | pDev: 16.14%
- Reviews:
- 30
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 19, 2023
- Added:
- Dec 24, 2004
- Wants:
- 11
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
3.61/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.61/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Blind-tasted, I only know what's on the front and neck lables.
L- Very deep chestnut brown, pours clear with a 3mm pale tan head.
S- Caramel notes, toffee.
T- Toffee follows in the flavour. Some toasting and a mildly sweet note.
F- CO2 in the mouth is sufficient. The richness helps make up for the low ABV%.
O- I was 1/2 prepared to have a sip and no more of this one, but it's actually quite palatable. Perhaps this falls under the historic heading of 'Small beer'; ie. lower-end ABV%? The lable also states 'The original Brown Ale', I looked into that and it seems it is indeed true. So Brown Ale was originally a London thing; rather than from 'Oop north'! :)
It is much better than I expected. Ie. expectations of a 2.8% Brown Ale from a brewer I haven't heard of start darn low. I can see this being a lunch-time or pre-driving tipple. Though the mildly sweet would have me stop at one.
Good considering the limitations of it's recipe (esp the ABV%).
IIRC bought from Asda in Cambridge, 500ml bottle BB: 31/12/2023
Now reading the lable, it refers to 'Hints of roasted creamy toffee' - sounds about right.
Apr 19, 2023L- Very deep chestnut brown, pours clear with a 3mm pale tan head.
S- Caramel notes, toffee.
T- Toffee follows in the flavour. Some toasting and a mildly sweet note.
F- CO2 in the mouth is sufficient. The richness helps make up for the low ABV%.
O- I was 1/2 prepared to have a sip and no more of this one, but it's actually quite palatable. Perhaps this falls under the historic heading of 'Small beer'; ie. lower-end ABV%? The lable also states 'The original Brown Ale', I looked into that and it seems it is indeed true. So Brown Ale was originally a London thing; rather than from 'Oop north'! :)
It is much better than I expected. Ie. expectations of a 2.8% Brown Ale from a brewer I haven't heard of start darn low. I can see this being a lunch-time or pre-driving tipple. Though the mildly sweet would have me stop at one.
Good considering the limitations of it's recipe (esp the ABV%).
IIRC bought from Asda in Cambridge, 500ml bottle BB: 31/12/2023
Now reading the lable, it refers to 'Hints of roasted creamy toffee' - sounds about right.
Reviewed by James94 from England
3.08/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.08/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
L: Dark brown ruby colour, some head and lacing
S: Light toffee, light vanilla, light chocolate, light malts
T: Lemon, chemical, slight urine, slight citrus
F: Sharp taste, overly carbonated, medium-bodied
O: 3.25
Jun 04, 2022S: Light toffee, light vanilla, light chocolate, light malts
T: Lemon, chemical, slight urine, slight citrus
F: Sharp taste, overly carbonated, medium-bodied
O: 3.25
Reviewed by WolvesDave from Connecticut
4.52/5 rDev +30.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.52/5 rDev +30.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A wonderful beer from a time when being a good beer didn’t mean “how many pounds of hops can I fit in the brew kettle”.
It’s such a shame that so many comments miss the point that beer styles are wonderfully diverse, and this beer epitomizes this. A relatively low alcohol content (which many people would call “normal!”) means you can enjoy several of these malty beers of an evening. The malty sweetness is a refreshing change from the overly hopped xIPAs of today.
Take a moment to appreciate the subtle flavours of this beer. If you don’t like it, fair enough, but this is a superb example of what makes beer so much more sophisticated than wine, so let’s celebrate that fact!
Jun 26, 2021It’s such a shame that so many comments miss the point that beer styles are wonderfully diverse, and this beer epitomizes this. A relatively low alcohol content (which many people would call “normal!”) means you can enjoy several of these malty beers of an evening. The malty sweetness is a refreshing change from the overly hopped xIPAs of today.
Take a moment to appreciate the subtle flavours of this beer. If you don’t like it, fair enough, but this is a superb example of what makes beer so much more sophisticated than wine, so let’s celebrate that fact!
Reviewed by vinicole from England
3.33/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.33/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Bottle. Thin chestnut in colour. Frothy tan head.
Sweet toffee aroma. Lightly toasted bread.
Tastes similar. Hints of hazelnut.
Thin. Moderate carbonation.
A sessionable malty brew full of history.
Sep 26, 2020Sweet toffee aroma. Lightly toasted bread.
Tastes similar. Hints of hazelnut.
Thin. Moderate carbonation.
A sessionable malty brew full of history.
Reviewed by Steve555 from Wales
2.65/5 rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
2.65/5 rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Appearance like cola, small cola like head. A faint smell of bleach in the aroma. Taste is a bit like like flat cola without sugar, a very faint hop bitterness and a slight lingering sweetness. Mouthfeel is creamy but slightly astringent. Not unpleasant but this beer suffers from being such a low abv.
Jul 07, 2020
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany
3.38/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep, dark mahogany coloration with a small, creamy head. Smells of toasted, bready, caramel malt and hints of chocolate and a certain nuttiness. Taste follows the nose, being dominated by toasted, bready, caramel malt and faint hints of chocolate, toffee, a certain nuttiness and just a touch of grassy, herbal hops. Finishes on a sweet note, with some toasted, caramel malt and nuttiness lingering in the aftertaste. Thin mouthfeel with a very light body and medium carbonation.
A passable Brown Ale for the ABV, although it is rather thin and bland, it does have some decent, though faint, toasted malt, chocolate, toffee and nutty notes to it. Also a bit too sweet for my personal taste though.
Apr 24, 2019A passable Brown Ale for the ABV, although it is rather thin and bland, it does have some decent, though faint, toasted malt, chocolate, toffee and nutty notes to it. Also a bit too sweet for my personal taste though.
Reviewed by Lemreway16 from England
2.12/5 rDev -38.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.12/5 rDev -38.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
On pouring the beer went immediately flat but what head appeared was a pleasing off white foam. Smell - roasted malt, chocolate and the sweetness of a cola. Taste - bland and thin. When I was young in the 60s Brown Ales, Light Ales & Stout dominated the non-draught beer market whilst insipid keg beer and bland lager was on (gas) draught. Times changed and cask ales and craft beers arose from it must be said CAMERA's crusade. I thought most of these low ABv Browns had gone but Mann's still produces it - probably as an alternative to cola and shandy in my view. An unpleasant beer that needed a good IPA to take the taste away.
Jan 01, 2019
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil
3.23/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.23/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Brown reddish color with a thick thin head that vanished quickly.
Aroma with predominant notes of dark chocolate, licorice and some toffee.
Flavor with notes of cola, chocolate, malt juice, a bit of floral and earthy hops, toffee and nuts. Dry aftertaste with a mild bitterness, but lightly perceivable hops.
Light to watery body with appropriate mild carbonation. Alcohol is 2.8%, so not really something to be disguised.
Classical London Brown Ale that is good as a refreshment with a pleasant chocolatey taste with toffee on the background. I also understand it is used for cooking and for creating drinks or mixing with other beers; I can see that. That said nothing spectacular about it. Ps. You can almost give this to your children.
Jan 17, 2018Aroma with predominant notes of dark chocolate, licorice and some toffee.
Flavor with notes of cola, chocolate, malt juice, a bit of floral and earthy hops, toffee and nuts. Dry aftertaste with a mild bitterness, but lightly perceivable hops.
Light to watery body with appropriate mild carbonation. Alcohol is 2.8%, so not really something to be disguised.
Classical London Brown Ale that is good as a refreshment with a pleasant chocolatey taste with toffee on the background. I also understand it is used for cooking and for creating drinks or mixing with other beers; I can see that. That said nothing spectacular about it. Ps. You can almost give this to your children.
Reviewed by Beergeeknut from Oregon
3.62/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a good dark brown with some minor amber hues. On top is a light beige head that thins out quick.
Aroma: Toffee is way up front, fig, spice, floral hop with faint citrus way in the back.
Taste: Good crispness at the start but it leaves a light toffee texture on the palate. Spice, fig, caramelized plantains with a floral hop dryness. Twinges of cinnamon roam around.
Notes: Overall this is a good one that has a well balanced sweetness. I will pick this one up again. Cheers.
Oct 18, 2016Aroma: Toffee is way up front, fig, spice, floral hop with faint citrus way in the back.
Taste: Good crispness at the start but it leaves a light toffee texture on the palate. Spice, fig, caramelized plantains with a floral hop dryness. Twinges of cinnamon roam around.
Notes: Overall this is a good one that has a well balanced sweetness. I will pick this one up again. Cheers.
Reviewed by M_C_Hampton from Georgia
3.62/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A: poured from a 500 mL bottle into a pint glass, cola colored with a foamy tan head that dissipates leaving good lacing, clear
S: nutty malt, walnut, bread, slight mineral
T: malty, caramel, walnut, peanut, bread, dark grain, slight cola and wood
M: light, very thin, low carbonation
Jun 29, 2016S: nutty malt, walnut, bread, slight mineral
T: malty, caramel, walnut, peanut, bread, dark grain, slight cola and wood
M: light, very thin, low carbonation
Rated by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.55/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed in Roger Protz' CAMRA classic "300 Beers To Try Before You Die!" (and possibly other books to come.)
May 04, 2016
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
2.96/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.96/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
I’ll go with the flow on this, as I am completely unfamiliar with the style, and being mild, perhaps the palate is supposed to be light. Taste is very "roasty", oaken bitterness, burnt toast, some cola sweetness, but overall light in mouthfeel and aftertaste. Aroma is also very light and appearance is dark brown with minimal head. Interesting drink, would like to try another brand to compare notes.
Jan 13, 2016
Reviewed by baile208 from Michigan
2.87/5 rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2.87/5 rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Isn't an exceptional brown ale but isn't bad. Very dark brown color and aroma isn't powerful, some hints of fruit. Taste is sweet and malty, some caramel.
May 06, 2015
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.46/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.46/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
500 ml bottle. BB date at the end of March 2016 is almost a full year away.
Looks and tastes like a rather good mild brown ale. Nothing striking here but no apparent defects either, and the aroma reflects some nice medium roasted grains. Mildly sweet. About as good as can be expected given the style and economical price.
Apr 15, 2015Looks and tastes like a rather good mild brown ale. Nothing striking here but no apparent defects either, and the aroma reflects some nice medium roasted grains. Mildly sweet. About as good as can be expected given the style and economical price.
Rated by mick_cooper from England
4.34/5 rDev +25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very warming, gentle, sweet beer. Betrays its low ABV
Feb 03, 2015
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