East Bay Brown
Southend Brewery & Smokehouse

 

 

Although served in a 5 oz. tasting glass, it maintained a a blanket of lace throughout the meal. The color was light brown and it was crystal clear.

Dark crystal malts define the aromas of this beer. Some nuttiness--little hop.

The taste is, again, a malty affair. However, the swallow through aftertaste features a surprising hop bite. Like most of Southend's beers, this one is too thin for the style. The flavor wins out, overall.

A: A dark brown, almost black color. No head forms, and no lace.
S: Malty a light chocolate aroma. A huge buttery diacetyl aroma overpowers the nose.
T: Again, buttery diacetyl overpowers the flavor. Some chocolate malts as the flavor lingers to give a little more balance than the nose.
M/D: A light to medium body. A snap of carbonation hits the tongue. Though it is very watery. Because of the diacetyl I would not want to drink much of this.

The worst of the Southend beers that I have tried so far. Nothing here for me to recommend unless you like butter.

Appearance: no head, clear amber brown

Smell: touches of malt and nut

Taste: The malt and the nut are more pronounced here than in the smell.

Mouthfeel: very smooth with a bitter aftertaste

Drinkability: Of the three that I had at the brewery, this was easily my favorite. It had great balance for a beer. It is a very tasty and sessionable brown.

This was not terrible, which by the way my night was going, trust me was a big improvement. The pour was decent with a light honey amber and caramle color. All these beers seem to come across very clear. Light off white head on top. THe aroma was a mixed bag of caramel malts and a hint of light grain. It was struggling to be sweet and never really made the grade here. Light hop bitterness in the finish and a smooth, light body that was not too heavy on the carbonation. Not bad, but I do not think I will be going back for this one.

A nice dark brown ale. Emphasis on the dark, for sure -- it's almost the color of a porter. And, as is the case of some of their other brews, there's not as much in the nose as I'd hope for. However, it's quite pleasant in the taste department, and the palate is smooth and silky. One of their better offerings.

Draft pint under the "East Bay Brown" moniker at the Charleston brewpub. Looks like a coke ... reddish brown and fizzy but with no head. The aroma hints at a caramel monster inside. Boy is it ... caramel candy, almost a smoky twist, but it doesn’t have the backbone or body to support it. Even the wife thought it was like a root beer. (#2811, 4/21/2007)

Dark copper with bits of lace. Very small malt nose. Some toasted and chocolatelike malt flavor and a touch of hop bitterness. A small and average beer. At least it was fresh.