Sumatra Mountain Brown
Founders Brewing Company

Bottled 3/31/17.

Medium reddish brown coming out of the bottle settling into a very dark brown in the glass. Not bad looking, but also doesn't stand out in any way.

Aroma is highlighted by plenty of malts with a heavy does of caramel. Alcohol is evident, while finding the coffee after 6.5 years takes closer inspection.

The coffee is more distinct on the tongue, yet without the roast that I usually associate with it. It's clear that this is a brown ale, but with more alcohol than normal. Thinner than I was anticipating.

Overall, still solid. Doesn't light the world on fire, but zero complaints either.

L: A medium-dark brown with some clarity and brilliant ruby hues in the light, it grows a light tan head up to a finger or two with moderate retention and lacing
S; Roasted coffee over some chocolate undertones with a distinct nuttiness; sweetness leads to earthy hops notes and just a whiff of heat into a bit of almost smoky malts
T: Sweetness of chocolate and brown sugar, toasty breads balancing, allows for just a kiss of hops to come through while altogether allowing the coffee to shine; lots of roast, no real bitterness to speak of, and a beautiful nutty note allow for exceptional balance. A phenomenal coffee beer and brown ale in all its aspects. A sweet but clean finish even as roasty flavor pull all the way through.
F: Medium body with good carbonation that keeps from being overdone, it flows smoothly all the way

 

 

bottled 12/4/2017 - enjoyed 4/7/2022
Had this in the cellar and was going to send it out but thought I'd better make sure it was still okay. Why I didn't rate it 5 years ago, don't know. I did not need to worry. It was still very, very good.
Poured cola dark, definitely more brown than red or black and had a light brown head, albeit briefly. (Hey, after 5 years, that's pretty good for a brown!)
The aroma was malty and maybe had coffee. My nose is damaged so specifics are difficult.
The taste though. Yum. Malts forcefully drive this train, coffee plays along almost seamlessly. Any hop bite that may have been present years ago is gone. Just deep malts swirled and steeped in coffee.
The feel, well, for a brown a little viscous, but for a BA brown, spot on, not sure if it's better or worse than 5 years ago.
OA, Whenever I drink one of Founders BA browns, I wonder why it's not done more often by other brewers. Dang these are good.

 

 

 

 

355 ml bottle, from Systembolaget, shared by my son Steinar. Dark brown colour, small beige head. Aroma of cold coffee and brown malts. Distinct flavour of sharpish coffee and slightly dry malts. Not really a favourite of mine.

 

Bottled 4/16

Tan head with some lace. Dark caramel brown color.

Reminds me of kbs without the barrels. The chocolate and coffee are almost identical. A bit lighter bodied. The coffee is great even after so many years. Solid brown ale.

 

 

 

 

 

From frige 12 oz. bottle (bottled on 4/27/17 date on the bottle, 9% ABV and 40 IBUs also on the bottle ) to the tulip. Look - dark brown strong pour. Big tan head (had to slow down). Smell - sweet coffee boozy. Taste - coffee cookies chocolate rye bread. Feel - smooth weak bourbon! Good beer try to find it now, I know some small remote liquor stores still have this (all depends on where they kept this beer - shelves or fridge).

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Dark brown pour.. nearly black with 1.5 fingers of fluffy white head. Nice ring of lacing.

S: Coffee and roasted grains. Earthy hops.

T.F: Semi-sweet to tart. Roasty toasty malts... a bit of brown sugar. Strong espresso/coffee gives some bittering. Earthy/nutty without much hop bite. A bit of cocoa. Medium bodied and creamy carbonation.

O: A well made coffee brown ale. Not a favorite but well executed. A 4pack was probably 2 too many.