Toasted Brown Ale
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

On tap at the Cambridge location before EBF 2011.

Pour yields a medium brown-colored brew with a good light tan head, though that fades quite quickly and doesn't leave much lacing behind. The nose brings some moderately-sweet malt along with some toast and bread crust. There is a slight nuttiness to it as well as a mild toffee presence. The taste hits with both sweet and toasted components at the same time. Fairly nice balance, though the flavors never really get me searching for the next time. A bit of bread and mild nuttiness pair with the sweetness as the only real flavors I get. Mouthfeel is medium with a good, full finish. Overall, no real flaws, but just an average brown.

Had on 3/12/11.

Pours a dark brown color with an amber hue and a thin head into my glass.

Sweet and toasty malt greet the nose. Not much else. Not even the supposed chocolate they speak of in the description.

Ditto on taste. A bit toasty and just a hint of chocolate (finally!) as well. Not much else going on though.

Mouthfeel? Weak in general with only a hint of lingering toastiness.

Eh, nothing special here. Its inoffensive and you could do a lot better for the style. After this, I decided that I'd had enough of their offerings.

Pours a clear, dark brown with ruby tints. Topped by a thick, fluffy, light-brown head that fades to a continuous film leaving nice lace. Toasty, bready, roasty and chocolate note make up much of the aroma.

Toasted malts upfront, bready with a hint of sweetness. Caramel and chocolate in the center with a hint of fruit. The finish is a lightly bitter, roasty character. Light-bodied, moderately carbonated with a smooth finish.

This was tasty and well balanced, definitely a good session beer.