Farmington River Brown Ale
Ipswich Ale Brewery

Farmington River Brown AleFarmington River Brown Ale
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From:
Ipswich Ale Brewery
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 14.7%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
37
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 25, 2014
Added:
Jan 13, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Liquids:
Photo of Liquids
Reviewed by Liquids from Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Syrupy brown that's a deep mahogany in the light. Stream of bubbles denote a healthy carbonation and maintain a steady one finger head. Smells deliciously hoppy, floral, and robust. Sweet, middle of the road brown.

Not as thick and full as the aroma and appearance suggested. A discernable burnt malt flavor peeks through with a very subtle stout taste for a moment. Hops are noticable but not overwhelming, and taste off to my palate--the bottle indicates a use of centennial hops.

Light in a drinkable way, but certainly fuller and deeper in flavor (with a rather different flavor profile) than, say, newcastle. Mouthfeel is on par, medium bodied. Definitely the right amount of carbonation here, which helped. The burnt malt note and hop aftertaste are what linger afterward. Taste is good, but nothing life changing, and slightly disapointing. One was enough. Good, but I'd go elsewhere.
Mar 22, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by neil2me from Connecticut

Dec 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by drbenderdo from Michigan

Jan 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by rorjets from Connecticut

Dec 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by JTomczak from Connecticut

Aug 06, 2013
 
Rated: 1.5 by chrispoint from Connecticut

Feb 20, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Jan 30, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Dec 29, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Exiled from Texas

Dec 09, 2011
Photo of flyerzrule
Reviewed by flyerzrule from California

2.8/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Ok head pouring into glass. Faint smell of chocolate. Very little taste although taste improved slightly as beer warmed. There were some chocolate and coffee flavors but overall, not great. This beer is a slight step above Newcastle, but probably not much else.
May 10, 2011
Photo of birdyone
Reviewed by birdyone from Maryland

3.34/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I cannot say much for the appearance, as I drank it straight from the bottle. (I know, shame) I was camping, and I apologize.

Smelled great! Not sure if that was because I was camping, and it just smelled better than me, or it just went really well with the camp fire.

It was highly enjoyable. But that's mostly compared to the cheap beer we drank most of the week camping.

Drinkability only suffers from price. Compared to everything else on the shelf at the grocery store it was high. But, drinking Farmington River beer, in a camp site where we could hear the "mighty" Farmington River, was awesome.
Nov 29, 2010
Photo of PubliusII
Reviewed by PubliusII from Connecticut

2.64/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance- Dark Brown Hue with a one-finger head. Poor head retention.
Smell- Sweet, malty smell. Nothing too powerful but it does give off scents of bread.
Taste- Taste of malt and nuts. The only reason I can tell there are hops in there is because of the bitterness of the beer. There are smaller, sugary tones that compliment this modest taste.
Mouth Feel- Moderate carbonation gives the bitter beer a bite as it slides over the tongue.
Drinkability- This ale does have a bitter, bready taste, complimented by roasted nuts. The sour bite it leaves behind is not that enjoyable. I would not go out of my way to buy this beer again.
Oct 21, 2010
Photo of jdense
Reviewed by jdense from Oregon

3.6/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle gifted by local brewmaster during recent visited poured into pint glass.

One finger very light tan head, medium-slow dissipation with some lacing retained. Amber body with some copper red highlights, significant number of trails of small carbonation bubbles rising up sides of glass. Nose is pretty malty, nutty, some chocolate with a bit balanced by floral hops a wee bit of citrus present. Interesting taste, fairly well balanced, mostly nutty, some chocolate in the middle with a bit of citrus, floral finish, not bitter.
Medium full mouthfeel, some effervescence but not much. Quite drinkable. Not the most distinctive tasting beer, but certainly well balanced, I'm sure this will taste quite good with my homemade pulled pork sandwich.
Sep 27, 2010
Photo of errantnight
Reviewed by errantnight from District of Columbia

3.33/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Deep brown, slightly opaque with nice retention and lacing. Aroma is an appealing blend of milk chocolate and roasted malt.

Mid-palate hits some milk chocolate a bit of toasted pecan. When a bit colder the sweetness is pronounced. Finishes with a bit of grapefruit falling back into the chocolate. A bit of bitterness and aspirin. Carbonation hits prickly and spritely.

Fine, nothing exciting, would drink again. Wouldn't seek out.
May 28, 2010
Photo of mdfb79
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.13/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

a - Pours a brown-amber color with one inch of white head and light carbonation.

s - Smells of roasted and caramel malts. Also smells a bit sour.

t - Tastes of caramel malts, roasted malts, and again, some sourness to it.

m - Medium body and light carbonation. Smooth.

d - Not that great of a brown ale. A nice feel to it but the sourness in the smell and taste hurts it a bit. Wouldn't look to have again.
May 04, 2010
Photo of erosier
Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

3.72/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
L: Pours a nice amber brown color with a medium sized light head that fades to a ring around the glass with some lacing down the sides.
S: Smells of sweet roasted malts, caramel, and a nice quick hop aroma at the end.
T: Tastes like it smells with a big roasted malt base followed by some caramel flavors at the end of it.
M: Smooth, refreshing, sweet, full bodied feeling, perfect amount of carbonation.
D: Good drinkability, all the flavors blend well and make a nice overall beer.
Feb 05, 2010
Photo of jdhilt
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a three finger cream head that fades slowly, leaving some lace. Cloudy dark brown color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Slight malty nose. Flavor is nutty with hops in the background. Typical brown. $1.50 for a 12oz bottle from Manchester Wine and Liquors Manchester, CT.
Nov 18, 2009
Photo of krisandajt
Reviewed by krisandajt from Pennsylvania

3.32/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had this one for a while, it's about time I reviewed it...

Appearance: Pours a slightly opaque light brown with a small bit of head (maybe a centimeter) that fades very quickly. Little to no lacing on the glass.

Smell: Nothing really stands out. Can pick up some malts, and some hints of chocolate, but that's about it.

Taste: Like the smell, nothing really stands out. Nice malty start with a slight chocolatey finish. Smooth throughout...not bad.

Mouthfeel: I was hoping it would be smoother, but the carbonation gives it some tingle on the tongue. Not bad, just not what I expected.

Drinkability: Overall, fairly drinkable. Nothing offensive, smooth tasting. Not my first choice for a brown ale, but not bad.
May 16, 2009
Photo of MVotter
Reviewed by MVotter from New York

3.79/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a nice tall pils glass ... down the center, gigantic, tan colored head rises to the top of the rim and settles back to a thin, loose head. Some thin lacing ... disappears within a few more minutes, with all of the head.

The beer color is a dark tea color. Clear. In fact, if I put this in a regular clear kitchen glass, with ice cubes in it, one could mistake it for some iced tea.

The smell at the bottle's opening is toast. After the pour, the smell from the glass is yeast.

The taste is bitter-malt and yeast flavors at the start, and actually finishes on the sweet side! It was an interesting, enjoyable transition on the palate.

The mouthfeel is not effervescent since I poured down the middle, to release some carbonation. It was pleasant, not too heavy, very drinkable.
Feb 25, 2009
Photo of WanderingFool
Reviewed by WanderingFool from Massachusetts

3.56/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Farmington River Brown pours a clear, well, brown color into the glass with a frothy off white head on top. A flurry of tiny bubbles is seen floating up to the surface from the glass bottom. The foam fades down to a thin sheet on the beer covering the sides of the glass with lots of netted patterns of lace.

The aroma is malty with notes of toasted malt, nuts and chocolate.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth with a light fizz on the palate. The flavor is malty with notes of nuts, bread and a touch of chocolate. At the end is a mild hop bitterness that lingers on the palate when the beer is gone.

This is a decent middle of the road brown ale. Easy drinking and nothing offensive.
Feb 07, 2009
Farmington River Brown Ale from Ipswich Ale Brewery
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 37 ratings