Brown Ale | Upslope Brewing Company - Lee Hill
Brewed by:
Upslope Brewing Company - Lee Hill
Colorado, United States
upslopebrewing.com
Style: English Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.70%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our medium-bodied Brown Ale is brewed in the English tradition, with an infusion of American creativity. The rich, malty backbone balances an assertive hop character, and ends with a smooth, dry finish. Our Brown Ale boasts a dark brown body that supports a creamy tan head.
Added by Domingo on 11-28-2010
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 70 | Ratings: 312
4.49/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pour is a very dark brown with foamy head and lacing is very long. Smells really nice, warm malt with nuttiness, some hops and little citrus mixed in there. Taste is very nice, bready feel with a good malt balance, little mix of hops and citrus round it out for a smooth and enjoyable beer. The finish is very clean, little malt and hops remain with a slight dryness. I am very impressed with this beer, nice flavor profile.
★ 424 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pour is a very dark brown with foamy head and lacing is very long. Smells really nice, warm malt with nuttiness, some hops and little citrus mixed in there. Taste is very nice, bready feel with a good malt balance, little mix of hops and citrus round it out for a smooth and enjoyable beer. The finish is very clean, little malt and hops remain with a slight dryness. I am very impressed with this beer, nice flavor profile.
★ 424 characters
3.89/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: Dark chocolatey brown with a fluffy, tan head that lingers
Smell: Good... nutty, roasty, malty, toffee and crunchy coffee beans
Taste: Sweet, roasty coffee ground flavor, some toffee, minimal hopping. Definite roasted malt bill, they did a great job on this one.
Feel: Intermediate-Heavy - for a brown ale, this is a bit heavy. Viscous with a smooth finish.
Overall: I like it. This could be a go-to brown ale for me.
★ 425 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: Dark chocolatey brown with a fluffy, tan head that lingers
Smell: Good... nutty, roasty, malty, toffee and crunchy coffee beans
Taste: Sweet, roasty coffee ground flavor, some toffee, minimal hopping. Definite roasted malt bill, they did a great job on this one.
Feel: Intermediate-Heavy - for a brown ale, this is a bit heavy. Viscous with a smooth finish.
Overall: I like it. This could be a go-to brown ale for me.
★ 425 characters
3.92/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L: Pours a dark brown mahogany color, with a nice white head that slowly dissipates, and lots of lacing around the glass.
S: Lots of roasted dark malt, very little hop noticeable, some sweetness, but overall the majority of the aroma is the roasted dark malt.
T: Lots of roasted dark malt, a light mineral note, some earthy nuttiness, and a light hop bitterness in the finish.
F: Fuller body, with lower carbonation
O: Aroma is a little one-dimensional, but overall a very nice beer.
★ 487 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L: Pours a dark brown mahogany color, with a nice white head that slowly dissipates, and lots of lacing around the glass.
S: Lots of roasted dark malt, very little hop noticeable, some sweetness, but overall the majority of the aroma is the roasted dark malt.
T: Lots of roasted dark malt, a light mineral note, some earthy nuttiness, and a light hop bitterness in the finish.
F: Fuller body, with lower carbonation
O: Aroma is a little one-dimensional, but overall a very nice beer.
★ 487 characters
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep cuprescent brown, quite clear. Cap of brownish tan foamy fluff, excellent retention, okay lace. As the can says, aromatic. Strong porter-like roasty toastiness, subdued cocoa, little nuttiness to speak of, with metallic and earthy hop notes. To the taste, metallic throughout, decently boozy as well, toffee-sweet and smoky-tart roastiness and earthy to leafy to spicy hops strongest as it lingers and then finishes. Nice rich brew, lighter side of full-bodied, teases with prickles but ultimately jam-packed with fine creamy suds, very tight seductive smoothness combined with quenching crispness, not distractingly astringent. This is an amazing Brown Ale, Porter-like, even compared to actual American Porters.
★ 718 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep cuprescent brown, quite clear. Cap of brownish tan foamy fluff, excellent retention, okay lace. As the can says, aromatic. Strong porter-like roasty toastiness, subdued cocoa, little nuttiness to speak of, with metallic and earthy hop notes. To the taste, metallic throughout, decently boozy as well, toffee-sweet and smoky-tart roastiness and earthy to leafy to spicy hops strongest as it lingers and then finishes. Nice rich brew, lighter side of full-bodied, teases with prickles but ultimately jam-packed with fine creamy suds, very tight seductive smoothness combined with quenching crispness, not distractingly astringent. This is an amazing Brown Ale, Porter-like, even compared to actual American Porters.
★ 718 characters
3.83/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Brown and murky pour; tan 2 finger head; nice lacing on glass. Smelled like burnt brown sugar and brown bread crumbs. Tastes like brown sugar, nuts, caramel malt, and a hint of hops in the aftertaste (only detectable when it warms up a bit). Pretty standard medium/full body on this bad boy. I like it. It's a great winter beer. Not as good as SN Tumbler brown ale, however.
★ 374 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Brown and murky pour; tan 2 finger head; nice lacing on glass. Smelled like burnt brown sugar and brown bread crumbs. Tastes like brown sugar, nuts, caramel malt, and a hint of hops in the aftertaste (only detectable when it warms up a bit). Pretty standard medium/full body on this bad boy. I like it. It's a great winter beer. Not as good as SN Tumbler brown ale, however.
★ 374 characters
4.13/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: dark murky brown with an off-white foamy head. No sediments dispersed.
Smell: sweet malt, caramel, vanilla ice cream. Very inviting and decadent.
Taste: instantly sweet and finishes sweet. Very candy like - picked up notes of caramel, vanilla, malt, and a subtle bitterness that taste a little like pecans. The flavors are very rich and satisfying. It all comes together really well and finishes smoothly.
Mouthfeel: medium-bodied and perfect carbonation.
Overall: this is one of the best brown ales I've had. The flavors are in perfect balance and with no dominant taste profile taking over. I appreciate that this brown ale is not overly masked by hops.
★ 675 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: dark murky brown with an off-white foamy head. No sediments dispersed.
Smell: sweet malt, caramel, vanilla ice cream. Very inviting and decadent.
Taste: instantly sweet and finishes sweet. Very candy like - picked up notes of caramel, vanilla, malt, and a subtle bitterness that taste a little like pecans. The flavors are very rich and satisfying. It all comes together really well and finishes smoothly.
Mouthfeel: medium-bodied and perfect carbonation.
Overall: this is one of the best brown ales I've had. The flavors are in perfect balance and with no dominant taste profile taking over. I appreciate that this brown ale is not overly masked by hops.
★ 675 characters
2.55/5 rDev -35.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Truncated quick notes:
A: Head is about 3.5 inches wide. Foamy and frothy and off-white/khaki. Body is oddly not brown, but actually amber. Clear and clean, with no visible yeast.
Sm: Bready malts. Cream. Caramel. Brown sugar. Hints of restrained cotton candy hop character. Bread crust.
Aromatic intensity is average.
T & Mf: Taste is off-putting, actually, with worrisome hop dominance and strangely uneven brown sugar sweetness. The caramel and cream gets buried beneath the hoppiness. Ugh.
No nuttiness, toffee, etc. This isn't much of a brown ale.
Texture is uneven - coarse at points, smooth at others. Likewise for dryness/wetness. Medium-bodied and overcarbonated. As unpredictable as the taste, to the detriment of the beer as a whole.
A muddled mess of a brown ale build. This never tastes like it has much of a clear intention behind it. I'm not sure what they were going for, but outside of style conventions it's not terrible.
O: A swing and a miss from Upslope, a brewery that often does better work. I wouldn't want another, and it's far from the worst I've had in the style, but it really just doesn't meet fundamental style guidelines. I will revisit it in future if only to go into the detail it deserves, but based on this can, it's definitely well below average. To its credit, though, the brown sugar does work to a degree - and I think brown sugar in a brown ale is a great idea. The execution just isn't there.
Low C-
★ 1,449 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Truncated quick notes:
A: Head is about 3.5 inches wide. Foamy and frothy and off-white/khaki. Body is oddly not brown, but actually amber. Clear and clean, with no visible yeast.
Sm: Bready malts. Cream. Caramel. Brown sugar. Hints of restrained cotton candy hop character. Bread crust.
Aromatic intensity is average.
T & Mf: Taste is off-putting, actually, with worrisome hop dominance and strangely uneven brown sugar sweetness. The caramel and cream gets buried beneath the hoppiness. Ugh.
No nuttiness, toffee, etc. This isn't much of a brown ale.
Texture is uneven - coarse at points, smooth at others. Likewise for dryness/wetness. Medium-bodied and overcarbonated. As unpredictable as the taste, to the detriment of the beer as a whole.
A muddled mess of a brown ale build. This never tastes like it has much of a clear intention behind it. I'm not sure what they were going for, but outside of style conventions it's not terrible.
O: A swing and a miss from Upslope, a brewery that often does better work. I wouldn't want another, and it's far from the worst I've had in the style, but it really just doesn't meet fundamental style guidelines. I will revisit it in future if only to go into the detail it deserves, but based on this can, it's definitely well below average. To its credit, though, the brown sugar does work to a degree - and I think brown sugar in a brown ale is a great idea. The execution just isn't there.
Low C-
★ 1,449 characters
3.75/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a nice caramel brown with a bubbly brown head. Aroma is rich offering some brown sugar, caramel, and nutty and roasty offering some chocolate tones. Flavor follows suit with some mild hoppy bitterness in the finish. A medium bodied, active mouthfeel. Overall, a nice brown ale and probably the best thing I have yet to try from Upslope.
★ 343 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a nice caramel brown with a bubbly brown head. Aroma is rich offering some brown sugar, caramel, and nutty and roasty offering some chocolate tones. Flavor follows suit with some mild hoppy bitterness in the finish. A medium bodied, active mouthfeel. Overall, a nice brown ale and probably the best thing I have yet to try from Upslope.
★ 343 characters
3.8/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Out of a can, best by 10/10/15. Into a pint glass.
L: Deep brown with a huge tan head that lasted until the last drop. 4.5/5
A: Molasses, caramel malts, and bread. Very malty and appealing. 3.75/5
T: Quite bitter. Prominent chocolate malt or roasted barley, giving it a little bit of a stout-like taste. Not very sweet. 3.5/5
M: Excellent smoothness and carbonation. 4.25/5
O: A rich, malty, bitter brown ale. Quite good.
★ 421 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Out of a can, best by 10/10/15. Into a pint glass.
L: Deep brown with a huge tan head that lasted until the last drop. 4.5/5
A: Molasses, caramel malts, and bread. Very malty and appealing. 3.75/5
T: Quite bitter. Prominent chocolate malt or roasted barley, giving it a little bit of a stout-like taste. Not very sweet. 3.5/5
M: Excellent smoothness and carbonation. 4.25/5
O: A rich, malty, bitter brown ale. Quite good.
★ 421 characters
4.31/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark brown with beautiful three finger head.
Smells of light roast with some sugary sweetness.
Taste is light roast followed by sweetness and finishing with a very mild herbal hop finish.
The mouthfeel is light to medium which is a little lighter than I want in a brown ale.
Overall this is a very good beer from an extremely under rated brewery. If your ever in Colorado give it a try you won't regret it.
★ 412 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark brown with beautiful three finger head.
Smells of light roast with some sugary sweetness.
Taste is light roast followed by sweetness and finishing with a very mild herbal hop finish.
The mouthfeel is light to medium which is a little lighter than I want in a brown ale.
Overall this is a very good beer from an extremely under rated brewery. If your ever in Colorado give it a try you won't regret it.
★ 412 characters
3.74/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The label of this beer lists brown sugar as an ingredient. A moderate pour from a 12 oz can into a 10 oz Pilsener style sampling glass produces about a ¾ inch head of a light tan color. The head is sticky and notably creamy looking. The beer is a rich, moderately dark yellowish-brown.
The malty aroma evokes dark bread with a little molasses. A good deal of nutty bitterness asserts itself in the flavor, with accents of butter, molasses, oak and dark fruit. The finish is dry but with lasting nutty bitterness. The body is medium.
This is a fine example of a brown ale that is becoming all to rare on local shelves. This beer is not available in my immediate area but was purchased in Sheridan, Wyoming at Star Liquor for 8-something a sixer.
★ 756 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The label of this beer lists brown sugar as an ingredient. A moderate pour from a 12 oz can into a 10 oz Pilsener style sampling glass produces about a ¾ inch head of a light tan color. The head is sticky and notably creamy looking. The beer is a rich, moderately dark yellowish-brown.
The malty aroma evokes dark bread with a little molasses. A good deal of nutty bitterness asserts itself in the flavor, with accents of butter, molasses, oak and dark fruit. The finish is dry but with lasting nutty bitterness. The body is medium.
This is a fine example of a brown ale that is becoming all to rare on local shelves. This beer is not available in my immediate area but was purchased in Sheridan, Wyoming at Star Liquor for 8-something a sixer.
★ 756 characters
4.1/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear brown colored ale with a medium sized light brown colored head.
Smells of molasses and patent malt with a good coffee and chocolate aroma too.
Starts out fairly sweet with a good roasted barley and chocolate flavor. Medium level of bitterness. Molasses becomes a little stronger as you drink it. The taste is similar to a mocha coffee sweetened with black strap molasses. Not a lot of fine nuances come with this beer it is just a very solid brown ale.
Mouthfeel is good.
Overall a tasty and surprisingly easy to drink Brown Ale. This beer has no defects.and makes an excellent example of the style for reference.
★ 628 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear brown colored ale with a medium sized light brown colored head.
Smells of molasses and patent malt with a good coffee and chocolate aroma too.
Starts out fairly sweet with a good roasted barley and chocolate flavor. Medium level of bitterness. Molasses becomes a little stronger as you drink it. The taste is similar to a mocha coffee sweetened with black strap molasses. Not a lot of fine nuances come with this beer it is just a very solid brown ale.
Mouthfeel is good.
Overall a tasty and surprisingly easy to drink Brown Ale. This beer has no defects.and makes an excellent example of the style for reference.
★ 628 characters
4.48/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Look: Medium/dark brown with a nice head
Smell: Malty
Taste: Malty, mildly hoppy.
Feel: Heavier than a lager but lighter than a porter. Very smooth.
Overall: Well, it's my favorite beer coming out of CO. It's a go to for me. I will stray off to stouts and porters from time to time but always end up back at Upslope with a brown ale.
★ 338 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Look: Medium/dark brown with a nice head
Smell: Malty
Taste: Malty, mildly hoppy.
Feel: Heavier than a lager but lighter than a porter. Very smooth.
Overall: Well, it's my favorite beer coming out of CO. It's a go to for me. I will stray off to stouts and porters from time to time but always end up back at Upslope with a brown ale.
★ 338 characters
4.05/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, dark brown color. 2/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong roasted malt, sweet malt, hops, slight yeast, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, caramel malt, hops, strong roasted malt, slight yeast, and slight alcohol. Overall, good appearance, decent aroma, good body, and blend.
★ 462 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, dark brown color. 2/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong roasted malt, sweet malt, hops, slight yeast, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, caramel malt, hops, strong roasted malt, slight yeast, and slight alcohol. Overall, good appearance, decent aroma, good body, and blend.
★ 462 characters
3.87/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This brew was served from cans into generic pints. It showed an auburn coloring, letting up more shimmering hues or ruby when held directly to light. A one and a half finger tall head of crème brûlée colored foam topped the liquid. This showed nice retention into quilted patterned lace around our glasses. No haze or sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared to be lighter. The aroma wafted simply, taking form from brown and amber malts, sourdough bready dough, metallic yeast and nickel, vanilla, hazelnut sweetness, cheddar cheese mustiness, burnt brown sugars, browned plantains, dusty leathers, lime soda, and faint molasses stickiness. The flavoring to follow included big roasty brown and deeper chocolate malts, Cocoa Puff cereal graininess and chocolate dustiness, lactic acidity, smoldering campfire charcoal, tinny yeastiness, black cherry skins, willow bark bitterness, light marmalade sweetness, light soapy hop, green tobacco leaf, and iced chamomile tea. The body was medium, and the carbonation was high and tight, although the former thinned out a bit as the beer warmed up. The feel was otherwise more oily and slick, than creamy or frothy. Atop this was decent slurp and smack, with the mouth left wet, and the slightest bit dusted. The abv was appropriate, and the beer was easy to put away.
Overall, this beer was enjoyed amongst friends on our second night visiting them in Tempe, Arizona. What a welcomed recuperation it was following our nearly thirty hour drive. Actually, this was the first beer we got a chance to rate during this trip. We do wish that it would have been a local Arizona offering, but we were in such a hurry to get the festivities started, we grabbed damn near the first thing we came across. Well, this and some Modus Hoperandi, which served as a good back and forth paring for a simple, clean brown ale such as this one. The most surprising thing about it was the flavoring, which showed a heavy backbone of roast and smoke throughout it. Very nice. This wasn’t overwhelming in any sense though, as it was enjoyed by all, even our friends newest to the craft beer scene.
★ 2,144 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This brew was served from cans into generic pints. It showed an auburn coloring, letting up more shimmering hues or ruby when held directly to light. A one and a half finger tall head of crème brûlée colored foam topped the liquid. This showed nice retention into quilted patterned lace around our glasses. No haze or sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared to be lighter. The aroma wafted simply, taking form from brown and amber malts, sourdough bready dough, metallic yeast and nickel, vanilla, hazelnut sweetness, cheddar cheese mustiness, burnt brown sugars, browned plantains, dusty leathers, lime soda, and faint molasses stickiness. The flavoring to follow included big roasty brown and deeper chocolate malts, Cocoa Puff cereal graininess and chocolate dustiness, lactic acidity, smoldering campfire charcoal, tinny yeastiness, black cherry skins, willow bark bitterness, light marmalade sweetness, light soapy hop, green tobacco leaf, and iced chamomile tea. The body was medium, and the carbonation was high and tight, although the former thinned out a bit as the beer warmed up. The feel was otherwise more oily and slick, than creamy or frothy. Atop this was decent slurp and smack, with the mouth left wet, and the slightest bit dusted. The abv was appropriate, and the beer was easy to put away.
Overall, this beer was enjoyed amongst friends on our second night visiting them in Tempe, Arizona. What a welcomed recuperation it was following our nearly thirty hour drive. Actually, this was the first beer we got a chance to rate during this trip. We do wish that it would have been a local Arizona offering, but we were in such a hurry to get the festivities started, we grabbed damn near the first thing we came across. Well, this and some Modus Hoperandi, which served as a good back and forth paring for a simple, clean brown ale such as this one. The most surprising thing about it was the flavoring, which showed a heavy backbone of roast and smoke throughout it. Very nice. This wasn’t overwhelming in any sense though, as it was enjoyed by all, even our friends newest to the craft beer scene.
★ 2,144 characters
4.25/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance- Amber red color with a two finger foamy head produced.
Aroma- Roasted caramel and sweet/spicy brown sugar.
Taste- Upfront, the taste is very smooth with sweet caramel malts and brown sugar. Towards the middle the sweetness is balanced by a little bit of roasted malt and a earthy/spicy hop flavor.
Mouthfeel- Medium to full bodied, medium carbnonation, and a semi-clean finish.
Overall- I have typically liked brown ales, but this is the first that I can say I love. Would definitely get this frequently if it were available in my state(s). Great sweetness from the caramel malt and brown sugar and perfectly balanced by the roast malt and earthy hops.
★ 675 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance- Amber red color with a two finger foamy head produced.
Aroma- Roasted caramel and sweet/spicy brown sugar.
Taste- Upfront, the taste is very smooth with sweet caramel malts and brown sugar. Towards the middle the sweetness is balanced by a little bit of roasted malt and a earthy/spicy hop flavor.
Mouthfeel- Medium to full bodied, medium carbnonation, and a semi-clean finish.
Overall- I have typically liked brown ales, but this is the first that I can say I love. Would definitely get this frequently if it were available in my state(s). Great sweetness from the caramel malt and brown sugar and perfectly balanced by the roast malt and earthy hops.
★ 675 characters
3.72/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown in color with minimal light penetration. A bit over half an inch of small bubbles form a tightly knit beige head. Heavy Brussels lacing. I smell chocolate and caramel notes. The flavor is primary caramel with some chocolate and toffee notes. The body is creamy and smooth. Drink by date was back on 12/7/14.
★ 324 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown in color with minimal light penetration. A bit over half an inch of small bubbles form a tightly knit beige head. Heavy Brussels lacing. I smell chocolate and caramel notes. The flavor is primary caramel with some chocolate and toffee notes. The body is creamy and smooth. Drink by date was back on 12/7/14.
★ 324 characters
4.25/5 rDev +7.6%
My regular complaint with brown ales is the pairing of a big, thick body with a plain, generically roasty character. This beer does exactly what I want: It finishes dry, the body isn't too thick, and there's a long cocoa and coffee bean and deeply toasted barley. It's big flavor and easy to drink for the strength. I'll have another.
★ 334 characters
My regular complaint with brown ales is the pairing of a big, thick body with a plain, generically roasty character. This beer does exactly what I want: It finishes dry, the body isn't too thick, and there's a long cocoa and coffee bean and deeply toasted barley. It's big flavor and easy to drink for the strength. I'll have another.
★ 334 characters
3.9/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: 3.75 - Dark brown with a modest head.
S: 3.75 - Caramel with a light roast.
T: 4.0 - Quite a bit of roast in the taste, together with moderately high bitterness really cut out the sweetness. Nice caramel with a bit of a hint of dark chocolate.
M: 3.75 - Neutral texture, not too carbonated.
O: 4.0 - Not my favorite style, but this is a pretty good beer for those of us are turned off by sweetish darker beers.
★ 413 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: 3.75 - Dark brown with a modest head.
S: 3.75 - Caramel with a light roast.
T: 4.0 - Quite a bit of roast in the taste, together with moderately high bitterness really cut out the sweetness. Nice caramel with a bit of a hint of dark chocolate.
M: 3.75 - Neutral texture, not too carbonated.
O: 4.0 - Not my favorite style, but this is a pretty good beer for those of us are turned off by sweetish darker beers.
★ 413 characters
4.5/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is my favorite brown ale - I suppose I get the complaints that this doesn't fit cleanly in people's expectation of the style but lately I haven't really cared about that - isn't that how much of our beloved american styles happened, by deviating from classic recipes (all our pale ales)? This is bigger, hoppier and much more roasty and robust than your traditional brown (especially english) but at 45 ibus I think it perfectly balances the brown sugar sweetness that can become cloying in other browns. But I don't perceive much hop bitterness at all like some reviewers I just perceive less sweetness and more coffee type bitterness, which I love. I get deep toasted grains, brown sugar, molasses, and some coffee notes all following with a creamy mouthfeel. Although it is year-round it is one of the best fall beers out in CO, especially for those of you who are sick of pumpkin and other spiced beers.
★ 912 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is my favorite brown ale - I suppose I get the complaints that this doesn't fit cleanly in people's expectation of the style but lately I haven't really cared about that - isn't that how much of our beloved american styles happened, by deviating from classic recipes (all our pale ales)? This is bigger, hoppier and much more roasty and robust than your traditional brown (especially english) but at 45 ibus I think it perfectly balances the brown sugar sweetness that can become cloying in other browns. But I don't perceive much hop bitterness at all like some reviewers I just perceive less sweetness and more coffee type bitterness, which I love. I get deep toasted grains, brown sugar, molasses, and some coffee notes all following with a creamy mouthfeel. Although it is year-round it is one of the best fall beers out in CO, especially for those of you who are sick of pumpkin and other spiced beers.
★ 912 characters
3.99/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Saw this one and had to grab a sixer. I know upslope is a fine brewery, so taking a chance on a sixer wasn't even a concern as I knew it would be good.
And it was. This brown ale embodies the style perfectly. Coffee, chocolate, and caramel malts all in nice proportions, without being overwhelming or transforming this beer into a stout. The perfect mix between flavor and fullness, combined with ease of drinking and refreshingness.
Upslope is certainly going places, and this brew is just one more step from their currently fine standing towards the halls of beerdom.
★ 573 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Saw this one and had to grab a sixer. I know upslope is a fine brewery, so taking a chance on a sixer wasn't even a concern as I knew it would be good.
And it was. This brown ale embodies the style perfectly. Coffee, chocolate, and caramel malts all in nice proportions, without being overwhelming or transforming this beer into a stout. The perfect mix between flavor and fullness, combined with ease of drinking and refreshingness.
Upslope is certainly going places, and this brew is just one more step from their currently fine standing towards the halls of beerdom.
★ 573 characters
4.1/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best by Nov 12, 2014.
A very dark brown brew with some reddish highlights, the off white foam starts off big but shrinks quickly leaving some lacing behind.
The smell is all Brown Ale like. ;^) Big hoppy but with more than hints of roasted malt and coffee. I think the hop and roasted malt have a nice "marriage" going on and they are celebrating the event with the coffee.
The taste just supports what I said about the smell. Nice bitter from the hops and roasted malt with a wee bit of sweetness that doesn't quite balance things out, but this is an American Brown Ale, so all is right with the world. Did I forget to mention coffee's involvement? I think it brings things together and gives this Brown Ale and extra oomph. Wow. Oomph is a word without the red squiggly lines but hoppy isn't?
Medium is what I'd use to describe the body and carbonation.
This is an excellent Brown Ale and I will enjoy drinking the other cans I have.
★ 940 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best by Nov 12, 2014.
A very dark brown brew with some reddish highlights, the off white foam starts off big but shrinks quickly leaving some lacing behind.
The smell is all Brown Ale like. ;^) Big hoppy but with more than hints of roasted malt and coffee. I think the hop and roasted malt have a nice "marriage" going on and they are celebrating the event with the coffee.
The taste just supports what I said about the smell. Nice bitter from the hops and roasted malt with a wee bit of sweetness that doesn't quite balance things out, but this is an American Brown Ale, so all is right with the world. Did I forget to mention coffee's involvement? I think it brings things together and gives this Brown Ale and extra oomph. Wow. Oomph is a word without the red squiggly lines but hoppy isn't?
Medium is what I'd use to describe the body and carbonation.
This is an excellent Brown Ale and I will enjoy drinking the other cans I have.
★ 940 characters
3.84/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours with a brown color, go figure. Finger worth of head that settles in but is present while drinking. Active carbonation is right for the style.
Smell: Pretty subdued overall. Cane sugar sweetness on the front. Light roasted coffee with some sweeter tones of caramel and molasses as a compliment. Mossy hops and oak round out the aroma.
Taste: Balanced, fitting roasted malts with potent coffee grounds greet the palate. A pleasant caramelized sugary body balances out a pretty heavy front. Balanced notes from both join force to create a finish with roasted coffee accents and dark, mature malts.
Mouthfeel: Pleasant transitions from roasted and dry, to sweet, to a pleasant combination on the finish. Carbonation is low but plays well in this beer.
Overall: This is a very tasty and interesting representation of the style. Has the nice dark roasted notes of a stout while providing the drinkability and sweeter notes of a brown ale.
★ 956 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours with a brown color, go figure. Finger worth of head that settles in but is present while drinking. Active carbonation is right for the style.
Smell: Pretty subdued overall. Cane sugar sweetness on the front. Light roasted coffee with some sweeter tones of caramel and molasses as a compliment. Mossy hops and oak round out the aroma.
Taste: Balanced, fitting roasted malts with potent coffee grounds greet the palate. A pleasant caramelized sugary body balances out a pretty heavy front. Balanced notes from both join force to create a finish with roasted coffee accents and dark, mature malts.
Mouthfeel: Pleasant transitions from roasted and dry, to sweet, to a pleasant combination on the finish. Carbonation is low but plays well in this beer.
Overall: This is a very tasty and interesting representation of the style. Has the nice dark roasted notes of a stout while providing the drinkability and sweeter notes of a brown ale.
★ 956 characters
3.71/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
upslope brown ale 6.7% abv. srm I would say mid 20s. ibu of 45, but jesus the malt in this guy hides that.
massive head. lot of malt and coffee on the first smell, almost no hop smell. good mouth feel not a heavy beer, but it certainly has some weight to it, with a nice creamy finish.
as I drink it I've lost almost all smell except for that cutting coffee smell, which is pleasantly light in the overall flavor of the beer. just enough sweet to balance what is an obviously large amount of malt. doesn't taste like its packing this level of alcohol. after taste is all malt and chocolate.
looked down and half the beer is gone. taking smaller sips now just cause I want this guy to last while I write this. I'm loving this beer. the bitter, malt, and alcohol are obviously at this party as a threesome and they're having a great time together.
no fruit, no weird spice, no special rare thing from some country. an unapologetic tasty brown ale, well planned and brewed. is it ground breaking or revolutionary? not at all. is it a solid beer you'll be glad you took a sip of? without a doubt. if you dig a good brown ale, you owe it to yourself to give this number a taste.
it'll be better a little colder, get it fridge cold and pour it into a pint glass, or get it fridge cold and then let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes. luckily I have 5 more of these bad boys to share tomorrow night.
★ 1,404 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
upslope brown ale 6.7% abv. srm I would say mid 20s. ibu of 45, but jesus the malt in this guy hides that.
massive head. lot of malt and coffee on the first smell, almost no hop smell. good mouth feel not a heavy beer, but it certainly has some weight to it, with a nice creamy finish.
as I drink it I've lost almost all smell except for that cutting coffee smell, which is pleasantly light in the overall flavor of the beer. just enough sweet to balance what is an obviously large amount of malt. doesn't taste like its packing this level of alcohol. after taste is all malt and chocolate.
looked down and half the beer is gone. taking smaller sips now just cause I want this guy to last while I write this. I'm loving this beer. the bitter, malt, and alcohol are obviously at this party as a threesome and they're having a great time together.
no fruit, no weird spice, no special rare thing from some country. an unapologetic tasty brown ale, well planned and brewed. is it ground breaking or revolutionary? not at all. is it a solid beer you'll be glad you took a sip of? without a doubt. if you dig a good brown ale, you owe it to yourself to give this number a taste.
it'll be better a little colder, get it fridge cold and pour it into a pint glass, or get it fridge cold and then let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes. luckily I have 5 more of these bad boys to share tomorrow night.
★ 1,404 characters
Brown Ale from Upslope Brewing Company - Lee Hill
3.95
out of 5
based on 312 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Served on tap in a pint glass
Appearance – The beer is served a deep brown color with a one finger head of off white foam. The head has a moderate level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a light level of lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell –The aroma of the brew is strongest of nice roasty smell mixed with aromas of caramel and molasses. Along with these aromas comes some lighter notes of coffee and chocolate along with a little bit of nut.
Taste-The taste begins with nice toasted bready taste that has a moderate showing of caramel and molasses upfront. The caramel and molasses decline a bit in intensity as the taste advances with some coffee and cocoa tastes taking their place. All the while a bit of nuttiness joins the taste profile and in the end the combination of flavors ends up leaving a roasty and not too overly sweet taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is average with a carbonation level that is rather low. For the roasty and light nut tastes of the brew the feel is rather nice and creates a fairly easy drinker all while still highlighting some of the nice flavor notes.
Overall – This was a rather enjoyable brown ale. It had a smooth and roasty flavor, all while not being over the top in sweetness. Rather tasty.
★ 1,303 characters