He'Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale
Shmaltz Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Brown Ale - American
Ranked #661 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #44,696 - Avg:
- 3.6 | pDev: 11.94%
- Reviews:
- 113
- Ratings:
- From:
- Shmaltz Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 9
- Gots
- 93
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
Notes:
A complex yet smooth blend of bold dark malts revealing hints of chocolate, coffee and toffee paired with a lovely hop character.
Reviews: 113
| Ratings: 520
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Reviews by thebeers:
thebeers from Pennsylvania
3.46/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Nice dark brown color with a couple fingers of tan head. Malty aroma. Nutty, and slightly roasty, malt taste, with strong carbonation and medium body. Would have said it made a fine table beer at first, but as it went on, got a bit of formaldehyde taste on the backend that wasn't at all enjoyable. I may have over-poured the yeast sediment, but still.
Aug 04, 2015
3.46/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Nice dark brown color with a couple fingers of tan head. Malty aroma. Nutty, and slightly roasty, malt taste, with strong carbonation and medium body. Would have said it made a fine table beer at first, but as it went on, got a bit of formaldehyde taste on the backend that wasn't at all enjoyable. I may have over-poured the yeast sediment, but still.
Aug 04, 2015
More User Reviews:
jjamadorphd from Florida
2.76/5 rDev -23.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
From the variety pack, I decided to leave this style last...none too happy with it...
Out of the glass and into the pint glass, the brew certainly does look good - a dark, slightly reddish colored brew with tan head but little staying power, and no lacing to mention. The smell has boozy scent but the more it aired out the skunkier it got. The rest of the specs were less than stellar. The mouthfeel was carbonated and watery, and the taste was simply a mess of malts and hops - it tried to be something while being too many things at once. I couldn't really pull out anything in terms of taste. It's not a bad beer but certainly nothing I will really go out of my way to look for in the future.
May 20, 2017
2.76/5 rDev -23.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
From the variety pack, I decided to leave this style last...none too happy with it...
Out of the glass and into the pint glass, the brew certainly does look good - a dark, slightly reddish colored brew with tan head but little staying power, and no lacing to mention. The smell has boozy scent but the more it aired out the skunkier it got. The rest of the specs were less than stellar. The mouthfeel was carbonated and watery, and the taste was simply a mess of malts and hops - it tried to be something while being too many things at once. I couldn't really pull out anything in terms of taste. It's not a bad beer but certainly nothing I will really go out of my way to look for in the future.
May 20, 2017
BethanyB from New York
3.45/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Look: Opaque ebony in low light, ebony with glorious ruby red highlights in the natural light. The head is a thick creamy, very light tan. Lookswise, this is a tempter, though the head quick to fizzle out.
Smell: Hello, diacetyl. This unfortunate scent gets I the way of that nutty malt, but if you really like your nose in, toasted almonds, walnuts, and even macadamia nuts help to substantiate the beer's name. yes, there's some nice malt complexity, if you can overlook the d-word.
Taste: Deeply toasted malt with a layer cake of nuts--these guys really took "nut ale" as literally as possible! Peanuts, almonds walnuts, and those expensive macadamias again, they're all up on the palate. There's something missing, however. Earthy hops are present, yet faint, and could use a boost to balance things out. Or perhaps a bit of spice to distract from the slightly cardboard quality that sadly reminds one of an oxidizes Homebrew.
Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation and body, with a semi-dry finish. A nice mixture of hearty and refreshing.
Overall: The focus on the malt complexity could be balanced, and even improved upon with some hop, or other flavor additions. The brewing-fine-wrong aroma is light, but still distracting. A good beer when all is said and done, but not one I'd go back to.
Nov 08, 2014
3.45/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Look: Opaque ebony in low light, ebony with glorious ruby red highlights in the natural light. The head is a thick creamy, very light tan. Lookswise, this is a tempter, though the head quick to fizzle out.
Smell: Hello, diacetyl. This unfortunate scent gets I the way of that nutty malt, but if you really like your nose in, toasted almonds, walnuts, and even macadamia nuts help to substantiate the beer's name. yes, there's some nice malt complexity, if you can overlook the d-word.
Taste: Deeply toasted malt with a layer cake of nuts--these guys really took "nut ale" as literally as possible! Peanuts, almonds walnuts, and those expensive macadamias again, they're all up on the palate. There's something missing, however. Earthy hops are present, yet faint, and could use a boost to balance things out. Or perhaps a bit of spice to distract from the slightly cardboard quality that sadly reminds one of an oxidizes Homebrew.
Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation and body, with a semi-dry finish. A nice mixture of hearty and refreshing.
Overall: The focus on the malt complexity could be balanced, and even improved upon with some hop, or other flavor additions. The brewing-fine-wrong aroma is light, but still distracting. A good beer when all is said and done, but not one I'd go back to.
Nov 08, 2014
Zach136 from Georgia
4.01/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Deep brown, thin head.
Aroma: Raison, nut and toasty malt.
Flavor: Malts border on roast with hints of dark fruit and nuts.
Mouthfeel: Light and very drinkable.
Nov 09, 2014
4.01/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Deep brown, thin head.
Aroma: Raison, nut and toasty malt.
Flavor: Malts border on roast with hints of dark fruit and nuts.
Mouthfeel: Light and very drinkable.
Nov 09, 2014
HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey
3.89/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Aroma is raisins,malt, raisins,and licorice and the taste is somewhat identical. An interesting brown ale thats got a little bitterness but a lot more going on. A very nice take on the style
Feb 18, 2018
3.89/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Aroma is raisins,malt, raisins,and licorice and the taste is somewhat identical. An interesting brown ale thats got a little bitterness but a lot more going on. A very nice take on the style
Feb 18, 2018
mick303 from Canada (ON)
3.66/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured a dark ruby brown, near black. A thin pale coffee lacing and film. Quite dark for the style but looks pretty good.
Smell has a ton of roasted malt. Also some fruity pear notes, coffee, nutty notes come through, some lively hop character. Nice mix of flavour here, could be melded together a bit smoother but pretty promising.
Taste has some sweet malt initially, lighter pear and notes, a fair bit of roastiness, some burnt coffee bitterness. Mostly dominated by the malt, hops are slightly earthy but mostly a tad stale and quiet. Finish is dry and slightly malty, slight dried fruit. Could be a bit more interesting.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, mostly roast malt coating, carbonation is mild, could maybe use a bit more. It feels a quite watery. Drinkability is decent though, quite sessionable and refreshing.
A decent beer, not amazing, seems to have a lot of promise but could hold it together better. Still a pretty good session ale that I wouldn't necessarily buy again but wouldn't turn down either.
Jan 11, 2013
3.66/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured a dark ruby brown, near black. A thin pale coffee lacing and film. Quite dark for the style but looks pretty good.
Smell has a ton of roasted malt. Also some fruity pear notes, coffee, nutty notes come through, some lively hop character. Nice mix of flavour here, could be melded together a bit smoother but pretty promising.
Taste has some sweet malt initially, lighter pear and notes, a fair bit of roastiness, some burnt coffee bitterness. Mostly dominated by the malt, hops are slightly earthy but mostly a tad stale and quiet. Finish is dry and slightly malty, slight dried fruit. Could be a bit more interesting.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, mostly roast malt coating, carbonation is mild, could maybe use a bit more. It feels a quite watery. Drinkability is decent though, quite sessionable and refreshing.
A decent beer, not amazing, seems to have a lot of promise but could hold it together better. Still a pretty good session ale that I wouldn't necessarily buy again but wouldn't turn down either.
Jan 11, 2013
NickFry9 from New York
3.16/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Jun 25, 2018
3.16/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Jun 25, 2018
Suds from Missouri
4.05/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brown in color, with red highlights and a thin head. Dark, but mostly clear. The smell is muted, malt, bread, a touch of hops, but not very intense. Some roasted sensations. The flavor, however, is great. A nice balance of sweet malt and some toasty notes, backed by a mild bitterness. Full and enveloping mouthfeel. Great drink ability.
Jun 01, 2013
4.05/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brown in color, with red highlights and a thin head. Dark, but mostly clear. The smell is muted, malt, bread, a touch of hops, but not very intense. Some roasted sensations. The flavor, however, is great. A nice balance of sweet malt and some toasty notes, backed by a mild bitterness. Full and enveloping mouthfeel. Great drink ability.
Jun 01, 2013
Lone_Freighter from Vermont
3.87/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a glass mug.
The appearance was a mild dark brown color with a small cap of an off white foamy head sliding off at a decent pace. Some messy lace ran around the glass fairly nice after a small cap of a white foamy head fell off.
The aroma had some dark bready malty tones colliding with some dark fruits, nuts and roasty tones. Slight earthiness.
The flavor leaned into the sweet malty side initially and seemed to open up with some roastiness and a tad of earthiness. Slight aftertaste of dark fruits, dark chocolate, roast and earth.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sessionable sort of strength about it. Carbonation felt a tad under than expected. ABV felt good. Good finish of nuts, dark fruits, roast and earthiness coming in somewhat dryly but with a smooth sort of way about it.
Overall, pretty nice as a brown ale, I'd say this leans more towards the English style than the American one.
Feb 13, 2019
3.87/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a glass mug.
The appearance was a mild dark brown color with a small cap of an off white foamy head sliding off at a decent pace. Some messy lace ran around the glass fairly nice after a small cap of a white foamy head fell off.
The aroma had some dark bready malty tones colliding with some dark fruits, nuts and roasty tones. Slight earthiness.
The flavor leaned into the sweet malty side initially and seemed to open up with some roastiness and a tad of earthiness. Slight aftertaste of dark fruits, dark chocolate, roast and earth.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sessionable sort of strength about it. Carbonation felt a tad under than expected. ABV felt good. Good finish of nuts, dark fruits, roast and earthiness coming in somewhat dryly but with a smooth sort of way about it.
Overall, pretty nice as a brown ale, I'd say this leans more towards the English style than the American one.
Feb 13, 2019
Jjonah_0rt from New York
4.63/5 rDev +28.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
The most incredibly smooth and tasteful ale I’ve ever had. A new family favourite.
Mar 22, 2018
4.63/5 rDev +28.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
The most incredibly smooth and tasteful ale I’ve ever had. A new family favourite.
Mar 22, 2018
smcolw from Massachusetts
3.77/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Starts with a large head but settles to a narrow layer of light tan bubbles. Good set of streaky spots and webs of lace. Brown color where light shines through easily. Appears to be clear.
Dark caramel aroma--sweet with a bit of toast (with cinnamon sugar). A bit cloy.
The flavor is an improvement because the flavor is dryer than the smell indicates. Strong crystal and caramel malts. The swallow features a very good hop presence, more than most brown ales. The body is also above average.
Jul 03, 2014
3.77/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Starts with a large head but settles to a narrow layer of light tan bubbles. Good set of streaky spots and webs of lace. Brown color where light shines through easily. Appears to be clear.
Dark caramel aroma--sweet with a bit of toast (with cinnamon sugar). A bit cloy.
The flavor is an improvement because the flavor is dryer than the smell indicates. Strong crystal and caramel malts. The swallow features a very good hop presence, more than most brown ales. The body is also above average.
Jul 03, 2014
COBEERHUNTER from Colorado
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Oct 22, 2018
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Oct 22, 2018
woodychandler from Pennsylvania
3.73/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I feel as though I am Hercules, left to clean out the Aegean Stables when it comes to my backlog of bottles. I am not trying to be disparaging of bottled beers, but when I am the creator of The CANQuest (TM) and I am swimming in bottles, something is wrong.
From the bottle: "Silver Medal World Beer Championships"; "MALTS: specialty 2-Row, Carapils, Dark Crystal, Chocolate, CaraMunich 60, Kiln Amber HOPS: Warrior, Cascade, Liberty"; "Born: SF 1996 Reborn: NY 2013"; "The Chosen Beer Brewed in New York L'Chaim! To Life!"; "Kosher Certified Rabbi Approved"; "Why is this beer different from all other beers? As commanded, we at HE'BREW Beer have been fruitful and multiplied our offerings. Tradition teaches that the Messiah's name is Shalom - Peace. With your first sip of this rich, dark, and delicious libation, we hope to offer a momentary taste of microbrewed bliss. If you feel the sudden urge to beat your swords into ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4) or to picnic with the lion and the lamb (Is. 11:6) ... Rejoice! Now, our award-winning brewers can't claim supernatural powers - simply a fanatical commitment to brewing world-class beers: A truly scrumptious mitzvah (good deed)! May your cups runneth over with the blessings of great beer and great shtick. To Life ... L'Chaim! [undersigned] Jeremy Cowan, Proprietor".
I was slightly anxious to get started, so my pour was nearly inverted, which does not work well when dealing with a bottle. Once things slowed down, a great pseudo-cascade took place, resulting in two fingers of dense, light-brown head with good retention. Color was a deep-brown with garnet highlights (SRM = > 27, < 34) and NE-quality clarity. Nose smelled of chocolate, coffee, tobacco and caramel. Mouthfeel was medium and it was not as sweet as I had girded myself for, based on the nose. It tasted more like cocoa than outright chocolate and the tobacco taste helped to also reduce some of the inherent sweetness of the style. Finish was semi-sweet and left me with an unusual dried tobacco flavor in my mouth. Not bad, but just not really my bag.
Jul 09, 2014
3.73/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I feel as though I am Hercules, left to clean out the Aegean Stables when it comes to my backlog of bottles. I am not trying to be disparaging of bottled beers, but when I am the creator of The CANQuest (TM) and I am swimming in bottles, something is wrong.
From the bottle: "Silver Medal World Beer Championships"; "MALTS: specialty 2-Row, Carapils, Dark Crystal, Chocolate, CaraMunich 60, Kiln Amber HOPS: Warrior, Cascade, Liberty"; "Born: SF 1996 Reborn: NY 2013"; "The Chosen Beer Brewed in New York L'Chaim! To Life!"; "Kosher Certified Rabbi Approved"; "Why is this beer different from all other beers? As commanded, we at HE'BREW Beer have been fruitful and multiplied our offerings. Tradition teaches that the Messiah's name is Shalom - Peace. With your first sip of this rich, dark, and delicious libation, we hope to offer a momentary taste of microbrewed bliss. If you feel the sudden urge to beat your swords into ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4) or to picnic with the lion and the lamb (Is. 11:6) ... Rejoice! Now, our award-winning brewers can't claim supernatural powers - simply a fanatical commitment to brewing world-class beers: A truly scrumptious mitzvah (good deed)! May your cups runneth over with the blessings of great beer and great shtick. To Life ... L'Chaim! [undersigned] Jeremy Cowan, Proprietor".
I was slightly anxious to get started, so my pour was nearly inverted, which does not work well when dealing with a bottle. Once things slowed down, a great pseudo-cascade took place, resulting in two fingers of dense, light-brown head with good retention. Color was a deep-brown with garnet highlights (SRM = > 27, < 34) and NE-quality clarity. Nose smelled of chocolate, coffee, tobacco and caramel. Mouthfeel was medium and it was not as sweet as I had girded myself for, based on the nose. It tasted more like cocoa than outright chocolate and the tobacco taste helped to also reduce some of the inherent sweetness of the style. Finish was semi-sweet and left me with an unusual dried tobacco flavor in my mouth. Not bad, but just not really my bag.
Jul 09, 2014
GIftofgod4u1 from Louisiana
4.61/5 rDev +28.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dec 30, 2018
4.61/5 rDev +28.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dec 30, 2018
lacqueredmouse from Australia
3.47/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Purchased at Berkeley Bowl West in Berkeley, CA.
Pours a mild brown colour, with good clarity, but almost no head—what forms is a fine ring of flimsy suds. Very light body, no lacing. Overall, it looks pretty insipid, to be perfectly honest.
Nose is mild and pleasantly grainy, with an organic, musty wholesomeness to it, but very little else. No, I lie, there is a hint of something hoppy to it, giving it a mild sweet lemon character. But this is hidden under the malt, which while dominant, is not particularly strong.
Taste is mild and grainy, with a crispness on the back that seems to come more from the carbonation than from hops. Wet malt sits on the back, cloying slightly, and giving a mustiness to the aftertaste. Feel is suitable—pretty light, but with a slickness that speaks to the malt.
Overall, it's a bit dull, but not bad. It's light, obviously designed not to overwhelm the palate. It succeeds there, at least, but there are much better beers that do the same thing.
Jun 17, 2012
3.47/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Purchased at Berkeley Bowl West in Berkeley, CA.
Pours a mild brown colour, with good clarity, but almost no head—what forms is a fine ring of flimsy suds. Very light body, no lacing. Overall, it looks pretty insipid, to be perfectly honest.
Nose is mild and pleasantly grainy, with an organic, musty wholesomeness to it, but very little else. No, I lie, there is a hint of something hoppy to it, giving it a mild sweet lemon character. But this is hidden under the malt, which while dominant, is not particularly strong.
Taste is mild and grainy, with a crispness on the back that seems to come more from the carbonation than from hops. Wet malt sits on the back, cloying slightly, and giving a mustiness to the aftertaste. Feel is suitable—pretty light, but with a slickness that speaks to the malt.
Overall, it's a bit dull, but not bad. It's light, obviously designed not to overwhelm the palate. It succeeds there, at least, but there are much better beers that do the same thing.
Jun 17, 2012
Mortarforker from Texas
3.21/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Nov 15, 2015
3.21/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Nov 15, 2015
He'Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale from Shmaltz Brewing Company
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
520 ratings
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