The Brown Note
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse

The Brown NoteThe Brown Note
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From:
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
 
Kentucky, United States
Style:
English Brown Ale
Ranked #35
ABV:
5%
Score:
85
Ranked #20,342
Avg:
3.79 | pDev: 10.82%
Reviews:
115
Ratings:
500
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 15, 2023
Added:
Apr 23, 2012
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  131
The brown ale to end all brown ales. Enjoy it, because there is no longer any reason to drink another. You’ve reached the pinnacle. A healthy blend of traditional British malts give this popular style a semi-sweet, biscuity, slightly roasted flavor. Oats thicken the mouthfeel, and a handful of specialty malts add complex chocolate, toffee, and caramel notes. The hops are mostly traditional, earthy British hops, but we cocked it up a bit with some Cascade late in the boil just to show those snooty Brits that we don’t approve of that Constitutional Monarchy crap.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jwc215:
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours slightly hazed light brown. A thin, fading tan head leaves some lacing.

The smell is of brown sugar, cocoa powder, caramel/toffee. Robust malty nose.

The taste is of brown sugar, cocoa, nuts, toffee/caramel. Sweet malt balanced by a subtle sour-ish earthy tone in the finish.

Malty smooth. Soft to medium carbonation.

A rich malty brown ale. Pricey (over 15 for the bomber).

I didn't care for the label on the bottle. I really don't want to picture feces as I'm drinking a brown ale.
Mar 16, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of mvanaskie13
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania

4.12/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into narrow imperial pint glass: color is brown, a little dense, head is tan with dense/fine head, head presents 1+ fingers thick, head lingers very well with a solid 1/4 inch top and lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is nutty, toffee, subtle cocoa, coffee, and earth, hops are low but light grass and herbal note.

Taste is a little sweeter with toffee, cocoa, coffee forward, nutty and biscuit middle tasting, earth, herbal and grassy hops.

Mouthfeel is lower/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, lower bitterness.

Overall an excellent english brown ale - maybe a little on the sweeter side, but solid malt depth through the aroma and flavor.
Dec 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Nov 26, 2023
Photo of ShrinerMcBitey
Reviewed by ShrinerMcBitey from Florida

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
First I think it’s a porter not a brown ale. Tastes of chocolate, malt, biscuity, smoke. The smoke is a bit too harsh and lingers. I won’t buy again but that doesn’t mean it’s not a quality product that many others will enjoy.
Nov 18, 2023
Photo of Griffin2
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia

3.79/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 16 oz can into a shaker pint glass.
L - Pours a dark brown with a slight khaki head.
S - Smells of coffee and chocolate.
T - Tastes of bakers chocolate, coffee and nuts.
F - Medium to full bodied with carbonation on the lighter side.
O - I've been meaning to try this one forever, but rarely run into cans. It's a very tasty brown ale, despite the weird label.
Nov 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by MJ64 from Mississippi

Oct 28, 2023
Photo of AdmiralOzone
Reviewed by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear deep dark brown with a reddish tint. Thick tan head leaves spotty lacing. Aroma is toasted caramel malt, roasted nuts, coffee and chocolate. Flavor follows the nose, a touch sweet up front. Feel is on the lighter side of medium bodied with ample carbonation. Overall, a fine brown ale with artwork on the odd side to say the least.
Aug 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Jul 30, 2023
 
Rated: 2.5 by AbeO

Dec 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.53 by MacStinson from Michigan

Nov 07, 2022
Photo of Dinglehacker
Reviewed by Dinglehacker from Wisconsin

4.49/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured tall can into shaker pint:

Look: Persistent creamy beige head, a surprisingly light, amber body.

Smell: Sweet nutty malts, cream.

Taste: Follows with a general roastiness, some suble hop spice. Roasted nuts as it warms.

Feel: Medium with a lil bit of carb bite.

If you prefer a more balanced, less hop forward brown from an American brewery, this is a decent example. Also, look at that art, man just l o o k.
Sep 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.08 by Curt3 from Ohio

Sep 09, 2022
 
Rated: 3.29 by petrusek23 from Ohio

Jul 05, 2022
Photo of Cdriver0414
Reviewed by Cdriver0414 from Kentucky

5/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
One of my all time favorite beers and definitely my favorite brown ale. Burnt toffee, chocolate, and caramel maltiness that is easy drinking yet packs a punch. Can't recommend this one enough
Mar 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by freewill35 from Indiana

Mar 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.57 by sirzekel from Georgia

Mar 14, 2022
Photo of ckaplanmd
Rated by ckaplanmd from New York

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
love the smooth dark chocolate taste and feel
Jan 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Nov 13, 2021
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
16oz can BBD 17/11/21 poured into a shaker pint at fridge temp 5.8% ABV. The beer pours bright light brown with chestnut highlights and light brown head. The head recedes to a thin ring and partial layer of bubbles. The aroma is mild with bittersweet chocolate and dark roasted coffee. The taste is bittersweet chocolate, dark roasted, nearly smokey, malt all with a slight tang. Mild to moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, tasty in all but the can art.
Nov 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.21 by JakerLou from New Hampshire

Nov 10, 2021
The Brown Note from Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 500 ratings