Puffing Billy American Brown Ale w/Cacao Nibs
Around the Bend Beer Co.

Puffing Billy American Brown Ale w/Cacao NibsPuffing Billy American Brown Ale w/Cacao Nibs
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From:
Around the Bend Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #79
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,029
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 7.58%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
47
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 21, 2023
Added:
Mar 16, 2016
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  10
We love Browns. And you should too! Roasty malts and chocolaty flavors – what’s not to love? Ours is finished with cacao nibs to add another nuanced layer of bitterness and chocolate aroma to the already complex interplay of this well-balanced ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.84 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

May 21, 2023
Photo of NeutroMan
Reviewed by NeutroMan from Illinois

4.12/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can into a pint glass. Brown color with a nice eggshell tan head. Sweet nutty, chocolatey malt aroma. Chocolate dominates the flavor and is more sweet than bitter. Toasted, nutty malt rounds it out. Medium bodied and very creamy and pleasant. Somewhat high ABV for the style, but you'll enjoy sipping on this one.
Dec 22, 2022
 
Rated: 3.99 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Apr 08, 2022
 
Rated: 4.23 by stucat from Illinois

Mar 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.55 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Aug 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.15 by Archfiend from Illinois

Sep 28, 2020
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Rated by jrpapajcik from Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
At home, from a can.
Aug 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.27 by mpolewan from Ohio

Mar 14, 2020
Photo of DanBerliner
Reviewed by DanBerliner from Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Look: Pours very dark brown with a medium head. Not at all transparent.

Smell: Nutty malt, some chocolate and a bit of sourness

Taste: The characteristic nut flavor you want in a brown ale is the first thing you will notice. This flavor endures for a long time and has a slightly sour aftertaste. Notes of chocolate are present throughout.

Feel: The carbonation is about right and the feel is creamy like you expect out of a beer that pours this dark.

Overall: I thoroughly enjoyed this one down to the last sip. It brings everything you want in a brown ale and is very well balanced.
Feb 21, 2020
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

4.04/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12oz can into a tulip at 45 degrees,

Look: Pours a dark, almost black color with a good head.
Smell:Aroma of semi-sweet chocolate is predominent. Bitterness is pronounced and a pungent, sour aroma is present in the background.
Taste: Flavors of chocolate come forward and are the most forward aspect of this beer. Not too sweet, and appropriate for a dark ale. The alcohol is well balanced with the flavor.
Feel: Smooth, smooth, smooth. Heaviness is balanced with carbonation well and has a rather heavy, but not oily mouthfeel. The mouthfeel is just right for a beer of this flavor and strength.

Overall: This is a well made chocolate flavored brown ale. Not particularly my style, but it is well-crafted in both taste and mouthfeel. It is not overly sweet and the mouthfeel is just right. Around the Bend is one of the best breweries around and once again produces a quality product, even though this isn't a style I would drink regularly.
Feb 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Jotunsynth from Illinois

Feb 09, 2019
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Rated by ChefBrown from Ohio

3.49/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Tastes and smells like a well brewed brown ale. Only problem is you can taste the alcohol. Not blended well.
Feb 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.16 by shulmm02 from Ohio

Feb 03, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Nurt20 from Illinois

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.09 by StanleysCup from Maryland

Jan 21, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by seibertr from Ohio

Oct 29, 2018
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Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.11/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This very nice brown ale pours a
very dark brown mahogany with a thick head of khaki foam that
subsides to a thick foamy ring, thick clumping layer, and shows
some very impressive lacing. Nose of subtle cocoa, subtle coffee,
subtle char; lots of toasted malts and nutty malt notes. Flavors far
surpass the nose and expand even better with some warmth with
a lightly char touched nutty malt that is awash in mild lightly bitter
coffee, subtle vanilla, light smoke and tobacco, and subtle cocoa
flavors with nutty malts and a hint of herbal hops. Very nice mouth
feel; medium body, medium carbonation that is lively and refreshing,
and a well done toasted malt finish that is perfect for the colder
season or as a fine summer sipper.

Overall, a perfect brown and one of the best I have had to date
from this rather overlooked style.

Cheers
Oct 16, 2018
Photo of jeffdr123
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a can at Chicago Firehouse. Looked like Coke with a one-inch head. Roastier than most browns, balanced by sweet malt. The alcohol is stronger than I'd like. A good sipper.
May 06, 2018
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled 3/4/16; drank 8/6/16 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque dark brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a big tan head; a thick curtain of frothy lace.

Brown sugar, orange citrus & cream notes in the nose.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Mild brown sugar & cream flavors up front; faint hop bite on the finish.

Not super fresh; this was fading fast. Much better a few months earlier...
Feb 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by shacawgo24 from Illinois

Feb 09, 2018
Puffing Billy American Brown Ale w/Cacao Nibs from Around the Bend Beer Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 47 ratings