AleSmith Nut Brown Ale | AleSmith Brewing Company
Brewed by:
AleSmith Brewing Company
California, United States
alesmith.com
Style: English Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Formerly known as Nautical Nut Brown Ale.
AleSmith Nut Brown is a tribute to one of our favorite British styles. Deep mahogany in color, its rich, malt forward flavor profile balances notes of biscuit, mild cocoa and earthy hops. A creamy mouthfeel and full body enhances its drinkability, making Nut Brown an extremely sessionable, ale that embodies our commitment to quality.
Added by Todd on 07-08-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 871 | Reviews: 252
4.56/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Originally known as "Nautical Nut Brown," and I miss that nameFar and away my favorite brown ale. I feel like brown's dont get enough love, particularly when in the company of some killer stouts and Belgian inspired concoctions, both of which Alesmith excels at. This beer has been my go-to for years and it never disappoints. Smooth, creamy and a perfect balance of sweet and roasty tones. Relatively low ABV make this a veritable session beer and Im 100% ok with that. Can't go wrong with Nut Brown and if you ever come across the barrel-aged variety - dont be a chump. Get it.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Originally known as "Nautical Nut Brown," and I miss that nameFar and away my favorite brown ale. I feel like brown's dont get enough love, particularly when in the company of some killer stouts and Belgian inspired concoctions, both of which Alesmith excels at. This beer has been my go-to for years and it never disappoints. Smooth, creamy and a perfect balance of sweet and roasty tones. Relatively low ABV make this a veritable session beer and Im 100% ok with that. Can't go wrong with Nut Brown and if you ever come across the barrel-aged variety - dont be a chump. Get it.
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4.5/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.08/5 rDev -22.8%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
From Miguel. In Teku glass. After dinner. Excellent nose, nutty all along, but pretty worse in mouth: less nuts, slight acidity, too much neutralish bitterness and bothering carbonated feel. Low on foam
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look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
From Miguel. In Teku glass. After dinner. Excellent nose, nutty all along, but pretty worse in mouth: less nuts, slight acidity, too much neutralish bitterness and bothering carbonated feel. Low on foam
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3.27/5 rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint at about 50 degrees as bottle suggests, also take in mind this beer is aged. How aged hard to say as no date is on bottle but stumbled upon it in a liquor store. Just got 1 bottle:
Pour is dark brown with a cream head along with smells of chocolatey malt.
Nutty, chocolatey taste that is watered down
Overall not a huge fan of this. Perhaps if it was fresher I may enjoy it better but not the first Alesmith to disappoint me. It is ok but nothing special.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint at about 50 degrees as bottle suggests, also take in mind this beer is aged. How aged hard to say as no date is on bottle but stumbled upon it in a liquor store. Just got 1 bottle:
Pour is dark brown with a cream head along with smells of chocolatey malt.
Nutty, chocolatey taste that is watered down
Overall not a huge fan of this. Perhaps if it was fresher I may enjoy it better but not the first Alesmith to disappoint me. It is ok but nothing special.
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3.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From within a Pretentious Beer Glass Company dimpled mug, a murky dark old copper brown beer looks back at me. A thin beige hat quickly dissipates, leaving slight lacing.
Strong malt is revealed through sweet roasted cashews and a background of cola. Warmth brings out a hint of caramel.
As expected, the balance in this beer is excellent. One perceives toffee and white bread throughout the session. The long mild finish is accented with cashews.
Modest carbonation lifts the silky smooth medium body.
In my opinion, this beer closely follows the style guide, but more importantly is an exquisite drinking beer for relaxation. This pairs well while watching sports and I imagine it would do equally well with lively conversation and friends. Thank you Meghann and Wayne.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From within a Pretentious Beer Glass Company dimpled mug, a murky dark old copper brown beer looks back at me. A thin beige hat quickly dissipates, leaving slight lacing.
Strong malt is revealed through sweet roasted cashews and a background of cola. Warmth brings out a hint of caramel.
As expected, the balance in this beer is excellent. One perceives toffee and white bread throughout the session. The long mild finish is accented with cashews.
Modest carbonation lifts the silky smooth medium body.
In my opinion, this beer closely follows the style guide, but more importantly is an exquisite drinking beer for relaxation. This pairs well while watching sports and I imagine it would do equally well with lively conversation and friends. Thank you Meghann and Wayne.
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3.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.92/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark reddish brown in color with a thick tan head that dissipates quickly into a thin one that sticks around. Smells faintly of hops and chocolate. Taste consist of chocolate, malt and a faint but noticeable hop and nut flavor. Not bad at all but not spectacular either, might buy again when I want a chocolate flavor but also a drink a bit more laid back than a porter.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark reddish brown in color with a thick tan head that dissipates quickly into a thin one that sticks around. Smells faintly of hops and chocolate. Taste consist of chocolate, malt and a faint but noticeable hop and nut flavor. Not bad at all but not spectacular either, might buy again when I want a chocolate flavor but also a drink a bit more laid back than a porter.
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3.88/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours exceedingly dark brown with near zero light penetrating it. A light tan head on top that drops quickly to a thin film.
Smell is heavily roasted, almost toasty with a whiff of char, nuts, a bit of hop, a faint hint of baking chocolate.
Taste is similar but the char is more noticeable. Nuts, a bit more of the hop breaking through.
Body is good, solidly medium, maybe a tick more. Carbonation prickles the tongue tip briefly then subsides. Hint of warmth, just barely.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours exceedingly dark brown with near zero light penetrating it. A light tan head on top that drops quickly to a thin film.
Smell is heavily roasted, almost toasty with a whiff of char, nuts, a bit of hop, a faint hint of baking chocolate.
Taste is similar but the char is more noticeable. Nuts, a bit more of the hop breaking through.
Body is good, solidly medium, maybe a tick more. Carbonation prickles the tongue tip briefly then subsides. Hint of warmth, just barely.
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3.87/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I don't see a date listed anywhere on the bottle. This is a 12 FL. OZ. bottle.
Appearance: The body is a dark brown color with just a hint of red as it is held up to the light. The head is very slim and it has a tobacco stained white color that forms a thin ring and a film across the surface.
Aroma: There is a nice, light chocolate cocoa aroma with a touch of hazelnut. It has a slightly toasty aroma to it which can be picked up before approaching the glass.
Taste: Up front a chocolate flavor is clearly present. This is shortly joined by a nice, slightly sweet, caramel and toffee flavor. Right after this is a bit of a stronger coffee flavor which piggybacks right off of the toffee flavor. The finish is slightly nutty.
Mouthfeel: It feels a tad over-carbonated and at right at the finish it feels a bit thin. the body is pretty light.
Overall: This would be a nice beer to drink during the crisp Autumn weather. I would drink it again, especially as the leaves are beginning to turn and things are starting to get a bit cooler. Although it is a bit lacking in body I would still recommend the beer overall. The drinking experience of this beer is very enjoyable.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I don't see a date listed anywhere on the bottle. This is a 12 FL. OZ. bottle.
Appearance: The body is a dark brown color with just a hint of red as it is held up to the light. The head is very slim and it has a tobacco stained white color that forms a thin ring and a film across the surface.
Aroma: There is a nice, light chocolate cocoa aroma with a touch of hazelnut. It has a slightly toasty aroma to it which can be picked up before approaching the glass.
Taste: Up front a chocolate flavor is clearly present. This is shortly joined by a nice, slightly sweet, caramel and toffee flavor. Right after this is a bit of a stronger coffee flavor which piggybacks right off of the toffee flavor. The finish is slightly nutty.
Mouthfeel: It feels a tad over-carbonated and at right at the finish it feels a bit thin. the body is pretty light.
Overall: This would be a nice beer to drink during the crisp Autumn weather. I would drink it again, especially as the leaves are beginning to turn and things are starting to get a bit cooler. Although it is a bit lacking in body I would still recommend the beer overall. The drinking experience of this beer is very enjoyable.
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4.3/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown with a ruby tinge when held to the light. Moderate carbonation and 1 finger of beige head.
Smells of nuts like walnuts and almonds, cocoa, Munich hops, slightly sweet and coke like.
Dark toasted notes, very nutty, bready and biscuit, Munich hops, long, bready finish that lingers.
Light body, moderate carbonation.
Got from Bangkok, drinking in Chiang Mai, June 27th, 2017. Great example of the style with a long, savourable finish.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown with a ruby tinge when held to the light. Moderate carbonation and 1 finger of beige head.
Smells of nuts like walnuts and almonds, cocoa, Munich hops, slightly sweet and coke like.
Dark toasted notes, very nutty, bready and biscuit, Munich hops, long, bready finish that lingers.
Light body, moderate carbonation.
Got from Bangkok, drinking in Chiang Mai, June 27th, 2017. Great example of the style with a long, savourable finish.
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3.81/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a brown that lets ruby light through and a small head. Smells of nuts, roasted malt, and chocolate. Tastes of nuts, roasted malt, light chocolate, and maybe a little light coffee. Medium in body and light in carbonation. Overall it's a good beer, just a little light in flavor.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a brown that lets ruby light through and a small head. Smells of nuts, roasted malt, and chocolate. Tastes of nuts, roasted malt, light chocolate, and maybe a little light coffee. Medium in body and light in carbonation. Overall it's a good beer, just a little light in flavor.
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4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle poured into a BarrelHouse Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours chestnut brown with a frothy light brown head that settles to a firm layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Roasty toasty malt, soft cocoa, a hint of coffee, nutty, earthy, and a little toffee sweetness.
T: Roasty toasty malt, mild coffee, cocoa, and a hint burnt toast, nutty, earthy, faint fruity notes, and a touch of toffee sweetness.
M: Medium to full body, moderate carbonation, creamy smooth.
O: Why am I only just drinking this now? Really nice brown ale, right in my wheelhouse.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle poured into a BarrelHouse Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours chestnut brown with a frothy light brown head that settles to a firm layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Roasty toasty malt, soft cocoa, a hint of coffee, nutty, earthy, and a little toffee sweetness.
T: Roasty toasty malt, mild coffee, cocoa, and a hint burnt toast, nutty, earthy, faint fruity notes, and a touch of toffee sweetness.
M: Medium to full body, moderate carbonation, creamy smooth.
O: Why am I only just drinking this now? Really nice brown ale, right in my wheelhouse.
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4.24/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This was poured into a pint glass. The appearance was a dark ruddy brown color with a one finger off white foamy head that dissipated within about a minute and a half but even after dissipation it still left a nice looking concave to valley-like looking cap of a wake of a head. Lacing moderately streamed itself around the glass. The smell started with some sweet and roasty nuts and entered into some nice light cocoa and coffee bitterness. The taste was moderately sweet through the nuts and the cocoa allowing to blend into the full flavor. There’s a slight lingering semi-sweet to roasty maltiness running into the aftertaste and finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a really nice sessionability about it. Carbonation runs pretty light. Overall, as an English-styled brown ale, Alesmith did exactly what they wanted to with this one.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This was poured into a pint glass. The appearance was a dark ruddy brown color with a one finger off white foamy head that dissipated within about a minute and a half but even after dissipation it still left a nice looking concave to valley-like looking cap of a wake of a head. Lacing moderately streamed itself around the glass. The smell started with some sweet and roasty nuts and entered into some nice light cocoa and coffee bitterness. The taste was moderately sweet through the nuts and the cocoa allowing to blend into the full flavor. There’s a slight lingering semi-sweet to roasty maltiness running into the aftertaste and finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a really nice sessionability about it. Carbonation runs pretty light. Overall, as an English-styled brown ale, Alesmith did exactly what they wanted to with this one.
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4.5/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I like how this brown is not so sweet. Better than magnolia pecan.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I like how this brown is not so sweet. Better than magnolia pecan.
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4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a solid brown with hints of mahogany. A thin frothy film soon disapates. Not much by way of head retention or lace presence, however, I'm assuming that's common to the style.
In the aroma there is a cocoa sweetness, light roasted malts and an assortment of nuts such as peanuts (they add a salty quality) pecans and cashews. A toasted malt presence is prevalent throughout.
In the mouth it is smooth and silky, making for a very drinkable brew. This is a malt forward drink that coats the mouth with toasted malts, nutty qualities, hints of cocoa, light roast and a moderate and understated sweetness. There is a touch of earthy and dry tea leaf like hops bitterness that balances things off quite nicely. The finish is surprisingly zesty, even tart. The body is medium and the carbonation is gentle.
A nice example of an English Brown Ale. Elegantly simple, smooth and easy to drink. The low ABV makes it sessionable.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a solid brown with hints of mahogany. A thin frothy film soon disapates. Not much by way of head retention or lace presence, however, I'm assuming that's common to the style.
In the aroma there is a cocoa sweetness, light roasted malts and an assortment of nuts such as peanuts (they add a salty quality) pecans and cashews. A toasted malt presence is prevalent throughout.
In the mouth it is smooth and silky, making for a very drinkable brew. This is a malt forward drink that coats the mouth with toasted malts, nutty qualities, hints of cocoa, light roast and a moderate and understated sweetness. There is a touch of earthy and dry tea leaf like hops bitterness that balances things off quite nicely. The finish is surprisingly zesty, even tart. The body is medium and the carbonation is gentle.
A nice example of an English Brown Ale. Elegantly simple, smooth and easy to drink. The low ABV makes it sessionable.
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AleSmith Nut Brown Ale from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating:
84.2% out of
100 with
871 ratings
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a delightful brown blush with some red accents, kind of like sipping that last bit of coffee as it gets transparent to the eye. The head is 1/2 finger and fluffy.
Aromas of freshly ground coffee, chocolate, and cashews. A heavy presence of Baird's Crisp Chocolate malts.
Flavor is incredibly balanced - sweet but not too sweet, earthy but not too earthy, dry but not too dry. Dark brown grains make up most of the base flavor, with nut, cashew, soy, pot coffee, and cocoa nibs. Acidic throughout. Well-done toast on the finish with some accentuated dryness.
Feel seeps into the tongue while buzzing on top, soaking into your tongue as if it were a sponge, and drying fast with roast and toast, acidity lingering along with the now louder dry profile as it finishes.
Overall, I loved this beer the first time I had it, and I love it still. It's a fabulous nut brown with tons of strengths and very little to be critical about. Possibly the best non-barrel aged Brown Ale in the states.
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