Rust and Ruin
Ghost Town Brewing

 

Ah, brown ales. I’m just not that into you. But a heavily hopped brown ale with cascade? Yes!

Pours clear, like a cola tinged tea. I’m getting a bit of a grapefruit forward note, with some underlining pine resin. There’s a drying finish on the end. Well done.

Picked up a single pint can.

Pours a deep brown in color with hints of amber and a two finger thick tan, foamy head with average retention. Plenty of lacing in th glass as you drink. Carbonation is hard to see but seems to be average when I swish the beer around in the glass. Typical look for the style, with a bit more lacing than usual.

Aroma is sweet, malty, nutty, yeasty, earthy with a fruity hoppiness to round it out. Again, classic aroma with a bit more hoppiness than usual.

Taste follows the aroma well. Sweet and malty up front with brown sugar, roasted malts and some nuttiness. Earthy, yeasty in the middle, and then the hops dominate with a pine and citrus bitterness towards the swallow and lingering on the tongue afterwards. Fairly balanced overall, though quite hoppy for the style, as advertised.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with subtle carbonation that provides some zest on the swallow. Slightly syrupy but not overly so. Definitely coats the tongue a bit. Fairly drinkable overall, but probably wouldn't want more than a few of these.

Fours across the board. A very solid brown ale with ample hoppiness, as advertised. An American take on the traditional style, I quite enjoyed it. Another solid offering from Ghost Town. I'd seek this one out again if I'm in the mood. Cheers!