MaXXimus Brown
Grist Iron Brewing Company

On draught at the brewery. Nice brown pour, thin soft head.
Caramelized malt, earthy cocoa & hazelnut, nice mild bitterness, a little carbonation bite on the finish.
An enjoyable Brown Ale.

Taster at FLOT. Dark brown, silky beige head, solid lacing. Big chocolate aroma, light roastiness. More chocolate in the taste, smooth sweet, chocolate syrup. Did I mention chocolate?

 

 

12 oz can, no date

pours a very dark brown, with creamy tan head. very nice aroma of coffee roast and rich caramel. similar flavor, but not very sweet, which is good. medium to full bodied, pretty smooth. Overall this is a very enjoyable brown ale.

L: dark, dark solid brown (almost porter colored) with a short khaki head that quickly dissolves into a ring

S: mild chocolate brownie with nuts and weak coffee. The chocolate and coffee notes get stronger as it warms.

T: malted milk balls while drinking a cup of coffee with a splash of Frangelico. The malt chocolate and hazelnuts grow stronger as the beer warms.

F: rich and smooth with very little carbonation. Dark chocolate at the front with a dry finish and a nice sweet/bitter aftertaste

O: very, very good. The toasted malt, coffee, chocolate, and hazelnut flavors are perfectly balanced. Maxximus is easily on par with Founders' Frangelic Mountain

Opaque dark, dark brown, with 3 fingers of tan head, that leaves 1/2" of spotty lacing.

Smells like chocolate cake batter, but better and less sweet. Some nutty/woody/earthy aroma also present.

Taste is brownies, but less sweet, with a slight woody/nutty note on the latter half. Moderate, lingering bitterness. Slight chocolate syrup note (- again, less sweet) lingers after finish, along with faint a bitter herbal note (hops ;) ) .
As it warms (& I warm -4th beer of the afternoon ;) ) , I get a faint coffee+cola impression lingering after finish.

Feel is medium, lightly slick/syrupy, but with enough fine carbonation + bite to keep this easy-drinking, and not heavy or "cloying" .

Overall, a wonderful brown ale. I've had 2 or 3 of Grist Iron's (collaborative? - been awhile) IPAs, & liked them, but this is a notch or 3 above those. :) Just got a single, but will be going back, looking for more.

12 oz can poured into a tulip pint glass. Pours very dark for a brown ale. Aroma and flavor punch you in the face with hazelnut, chocolate, and then some cloyingly sweet Nutella for good measure. Overall I love the hazelnut but it's too sweet to make me want another.

Pours dark brown. Big tan foam. Sweet malt aroma. Big roasted malt body. Chocolate and burnt coffee. Slight sweet finish. A very good brown ale.

 

 

Pours a dark muddy brown with a tan head, little retention.

Smells of dark fruit, hearty bread, nutty malt, and chocolate.

Taste is malt whole grain bread with a nice nutty follow up ending with strong chocolate notes. Drinks almost like an Imperial Stout.

 

On tap at the brewery. Pours dark brown with a thin white head that fades. Smell is fruity and roasted caramel. Taste is on the sweet side, almost figgy, and has a medium roast flavor. Feel is good with a nice mouthfeel. Overall a decent brown ale.

 

 

 

11/19/16...pours deep dark brown, almost black. Light off white foam layer. Woodsy nutty nose. Oaky at times. Sweet nutty open with an oak backed flavor. Hints of chocolate, coffee, hazelnuts. Punchy bitter 3/4th of the way through. Heavy handed from the big can.