Brown Ale
Brooklyn Brewery
- From:
- Brooklyn Brewery
- New York, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
Ranked #350 - ABV:
- 5.6%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #34,609 - Avg:
- 3.63 | pDev: 12.4%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 989
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 02, 2026
- Added:
- Jun 10, 1998
- Wants:
- 78
- Gots:
- 415
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
This is the award-winning original American brown ale, first brewed as a holiday specialty, and now one of our most popular beers year-round. Northern English brown ales tend to be strong and dry, while southern English brown ales are milder and sweeter. Brooklyn Brown Ale combines the best of those classic styles and then adds an American accent in the form of a firm hop character and roasty palate. A blend of six malts, some of them roasted, give this beer its deep russet-brown color and complex malt flavor, fruity, smooth and rich, with a caramel, chocolate and coffee background. Generous late hopping brings forward a nice hop aroma to complete the picture. Brooklyn Brown Ale is full-flavored but retains a smoothness and easy drinkability that has made it one of the most popular dark beers in the Northeast.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mishmane:
Reviewed by Mishmane from Tennessee
4.08/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Full flavored, but not long lasting (in a good way). Pleasantly malty, mildly bitter. You’d be hard pressed to find a better winter time drinking beer. Would be perfectly at home consumed in large quantities amongst friends at a holiday gathering. I like it.
Dec 01, 2025More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.62/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.62/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Copenhagen 2/4 2015. 33 cl bottle from Føtex, Mimersgade, Kbh. NV. Red and brown version of Brooklyn Brewery's usual design.
Pours clear, reddish brown with an mid-sized off-white head. Stable. Settles as a thin layer of foam stretching to cover the surface of the beer.
Aroma is medium intense an pleasantly of caramel and roasted malts. Caramel, toffee and a sprinkle of citrus.
Soft carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, a bit smooth, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor follows the nose but supplemented by a bitter citric twist and a slightly weird burnt aftertaste.
By all means a fine Brown Ale.
Mar 16, 2026Pours clear, reddish brown with an mid-sized off-white head. Stable. Settles as a thin layer of foam stretching to cover the surface of the beer.
Aroma is medium intense an pleasantly of caramel and roasted malts. Caramel, toffee and a sprinkle of citrus.
Soft carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, a bit smooth, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor follows the nose but supplemented by a bitter citric twist and a slightly weird burnt aftertaste.
By all means a fine Brown Ale.
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio
3.83/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12-oz can well within its “Best By” date range into a Teku glass.
Look: Dark ruby brown, lots of bubbles rising, with a two-inch, light tan head with good retention and leaving some lacing.
Nose: Dark malt, cooked brown sugar, and just a hint of floral.
Taste: The attack follows the nose, only more strongly flavored. Some coffee flavor. The finish has a slight hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Fairly thin, adequate carbonation.
Overall: This is a solid American brown, and though there are one or two other in this style that I probably prefer, I'd be happy to order and drink this at any bar or restaurant and with any meal.
Jan 15, 2026Look: Dark ruby brown, lots of bubbles rising, with a two-inch, light tan head with good retention and leaving some lacing.
Nose: Dark malt, cooked brown sugar, and just a hint of floral.
Taste: The attack follows the nose, only more strongly flavored. Some coffee flavor. The finish has a slight hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Fairly thin, adequate carbonation.
Overall: This is a solid American brown, and though there are one or two other in this style that I probably prefer, I'd be happy to order and drink this at any bar or restaurant and with any meal.
Rated by CruzinCooler from New Jersey
3.5/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A decent brown ale with a slight sweetness and coffee flavor.
Dec 10, 2025Reviewed by Chocolatefreak from Tennessee
4.25/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Brooklyn Brown Ale is full-flavored but retains a smoothness and easy drinkability. I like the balance between the dryness & sweetness. I get an hint of chocolate on the back end. And the 5.6% ABV blends well with the full brown ale flavor. Overall, I would definitely recommend it.
Nov 07, 2025
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.68/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
RB transfer
Sep 20, 2025
Reviewed by jgido759 from New Jersey
3.24/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.24/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
12oz can poured into a pint glass. Medium brown, clear color, but not transparent with a 1 finger tan head that dissipates quickly with slight lacing. Aroma is roasty, brown bread. Taste follows the nose, with a bit of shoe leather (when cold) and a nutty malt as it warms. Medium body with mild carbonation. Overall, a nice, easy drinking brown.
Feb 09, 2025
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
3.78/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours clear caramel-brown with two fingers of sand-colored head. Slow, uneven dissipation gives way to thick, scuzzy lacing.
Cocoa, caramel, brown bread and carbon dioxide in the nose.
Shoe leather, bread crust, chocolate and a metallic note in the taste when cold. Light caramel and almond nougat join the party as it warms.
Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
A very easy-drinking, unobtrusive beer that pairs well with life.
Jan 19, 2025Cocoa, caramel, brown bread and carbon dioxide in the nose.
Shoe leather, bread crust, chocolate and a metallic note in the taste when cold. Light caramel and almond nougat join the party as it warms.
Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
A very easy-drinking, unobtrusive beer that pairs well with life.
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri
3.61/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.61/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown in color with excellent clarity. There’s a three quarter inch head of brown on top. The aroma is of caramel and fresh baked light bread. I taste caramel and lightly nutty malt. The mouth is light and easygoing.
Aug 18, 2024
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