Brown
The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe and Brewery

 

not a whole lot going on here, i think a lot of the beer is pretty safe right now in this place, but a serviceable brown ale that drinks nice as a first beer of the day kind of sipper. its a little sweet and a little less carbonated than i want in the style, but it has quite a lot of flavor for not getting much from either hops or yeast, surprising in that way, but i like it. notes of melting chocolate and molasses to it, some rich amber malt type character too, toffee and toasted something, sugary for sure, brown sugar even, but just enough of the darker barley for this to seem balanced on each sip. fuller bodied for the low alcohol, which with all the leftover sugar gives me the impression that the fermentation might be somewhat incomplete, but i like the flavors anyway, almost like taking a pull of wort right from the mash ton, at least a little bit. i dont mind basic beer when it still has something worthwhile to offer, and i believe this one does. still waiting for something truly special from these guys, but this will hold me over just fine until then...