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Indian Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- Delaware, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
Ranked #31 - ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,532 - Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 10.76%
- Reviews:
- 2,104
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 23, 2023
- Added:
- Aug 07, 2001
- Wants:
- 391
- Gots:
- 1,287
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding

Notes:
Also known as Indian Brown Dark IPA
Forget about the car companies, this is the original hybrid. A cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale and an American Brown, Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time (It's magical!).
The beer has characteristics of each style that inspired it: the color of an American Brown, the caramel notes of a Scotch Ale, and the hopping regiment of an India Pale Ale. We dry-hop the Indian Brown Ale in a similar fashion to our 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA. This beer is brewed with Aromatic barley and organic brown sugar.
50 IBU
Forget about the car companies, this is the original hybrid. A cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale and an American Brown, Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time (It's magical!).
The beer has characteristics of each style that inspired it: the color of an American Brown, the caramel notes of a Scotch Ale, and the hopping regiment of an India Pale Ale. We dry-hop the Indian Brown Ale in a similar fashion to our 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA. This beer is brewed with Aromatic barley and organic brown sugar.
50 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by eameslover from Michigan
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First time I had ever seen this style...Really good! No joke, I could taste a stout, an IPA (not a lot but some distinctive hops) and a good brown ale. Mostly the first and last but it wasn't entirely one if the aforementioned styles. I really enjoyed it
Apr 28, 2021Reviewed by Peach63 from New York
3.99/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
3.99/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours copper with a 1/2 inch creamy, tan head. Thick lacing, both lasting right to the end. Heavy carbonation.
Aroma is nutty, malty, slight brown sugar.
Tastes of nuts, brown sugar, roast malts, caramel malts, and coffee. Moderate bitterness.
Full bodied, creamy, fizzy mouthfeel.
A nice brown IPA. Great color and carbonation.
Oct 11, 2019Aroma is nutty, malty, slight brown sugar.
Tastes of nuts, brown sugar, roast malts, caramel malts, and coffee. Moderate bitterness.
Full bodied, creamy, fizzy mouthfeel.
A nice brown IPA. Great color and carbonation.
Reviewed by spectru from Florida
3.97/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very dark brown, translucent, not hazy at all, frothy light tan head, good retention, lacy; The aroma is slightly tangy with a hint of sweetness; Rich full bodied smooth flavor, slightly sweet; Mouthfeel is very smooth, almost thick, moderately carbonated; Tasty, pleasant, a good beer off the beaten path.
The label says Indian Brown Dark IPA, but it really doesn't taste like an IPA.
Aug 17, 2019The label says Indian Brown Dark IPA, but it really doesn't taste like an IPA.
Reviewed by travolta from California
3.38/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Very very dark brown, but ruby red up to the light. Off-white to cola head with a bit of spotted lacing and average retention.
Nose: Nutty, coffee and toffee. Lightly roasted coffee beans, brown sugar and some chocolate at the end.
Taste: Creamy but a little bit dry upfront. Not as malty as I assumed it would be. It is slightly dry and a bit like sucking on a lightly toasted coffee bean. Astringent throughout. I get an unpleasant bitterness from the hops. So much so that I switched glasses halfway through to make sure it wasn't my glass. My eyes and my nose wanted this to taste a certain way, but my mouth said otherwise. Mouthfeel is nice, but a tad watery.
Notes: I was excited for this one as Dogfish usually hits it out of the park (in my opinion). I think the hops being added to what should be a bit maltier brew throws this one off. It's a great idea, but doesn't know what it wants to be.
Aug 16, 2019Nose: Nutty, coffee and toffee. Lightly roasted coffee beans, brown sugar and some chocolate at the end.
Taste: Creamy but a little bit dry upfront. Not as malty as I assumed it would be. It is slightly dry and a bit like sucking on a lightly toasted coffee bean. Astringent throughout. I get an unpleasant bitterness from the hops. So much so that I switched glasses halfway through to make sure it wasn't my glass. My eyes and my nose wanted this to taste a certain way, but my mouth said otherwise. Mouthfeel is nice, but a tad watery.
Notes: I was excited for this one as Dogfish usually hits it out of the park (in my opinion). I think the hops being added to what should be a bit maltier brew throws this one off. It's a great idea, but doesn't know what it wants to be.
Reviewed by Dr_Gonzo from Kentucky
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a tall clear pint glass. Pours a lovely mahogany/ruby-brown color with a finger-thick tan head with decent retention and lacing. Glows faintly when held to the light.
Nutty notes are upfront in the aroma, along with coffee, toffee, molasses, caramel, hazelnuts, barley, roasted grains, brown sugar, toast, and chocolate. Complex dark aromas and sweet notes.
Dark cocoa, roasted nuts, barley, pine, and brown sugar are upfront on the palette. The rest of the notes follow. Medium-light body feel.
Jul 31, 2019Nutty notes are upfront in the aroma, along with coffee, toffee, molasses, caramel, hazelnuts, barley, roasted grains, brown sugar, toast, and chocolate. Complex dark aromas and sweet notes.
Dark cocoa, roasted nuts, barley, pine, and brown sugar are upfront on the palette. The rest of the notes follow. Medium-light body feel.
Rated by kjones6 from Virginia
4.41/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Great beer. Nothing to complain about.
May 16, 2019Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Brown hue.
Off-white head; frothy lace.
Nice coffee nose.
Creamy medium mouthfeel.
Creamy coffee & hazelnut flavor.
A delicious, flavorful brown ale.
Apr 22, 2019Off-white head; frothy lace.
Nice coffee nose.
Creamy medium mouthfeel.
Creamy coffee & hazelnut flavor.
A delicious, flavorful brown ale.
Indian Brown Ale from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
6278 ratings
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