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Moose Drool Brown Ale
Big Sky Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Big Sky Brewing Company
- Montana, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
Ranked #237 - ABV:
- 5.1%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #24,640 - Avg:
- 3.7 | pDev: 13.24%
- Reviews:
- 966
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Tuesday at 12:43 AM
- Added:
- Dec 16, 2001
- Wants:
- 141
- Gots:
- 552
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good


Notes:
It's chocolate brown in color with a creamy texture. A malty beer with just enough hop presence to keep it from being too sweet. The aroma mostly comes from the malt with a hint of spice added by the hops. Moose Drool is brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate, and whole black malts; and Kent Goldings, Liberty, and Willamette hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Rsa88 from Missouri
4.16/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
My go to beer in the winter it's just heavy enough to enjoy without filling you up. Just a very solid brown ale that you can drink when you get home from work and kick your feet up.
Dec 30, 2022Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois
3.68/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
19.2oz can
date stamp says 084225
L: cola color with a frothy khaki head
S: caramel, brown sugar, grain, chocolate
T: caramelized grain, bread crust, chocolate malt, brown sugar, earthy hops
F: medium body, moderate carbonation, balanced finish
O: it’s been over a decade since I had this one. It’s nice to come back to it and give it an official review
Dec 27, 2022date stamp says 084225
L: cola color with a frothy khaki head
S: caramel, brown sugar, grain, chocolate
T: caramelized grain, bread crust, chocolate malt, brown sugar, earthy hops
F: medium body, moderate carbonation, balanced finish
O: it’s been over a decade since I had this one. It’s nice to come back to it and give it an official review
Rated by MadMadMike from Florida
3.68/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Just a nice little Brown Ale.
Sep 16, 2022Rated by bubseymour from Maryland
4.44/5 rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A very smooth, sweet yet light brown ale. Hops are very light on this one. No roast either. Great seasionable Brown Ale as well.
Aug 05, 2022Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
3.67/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
12oz can stamped 243212 poured into a perfect pint glass at just above fridge temp 5% ABV per can. The beer pours light brown to chestnut in color with medium brown head. The head recedes to a thick ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is mild with nutty, cocoa like malt. The taste is mild as well with cocoa up front and a barely tangy and earthy finish. Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good. Nothing unpleasant, just not a lot going on.
May 17, 2022Reviewed by laketang from Arizona
3.93/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep root beer like brown and head isn't real full but there.
Coffee roast-like aroma leads the smells.
Spicy edge and roasty flavors like some semi-sweet chocolate.
Bitter edge and not too long a finish.
Drink while eating some smoked baby backs.
Apr 15, 2022Coffee roast-like aroma leads the smells.
Spicy edge and roasty flavors like some semi-sweet chocolate.
Bitter edge and not too long a finish.
Drink while eating some smoked baby backs.
Reviewed by maltmaggot from California
4.05/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
Aspect: clear brown/caramel
Smell: caramel/nuts/bread/stone fruit
Taste: dry grains/subtle hops/black tea/apricots
Texture: medium to full bodied punctuated by adequate co2
Over all I'm pleasantly surprised at the fruitiness of this beer. Ostensibly speaking, it's a different take on a formula that's fairly standard. I will make a mental note of this one to revisit later on.
Apr 12, 2022Smell: caramel/nuts/bread/stone fruit
Taste: dry grains/subtle hops/black tea/apricots
Texture: medium to full bodied punctuated by adequate co2
Over all I'm pleasantly surprised at the fruitiness of this beer. Ostensibly speaking, it's a different take on a formula that's fairly standard. I will make a mental note of this one to revisit later on.
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado
3.87/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12oz can into a pint.
Poured pretty hard made a 2+ finger khaki brown head that stuck around for about 10 minutes before fading to a thin layer on top. Some lacing. No haze when held up to the light, but on the table it's dark brown blocks enough light that you can't really see through it. Despite that it is definitely a dark woody brown perhaps a mahogany.
Smell has a lot of fermentation going on, maybe a bit off but the malts and some hops still shine through with caramel toffee notes. A bit too fruity to be chocolatey but it's got promise.
The taste follows the nose pretty closely, but the fruity flavors from the yeast hit right at the front. They then fade to a traditional fermentation flavor with a hint of alcohol and those caramel-y malts with a very slight bitterness from hops. Not too heavy and a pretty classic brown ale. Easy to put down and a malt showcase. Nutty notes throughout.
The feel is nice and substantial without being too heavy. You definitely feel it's presence with each sip and it sticks around for a bit but the taste is just overall quite nice and lends to drinking more. Carbonation with the head retention makes for a nice creamy mouthfeel as well.
Overall a very nice classic malty brown ale. Could be more interesting I suppose or more hoppy, but sometimes it's nice to know you have the option of a nice malty easy drinking year round American brown ale.
Feb 11, 2022Poured pretty hard made a 2+ finger khaki brown head that stuck around for about 10 minutes before fading to a thin layer on top. Some lacing. No haze when held up to the light, but on the table it's dark brown blocks enough light that you can't really see through it. Despite that it is definitely a dark woody brown perhaps a mahogany.
Smell has a lot of fermentation going on, maybe a bit off but the malts and some hops still shine through with caramel toffee notes. A bit too fruity to be chocolatey but it's got promise.
The taste follows the nose pretty closely, but the fruity flavors from the yeast hit right at the front. They then fade to a traditional fermentation flavor with a hint of alcohol and those caramel-y malts with a very slight bitterness from hops. Not too heavy and a pretty classic brown ale. Easy to put down and a malt showcase. Nutty notes throughout.
The feel is nice and substantial without being too heavy. You definitely feel it's presence with each sip and it sticks around for a bit but the taste is just overall quite nice and lends to drinking more. Carbonation with the head retention makes for a nice creamy mouthfeel as well.
Overall a very nice classic malty brown ale. Could be more interesting I suppose or more hoppy, but sometimes it's nice to know you have the option of a nice malty easy drinking year round American brown ale.
Rated by Tacticaly_beerducated from Oregon
4.48/5 rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Great crisp, nutty brown with lovely lacing. excited the tongue.
easy drinkability. Big fan.
Jan 25, 2022easy drinkability. Big fan.
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4.25/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
(12 oz can, 307214; purchased cold six pack at Total Wine at the mall, Tucson... poured into a 16 oz nonic)
L: clear, light chestnut-brown liquid; almost a sturdy foam stand on the pour, but it quickly recedes to a this, receding cap
S: ideal brown ale aromas?: nutty, woody, cookie-ish, delicately leathery, hint of floral hop/ester; quite inviting... only thing holding it back is its muffled intensity
T: subtle roasted (med-dark) grain introduction, with it opening up, developing more (cocoa-covered) nutty, grainy character through the finish... aftertaste is subtle, relatively dry; chocolate-covered roasted almond... vague cidery, green grassy accents hanging at the back of the palate... wonderfully bottom-cut, hearthy and dry, but perhaps could benefit from a touch of contrasting, underlying sweetness
F: delicately-glassy envelope around a remarkably-light, tightly-hewn body... just the right amount of background alcohol fuel... just dangerously quiet and quaff-tastic
O: finally!!! I've known about this for, dang, well over a decade and, not being a trader, never seen or tried this until this week... this was the second can I tried from the pack, but first one at the ideal temp... this is what a brown ale should be: dry, nutty, roasty - not desserty sweet... this would be in my regular rotation, had I regular access (1848)
Jan 02, 2022L: clear, light chestnut-brown liquid; almost a sturdy foam stand on the pour, but it quickly recedes to a this, receding cap
S: ideal brown ale aromas?: nutty, woody, cookie-ish, delicately leathery, hint of floral hop/ester; quite inviting... only thing holding it back is its muffled intensity
T: subtle roasted (med-dark) grain introduction, with it opening up, developing more (cocoa-covered) nutty, grainy character through the finish... aftertaste is subtle, relatively dry; chocolate-covered roasted almond... vague cidery, green grassy accents hanging at the back of the palate... wonderfully bottom-cut, hearthy and dry, but perhaps could benefit from a touch of contrasting, underlying sweetness
F: delicately-glassy envelope around a remarkably-light, tightly-hewn body... just the right amount of background alcohol fuel... just dangerously quiet and quaff-tastic
O: finally!!! I've known about this for, dang, well over a decade and, not being a trader, never seen or tried this until this week... this was the second can I tried from the pack, but first one at the ideal temp... this is what a brown ale should be: dry, nutty, roasty - not desserty sweet... this would be in my regular rotation, had I regular access (1848)
Reviewed by wattoclone from California
4.55/5 rDev +23%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
4.55/5 rDev +23%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
As a fan of german dark ales, like this alot. Not super rich, which is a good thing, but plenty of chocolate with a hint of pine needles. On a par with Erdinger Dunkelweizen with more flavor and complexity.
Dec 10, 2021Rated by PaulyWalnuts
4.73/5 rDev +27.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.73/5 rDev +27.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Favorite brown ale!
Oct 28, 2021Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois
3.51/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a bark brown with a nice khaki head that left a nicely laced glass. Nose gets some caramel, chocolate, coffee, malts and a hit of some hops. Taste follows the aroma. This seemed thin for the style. I thought I'd like this more than I did.
Oct 27, 2021Rated by Mugman8 from New York
3.98/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Nice nutty brown ale that I am enjoying on a camping trip.
Malty and slightly sweet, finish is smooth and creamy. A very good brown ale.
Oct 18, 2021Malty and slightly sweet, finish is smooth and creamy. A very good brown ale.
Reviewed by gandres from Philippines
3.52/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thursday, July 29, 2021 5:03 PM
12 Fl Oz can poured to tulip glass
Sight: dark reddish brown color, appears clear, small tan foam, some lacing
Smell: Malty aroma
Taste: very good, balance; medium sweetness, medium bitterness
Mouthfeel: medium body, thin feel, good carbonation, long finish, bitter aftertaste
Very good beer, ok to repeat, but not something to look for BA RB
Jul 30, 202112 Fl Oz can poured to tulip glass
Sight: dark reddish brown color, appears clear, small tan foam, some lacing
Smell: Malty aroma
Taste: very good, balance; medium sweetness, medium bitterness
Mouthfeel: medium body, thin feel, good carbonation, long finish, bitter aftertaste
Very good beer, ok to repeat, but not something to look for BA RB
Reviewed by Singlefinpin from North Carolina
4.17/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Drinking this at Yellowstone Park.
Poured from a 16 ounce can into a pint glass.
Looks dark brown almost black with a nice foamy tan head that lasted.
Smells caramel, chocolate, spicy.
Taste follows the nose nicely, the malty Sweetness backs down and it becomes hop spicy as you drink it.
Mouth feel is medium for a brown ale.
Overall one of the best brown ales I've had.
I would definitely buy again and would love to try it on tap.
Maybe next time I'm in Wyoming.
Cheers!
Jul 18, 2021Poured from a 16 ounce can into a pint glass.
Looks dark brown almost black with a nice foamy tan head that lasted.
Smells caramel, chocolate, spicy.
Taste follows the nose nicely, the malty Sweetness backs down and it becomes hop spicy as you drink it.
Mouth feel is medium for a brown ale.
Overall one of the best brown ales I've had.
I would definitely buy again and would love to try it on tap.
Maybe next time I'm in Wyoming.
Cheers!
Reviewed by Danieljm from Missouri
3.83/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a can into pint glass. Pours a dark light chocolate color with a small head which has some lacings down the glass.
Aroma: The aroma has sweetness with caramel, a bit of chocolate with some toasty notes
Taste: Has a nice blended malty taste which hits you first with some sweetness, but the sweetness is short lived as the hops back evens it out to a nice dry finish.
Overall: Been some time since I had this beer, so it was nice to try again. For a brown ale, this one has a nice hoppy finish which does not overpower the nice malty blend, but has enough to take out the sweet aftertaste. The right brown ale for hop lovers
May 31, 2021Aroma: The aroma has sweetness with caramel, a bit of chocolate with some toasty notes
Taste: Has a nice blended malty taste which hits you first with some sweetness, but the sweetness is short lived as the hops back evens it out to a nice dry finish.
Overall: Been some time since I had this beer, so it was nice to try again. For a brown ale, this one has a nice hoppy finish which does not overpower the nice malty blend, but has enough to take out the sweet aftertaste. The right brown ale for hop lovers
Reviewed by IPAs_for_days_13 from Texas
4.19/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.19/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a true brown in color with a super tall tan head with great retention. Smells rich of toasty malts, very nutty, slight floral hops presence. Follows the nose, this is exactly how I think brown ales should taste, IMHO... medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, silky, clean, soft. Might be a little bias, but this is my favorite brown ale.
May 29, 2021Reviewed by Sayb from Arizona
3.46/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: Dark red/brown , thin head dissipates very quickly .
S: Toasted malt , caramel and a hint of coffee .
T: Follows the aroma with maybe a wee bit of brown sugar . No bitterness.
F: Smooth , refreshing .
O: Not a bad brew . Nice to relax with on the back porch after a hot day .
Apr 03, 2021S: Toasted malt , caramel and a hint of coffee .
T: Follows the aroma with maybe a wee bit of brown sugar . No bitterness.
F: Smooth , refreshing .
O: Not a bad brew . Nice to relax with on the back porch after a hot day .
Rated by davidward from Florida
3/5 rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A decent brown ale.
Mar 08, 2021
Moose Drool Brown Ale from Big Sky Brewing Company
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
2905 ratings
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