Brown Ales

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by fx20736, Mar 13, 2013.

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  1. GuzzLah

    GuzzLah Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2013 Illinois

    It's a good Monday beer and a terrible Friday beer.
     
  2. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,710) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    You don't drink anything other than porters and scotch ales?
     
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  3. mecummins

    mecummins Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2012 Illinois

    I actually find brown ales to work better with food pairing than porters. two of my favorites are NG Fat Squirrel and Smuttynose's Old Brown Dog
     
  4. tree777

    tree777 Zealot (547) Jun 2, 2012 Florida

    I used to not be such a fan of brown ales until I tried the Cigar City brown ales.... specifically cubano-style espresso brown ale.
     
  5. cw577enfield

    cw577enfield Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2013 Virginia

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  6. DarkDragon999

    DarkDragon999 Savant (1,147) Feb 13, 2013 Rhode Island

    I hate it when certain breweries heavily hop their brown ales.
     
  7. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    that wasn't my point but if you had 3 bottles of beer in front of you; a Brown Ale, a Porter and a Scotch Ale, when would you choose the Brown Ale over the other two? the few Brown Ales I have had were all very tasty but they are simple beers lacking in the complexity and layers of flavor in a good Porter.
     
  8. MetalMountainMastiff

    MetalMountainMastiff Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2012 California

    Brown ales.....WTF....really...W...T....F
     
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  9. GuzzLah

    GuzzLah Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2013 Illinois

  10. cw577enfield

    cw577enfield Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2013 Virginia

    I think we got trolled.
     
  11. sketchpunx

    sketchpunx Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2008 New York

    I only drink Smoked Sours and Utopias.
     
  12. Kendo

    Kendo Pooh-Bah (2,236) Dec 23, 2005 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I would choose the Brown Ale over the other two if it was a Brown I liked and, for whatever reason (e.g., I'm full, I'm eating food, it's hot outside and I want a quick quaffer), I was in the mood for the lightest malty beer of the three listed options. . . . I'm not a huge fan of Scotch Ales, and Porters can be too roasty in certain situations. A Brown (or an Octoberfest/Marzen or an Altbier) can be a nice alternative, particularly when food is in the picture.
     
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  13. MammaGoose

    MammaGoose Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2013 Wyoming

    I hate to use the word "boring" to describe styles like browns, ambers, blondes, etc. I'm honestly bored by most pale lagers that I try (but I keep trying them, because I know they're a subtle craft...I hope one day I'll get it). I would say those styles are mild, maybe but not always simple, straightforward, approachable, etc. "Boring" has a negative connotation, but I would say that many browns are boring. But not in a bad way.

    I like many browns. They're sessionable, lighter bodied, pleasing, I don't have to think too hard about the flavor. They're perfect for my sessionable, straightforward, drinkin'-without-thinkin' kind of beers in the Fall and Winter when I want something roasty instead of crisp and hoppy. In the Spring and Summer I'll toss back some pale ales or pilsners without thinking too hard about it. I don't always want a heavy stout or DIPA/IIPA.
     
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  14. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,710) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I can't answer that without knowing which brown ale, porter, and scotch we're talking about. But yes, I can think of a handful of brown ales I'd take over many beers.

    What more beyond your own admittance that they're tasty do you need for a reason to drink them? :astonished: I love "very tasty" beers.

    You must be talking about big porters. I've had plenty of porters that are no more complex than other browns, and there are browns that can easily be considered complex. But, why does every beer have to be complex with layers? Simple, clean, precise well made beers are also a thing of beauty.
     
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  15. BasterdInABasket

    BasterdInABasket Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2010 Wisconsin

    I'm not a big brown guy but Tumbler is a must for me to break into fall beers
     
  16. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    I guess the best analogy is this: I like meatloaf. My wife makes really good meatloaf. But if someone said, you have a choice between a meatloaf dinner and a Ribeye steak dinner, which would I chose? 9 times out of 10 I would probably choose the Ribeye. I feel that way about Brown Ale. I like it just fine. I bought a 6 pack of Goose Island Nut Brown Ale out of curiosity because I had not had it before and I have enjoyed most Goose Island beers. The Nut Brown was very tasty but if you put a Founder's Porter and a GI Nut Brown in front of me I would probably choose the Founder's 9 times out of 10.
     
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  17. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    Brown Ales go well with many types of comfort food, and the taste good
     
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  18. Mediczod

    Mediczod Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2012 New York

    In other words, why sleep with a brunette when there are blondes and redheads available?
     
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  19. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Savant (1,225) Mar 23, 2008 California

    I agree with you on that.
    But when that 1 out of 10 situation arises, nothing else will do.
     
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  20. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,710) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Even though you gave GI a higher score than the founders porter in your reviews (granted not by much)? Sounds like you just like porters better as a style. But replace that same scenario with one of the porters you scored much lower in your reviews and you have your answer to your original question.
     
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