Brown Ales

Just had my first Cigar City Maduro. Good beer but I have had better in the style and I look forward to them during the colder months

 

Forgot about that one. Maybe its being a sucker for oatmeal stouts and it carrying over to that, but I really really liked the CC Maduro Brown when I got to try it.

 

Definitely Rogue Hazelnut. I also never had Surly Bender, but I thought Coffee Bender was really good. When I got the 4pk I intended on trying one and having the rest on hand in the fridge for the occasional impulse grab...the 4pk did not last two days

 

My faves have all been mentioned (Pretty Things, Smuttynose, Avery, and the incomparable Samuel Smith's), except for Brekle's Brown by Anchor. Check it out if you haven't; it's a solid, flavorful brown which my palate takes to be full of berries and leather.

 

Sierra Nevada Tumbler was a good one.

 

No longer made, but Troegs Rugged Trail Brown Ale used to be one of my favorites. Very nice session ale.

 

Truly underrated style. I'd like to see it explored more by brewers. Cashew Mountain Brown was one of the best beers I've ever had!

 

Fully agree on Saint Botolph's, it's kick ass.

I enjoy Brooklyn Brown as well.

 

Not sure if it's been mentioned but Upslope's brown ale was fantastic IMO.

 

I agree, this is an underappreciated style.

That said, my top choices are Sierra Tumbler and Avery's Ellie's Brown. Other good ones are Rogue Hazelnut, Tyranena's Rocky's Revenge, and Kona's Koko Brown. Samuel Smith's Nut Brown for sure, but it's classified as a English Brown......so let's count it!

 

I'm a brown ale fan. Some of my favorites are...

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Sammy Smith Nut Brown
Brooklyn Brown
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
Pretty Things St. Rudolph

 

New Holland's Cabin Fever is a favorite of mine that I 1st tried last fall. Bell's Best Brown, I've had the cask version as well which I prefer to the solid bottled version. DFH, Indian Brown Ale, Brooklyn Brown, Sam Smith's Nut Brown, SN's Tumbler wow lots of solid choices...however, I'm in the minority w/Old Dog Brown, 1st and only Smuttynose that was a drain pour and I haven't been back since. Hoping it was a bad bottle as it was a single w/o a date if I remember right, my lowest rated beer on BA

 

I prefer to drink brown ales in the month of November but I picked up a tall can of Moat Mountain Bone Shaker yesterday and enjoyed it last night. Easily one of the best brown ales I've had.

Some of my other favorites are DFH Indian Brown, SN Tumbler, and Smuttynose Old Brown Dog.

 

My favorites are locals but one is avaliable outside of the state the first is New Glarus Fat Squirrel which is of course not avaliable outside of WI. Also I am a fan of Tyranena Rockys Revenge Bourbon Brown which is partially aged in barrels, and I believe avaliable in other states. Out of these 2 I do prefer the Tyranena offering the bourbon charachter while slight adds a good depth of flavor that works well in a low abv brown.

 

Cigar City Maduro Brown - the dryness of it is an interesting and welcome surprise
Cigar City Bolita Double Brown - mocha and tobacco leaf, so nice
Cigar City Improvisación Oatmeal Rye India-Style Brown - A really interesting journey through complexity
Nogne O Brown Ale - somewhat roasty backbone with a hint of chocolate
Nogne O Imperial Brown Ale - roasty, malt sweetness, bittersweet chocolate, nice
Kona Koko Brown - simultaneously dry and sweet like cocoa
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown - Classic, mild, accessible, toasty, buttery, caramelly, beautiful head

 

Beside some of the classics already mentioned, I'll add Wolaver's Brown and Hobgoblin.

 

Foothills brews a Bourbon aged barrel Brown that is tremendous, I think the guy said the used a Buffalo Trace barrel, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm not big on Browns by themselves, but this Bourbon thing is outstanding.

 

surly bender, surly mild, brooklyn brown are all great. need to try more browns.

 

Use to love browns. Over time my taste migrated two ways. Darker - stouts/porters and more hoppy - strong pales and good ipa's. Where did that come from??

 

I've treid many a good one but my heart will always belong to the long gone King and Barnes Brown Ale.