Brown Ales: The Most Underappreciated Style?

Yes. To most they have no pizzaz. I have had one recently that stood out. Wet Dream by Evil Twin. It reminded me of the lower scores that the lager receives. Ithaca has a nice brown ale and Smuttynose makes a wonderful one in their Old Brown Dog. I have to admit I don't like them too hoppy like durty or with too much fruity character form yeast like brooklyn's. (that grapey stuff ) The one I mention, Wet dream did a lovely job of presenting a lightly hoppy brown but it was not in your face.

 

Ithaca has pretty good beer int eh grocery and in the shop I tell you. This was a nice surprise in a pint can. That's the other thing about this style. It goes fast.

 

A brown ale is all about the simple pleasures of something one could drink pint after pint, with no single element taking over or getting tiring; it's the 180 degree opposite of what this current beer culture is all about. The fact that the favorite "versions" are either imperialized, flavored or barrel aged only goes to further prove the point.

There are exceptions, however- Yards Brawler for example, fits the bill perfectly and sells well enough to boot.

 

Holy City has a great brown ale, Pecan Dream. Think of a creamy brown with a nutty pecan flavor. Good stuff and they can it!

 

Yes. I've recently fallen for Plough Monday's Organic Brown Ale - quickly becoming one of my favorites.

 

This review id 9 years old but still holds up.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/dining/24wine.html?_r=0

 

I've had lots of very good brown ales. Excellent ones in fact. But nothing truly exceptional. They're just always there, being good, while other stuff grabs the limelight.

 

Brown ales are one of my favorite styles, because the good ones have a lot of flavor and are usually quite drinkable with relatively low ABV. While I love a brown ale with flavor additions (Founders Sumatra and Port Board Meeting for coffee) often times these additions overpower the base flavor of the brown ale.

I do enjoy hoppy versions as well (I'd drink fresh DFH Indian Brown Ale all day long), but definitely prefer the less hoppy English styles.

Recently I had Newburgh's offering and I would say it is my favorite to date. Everything about it was great. 4.2%. Great flavor, smooth mouthfeel. Give it a shot if you can find it. Comes in 16!oz 4 packs around here.

 

+1 to the Newburgh! Very well made and even perfect for the summer weather. I was recently at a weekend getaway, and brought that beer, which fit in great with the outdoor activities and other beers as well.

 

It is a style I like but it is hard to find many options in that style. Two of my favorites are Ithaca's Nut Brown Ale and DFT Indian Brown.

 

I really like Smuttynose, SN Tumbler (I think it's a brown), Sam Smith Nut Brown, black hog Granola Brown, and Surly Bender. I think all of these are good brown ales. I also like Palo Santo and India Brown, but those are an extreme example of a brown ale made by dogfish.

 

Stop by The North next time they have French Kiss (French Toast Brown Ale).

 

My girlfriend is a fanatic for Brown Ales... definitely her favorite style, so I'm always on the lookout for something new to bring home to her. I'm a hop-head and have found some nice hoppy browns that make us both happy: Durty by Smuttynose is a local favorite. Indian Brown by Dogfish Head is a classic. Brownstone is one of Sixpoint's better offerings. And George by Hill Farmstead is delicious. Less hoppy, but supremely drinkable was Cigar City's Maduro.

 

I forgot about Palo Santo... I LOVE that and now need to go get some!

The North's French Kiss *is* good but they also have Grandma every once in awhile and that is really good.

 

I am a big fan of Rogue's "Hazelnut Brown Nectar" it tastes straight up like hazelnut flavored coffee to me. Yum.

 

Yeah, as OP stated there are no whales, that's the problem nowadays. As far as sessionable ales, you can't do much better than brown ales and ESBs. Unfortunately, now we have session IPAs and that's what sells so we see more of them than the classic session ales.

 

Wrath of Pele by Burnem Brewery is what got me into Brown Ales. To me a love at first sip. Not yet my favorite style, but I see them get rated/confused as a stout and or porter just due to color at times. To me it stands on its own and I'll keep exploring. SM Nut Brown is on my list to try but never seem to see it around here