Southern Brown/Northern Brown Comparisons

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BethanyB, Jul 12, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. BethanyB

    BethanyB Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2013 New York

    Going on a tasting spree these next few months for my BJCP tasting exam in October. I'm having some trouble finding strong commercial examples of English brown ales for comparison. Not sure if it would help to post to my local board to see what's easy to find in the NYC Metro area...figured I'd try the masses first.

    I think the Southern is going to be more difficult to find. I don't think I've actually had a good example of one. Dying breed, or do I just not know what I'm looking for? Is it helpful to taste these specific styles side-by-side, do you think?

    As for Northern, please tell me there is a better "hits-the-nail-on-the-head" example out there other than Newcastle. Because if there isn't, I might end up giving high points to a brown glass of water if I end up tasting a supposed Northern Brown Ale (okay, that was mean and a gross exaggeration. I promise to be positive on my scoresheets, and to learn to pay Newcastle the respect it once deserved).
     
  2. Thads324

    Thads324 Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Connecticut

    Sam smith but brown for sure. Not too sure about the availability of any northern ones. Maybe Harvey's? Best of luck
     
    SenorHops likes this.
  3. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    You're bound to find styles that don't fit your own personal tastes in your quest to become a sanctified pigeon-holing beer judge, so please try to refrain from knocking brown ales until you have had some decent ones. In before marquis--the northern/southern schism does not actually exist, but since you are attempting to turn your natural tendency toward appreciation along a spectrum into acceptance or denial along a series of points, I would start with the examples that are given by your sanctifying body under each 'style' heading, although they are not very good suggestions. Good luck?
     
  4. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (2,084) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah

    Harvey's and Mann's are the only two I can think of that fit the putative "Southern Brown Ale" style.
     
  5. smartassboiler

    smartassboiler Pooh-Bah (2,518) Apr 9, 2012 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader


    That sounds like it tastes crappy.
     
    Christopper, SenorHops and jmw like this.
  6. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,915) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Do you think its infected???
     
  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    The BJCP style guidelines instruct you on which commercial beers you should be trying.

    Northern English Brown Ale: Newcastle Brown Ale, Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, Riggwelter Yorkshire Ale, Wychwood Hobgoblin, Tröegs Rugged Trail Ale, Alesmith Nautical Nut Brown Ale, Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale, Goose Island Nut Brown Ale, Samuel Adams Brown Ale

    Southern English Brown Ale: Mann's Brown Ale (bottled, but not available in the US), Harvey’s Nut Brown Ale, Woodeforde’s Norfolk Nog

    Cheers!
     
  8. kdb150

    kdb150 Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2012 Pennsylvania

    There aren't many (any?) good commercial American-made English Browns out there. I've resorted to making my own.
     
  9. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I haven’t had a chance to try it yet but Avery Ellie's Brown Ale should reads like it is a tasty beer.

    Cheers!
     
    dar482 likes this.
  10. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    Actually the Avery mentioned above is fairly good, as is the Tröegs. The GI leans toward syrupy. Never seen the SA offering.
     
  11. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Try the Alesmith mentioned in the post above yours. PA gets "limited/regional" distribution. It's great. Ditto for Pretty Things' Saint Botolph's Town, but it's more unusual.
     
  12. bleakies

    bleakies Maven (1,355) Apr 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    So is the north/south distinction in English browns pure contrivance or is there any substance to it? The two you listed seem to be the two I invariably see listed for southern examples, and two beers don't make for a very robust regional distinction.
     
    BethanyB likes this.
  13. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Me neither. It's listed as retired here.
     
  14. SenorHops

    SenorHops Initiate (0) Aug 10, 2010 Rhode Island

    I didn't catch that at first. Haha!
     
  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    “So is the north/south distinction in English browns pure contrivance or is there any substance to it?” The principle characteristics which distinguishe a Southern Brown Ale from a Northern Brown Ale is that they tend to be sweeter, a bit darker and they are lower in alcohol (less than 4.2% ABV).

    There are likely to be some posts from British BAs concerning the above but the two styles are clearly defined within the BJCP style guidelines and the OP queried on this topic specifically within the context of getting ready for the BJCP exam.

    Cheers!
     
  16. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (2,084) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah

    Made up by Michael Jackson in the 1970's.

    There were, generally speaking, at least two different variations on Brown Ale: one that was tweaked Dark Mild and one that was closer to a Burton. Brown Ale (or Single Brown Ale) and Double Brown Ale would be more accurate and historically valid than Souther n and Northern.

    For a few decades Whitbread brewed Brown Ales of both types. And their brewery was in London, definitely in the South.
     
  17. kdb150

    kdb150 Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2012 Pennsylvania


    I've had the Avery and Troegs. Both were meh. I haven't gotten around to trying the Alesmith one yet.
     
  18. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    Most American beer drinkers think that brown ales in general are meh, so I'm not shocked.
     
  19. kdb150

    kdb150 Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2012 Pennsylvania


    I don't. I very much enjoy a good brown. They just aren't being made stateside. Most brewers muck them up with hops, and the ones who don't make browns that are lacking in the flavor department.
     
    jmw likes this.
  20. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    Good on ya
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.