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Writer's pictureJersey Johnny

"In Style Reviews" - Brown Ales!



Welcome to The Lager Room Guys' “In Style Reviews” with Jersey Johnny. For this monthly* series we review several beers in the same style, or beers that have other similarities, all from different breweries. There will never be any ratings given, just a reviewing of the style and some tasting notes, while hopefully attempting to grasp each breweries vision for that beer. (*monthly depending on how many beers to be reviewed)


In this month's review we are drinking Brown Ales. Brown Ales are one of my favorite styles. This should be fun, so let's get to it!


Northway Brewing Company - Glens Falls, New York

Little Maggie - Brown Ale - 5.6% ABV

Appearance - Deep brown w/ a tan head

Aroma - Caramel & cocoa

Flavor - Big toffee, mild dark chocolate and a subtle earthy bitterness

Finish - Nice and dry

Other notes - A walk through the woods in Fall!




Lost Tavern Brewing - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

Clusters - Toffee Almond Nut Brown Ale - 4.8% ABV

Appearance - Deep Brown w/ a full tan head

Aroma - Big nutty almonds

Flavor - Toffee, chocolate, almonds, vanilla and subtle cinnamon, mild sweetness

Finish - Clean w/ slight lingering toffee

Other notes - Nutty desert in a glass!




Kane Brewing Company - Ocean, New Jersey

Drift Line - American Oatmeal Brown Ale - 6.2% ABV

Appearance - Dark brown w/ a tan head

Aroma - Chocolate, subtle coffee and dried fruit

Flavor - Cocoa, coffee and toasted oats with a smooth body

Finish - Dry w/ slight residual bitterness

Other notes - This has become one of my favorite Kane’s! A go to for sure!




Source Brewing Company - Colts Neck, New Jersey

Proper English - English Brown Ale - 5.2% ABV

Appearance - Ruby brown w/ a beige head

Aroma - Nutty caramel and chocolate

Flavor - Notes of toffee, bread, nutty caramel and a subtle roast

Finish - Nice and dry

Other notes - Balanced w/ a super smooth body, decent lacing!




Southern Grist Brewing Company - Nashville, Tennessee

Chop It Up - Brown Ale w/ Lactose, Coconut, Hazelnuts & Cacao Nibs - 5.4% ABV

Appearance - Deep brown w/ a beige head

Aroma - Big nutty coconut and chocolate

Flavor - Subtle bitterness opening up to sweet coconut and chocolate with hazelnuts

Finish - Hazelnuts present as it fades off dry

Other notes - Good use of lactose, not over the top!



Southern Grist Brewing Company - Nashville, Tennessee

Bean There, Brown That - Brown Ale w/ Lactose & Vanilla - 5.4% ABV

Appearance - Dark brown w/ a thin tan head

Aroma - Big vanilla and chocolate

Flavor - Sweet vanilla, chocolate, nutty caramel and subtle coffee

Finish - Somewhat dry with lingering vanilla

Other notes - A creamy, nutty, sweet (not too sweet) coffee(ish) Brown Ale!




Mayflower Brewing Company - Plymouth, Massachusetts

Pursuit Of Sappiness - Maple Syrup Brown Ale - 7.0% ABV

Appearance - Medium brown w/ a slight, mocha tinged beige head

Aroma - Toffee, brown sugar and maple

Flavor - Notes of caramelized brown sugar, subtle maple and molasses

Finish - Dry w/ bitter chocolate

Other notes - One of my favorite styles w/ one of my favorite adjuncts! Ahh, Maple Brown Ales!



Four Quarters Brewing Company - Winooski, Vermont

French Toast Great Bear - Brown Ale w/ Oats, Chocolate Malt, Smoked Malt, Maple Syrup & Cinnamon Sticks - 6.0% ABV

Appearance - Medium brown w/ a thin tan head

Aroma - Big maple nose w/ subtle caramel and vanilla

Flavor - Maple way out front (in a good way, I love maple) and notes of caramel, subtle vanilla, and cinnamon w/ a whisper of chocolate

Finish - Dry w/ a touch of chocolate and super subtle smoke

Other notes - I love French Toast for breakfast. If only French Toast tasted this good!


Coastal Days Brewery - Fort Meyers, Florida

Beach Hound - Brown Ale - 4.7% ABV

Appearance - Medium brown w/ a tan head

Aroma - Earthy caramel nose

Flavor - Subtle nutty caramel w/ balanced herbal hops

Finish - Slight lingering bitterness fading to dry

Other notes - Interesting play between the earthy hops and the caramel malt!




Jackalope Brewing Company - Nashville, Tennessee

Bear Walker - Maple Brown Ale - 5.1% ABV

Appearance - Medium brown w/ a tan head

Aroma - Sweet toffee nose

Flavor - Maple candy and caramel upfront, followed by a subtle nutty bitterness

Finish - Dry w/ just a hint of maple

Other notes - Big maple candies and toffee for dessert!




Long Trail Brewing Company - Windsor, Vermont

Harvest - Vermont Maple Syrup Ale - 4.4% ABV

Appearance - Medium brown w/ a beige head

Aroma - Sweet, toasted bread nose

Flavor - Maple syrup and maple candy fading to toffee

Finish - Finishes a bit long with maple, but in a good way

Other notes - Been enjoying this beer from Long Trail for a long time!




Mechanical Brewery - Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Broach - Brown Ale - 5.0% ABV

Appearance - Light brown w/ a beige head

Aroma - Subtle caramel and fruit nose

Flavor - Earthy hops, fading to subtle caramel with a mild effervescence

Finish - Dry w/ a slight bitterness

Other notes - Interesting play between the earthy hops and the caramel malt in this one as well!



Bradley Brew Project - Bradley Beach, New Jersey

Basic Beer Season - Imperial Brown Ale w/ Pumpkin Puree, Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon, Ginger, Vanilla & Blackstrap Molasses - 10.0% ABV

Appearance - Medium brown w/ a thick, beige head

Aroma - Bread, subtle earthiness, and autumnal spice nose

Flavor - Caramel, nutmeg, and ginger dominate in the first sip, giving way to a nice blend of vanilla, toffee and molasses

Finish - Dry w/ a bit of lingering, bitter autumnal spicing

Other notes - A big, autumnal spiced Brown Ale!


Jersey Girl Brewing Company - Hackettstown, New Jersey

Hunker Down Brown - American Brown Lager - 4.0% ABV

Appearance - Medium brown w/ a light tan head

Aroma - Subtle earthy bread nose

Flavor - Toasted caramel and subtle chocolate notes

Finish - Dry w/ slight lingering bitterness

Other notes - Nice, flavorful Brown Ale with such a low ABV!




Jersey Girl Brewing Company - Hackettstown, New Jersey

White Out - Brown Ale w/ Chocolate Malt - 7.0% ABV

Appearance - Dark brown w/ a thick beige head

Aroma - Sweet bready chocolate nose

Flavor - Bittersweet chocolate and toffee w/ slight nuttiness

Finish - Soft w/ a bit more toffee

Other notes - Nice warming, winter treat!




Surly Brewing Company - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Coffee Bender - Brown Ale w/ Coffee - 5.5% ABV

Appearance - Deep brown w/ a light tan head

Aroma - Big coffee / cold brew nose

Flavor - Big creamy, roasty coffee

Finish - Dry w/ slight lingering roasty bitterness

Other notes - Would you like some Brown Ale with your coffee?!




Hi-Wire Brewing Company - Asheville, North Carolina

Bed Of Nails - Brown Ale - 5.5% ABV

Appearance - Deep brown w/ a tan head

Aroma - Bready caramel w/ a subtle hoppy nose

Flavor - Caramel, bread and earthy bitterness

Finish - Dry w/ a slight residual bitterness

Other notes - Solid, true to style Brown Ale!




Destination Unknown Beer Company - Bay Shore, New York

Double Barrel Brown Ale - Imperial Brown Ale Aged In Two Different Bourbon Barrels - 10.0% ABV

Appearance - Deep brown w/ a dark beige head

Aroma - Dark, bittersweet chocolate and boozy nose

Flavor - Earthy, bitter chocolate and huge bourbon notes

Finish - Finishes w/ more chocolatey bourbon fading out

Other notes - The bourbon and chocolate are amazing for a Brown Ale! The 10% obviously helps!


That was definitely fun! I love Brown Ales! Join us next month (or so) for our next "In Style Review"!

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