Rating:

“Tie one on with Hook Jaw, American Brown IPA. A careful blend of oats, crystal and toasted malts delivers a complex base, with notes of chocolate, chewy caramel and dark roast coffee, deftly balanced with Chinook, Cashmere and Mosaic hops giving punchy bitterness and layers of blueberry, grapefruit and tangerine. You’ll be hooked.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Much lighter than anticipated. It gives off amber ale vibes with its mostly amber complexion and soft red tint. A thumb of tan foam emerges on top and holds together well. Minimal lacing on the glass though.

Aroma: One of the main things we love about GP is their ability to brew high quality beers from both ends of the spectrum i.e trad European and nu-skool American. And everything in between of course! In this case in particular the latter as this is very much an in-between beer. It sports the traditional English brown ale base of nutty, toasty and sweet malt with the piney, resinous and citrusy American hops cutting through.

Flavour: Certainly leaning more towards the American/hoppy side here. Straight off the bat the piney, citrusy and resinous hops hit the taste buds, then a notable bitterness kicks up and keeps intensifying all the way through to the finish. The delicate malts play 2nd fiddle here as the nutty and semi sweet caramels are merely there to keep the rambunctious hops in check.

Mouthfeel: Dry, bitter and flinty. Flat-ish Co2, mild-medium body and the 5.5% ABV is neatly tucked away.

Overall: Brown IPA or American brown ale? It’s another one of those situations where the style has split off so many times it’s hard to know. That aside, it was still a pleasant drop. Nothing to write home about though.

Rating:

“The legendary brew that started it all. This American-style brown ale is a nod to our very first mash, and it’s been a beloved tradition to brew it every Good Friday since. A time capsule that captures the spirit of innovation and nostalgia in every sip. Dick Tracy will charm your palate packed with rich, robust malts and artfully layered with fruity hops. This brew will remind you why some classics are worth revisiting.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Extremely dark pour for a brown ale. We dig it! Pretty much light black except for some light cutting through at the bottom of the glass. Two fingers of fluffy khaki head retains well and leaves blotchy lace work as it ebbs.

Aroma: Damn! It’s near on black IPA level. Actually the hops are punching way harder than the malts with their distinctly citrusy overtones and piney, herbal and evergreen tones in support. Picking up more of the brown ale characteristics in the malt bill i.e nutty, toasty, burnt caramel and toffee. Excellent overall fusion and balance.

Flavour: Oh man, if only all American brown ales were like this. Phenomenal. There’s a bit of a switch up now and the nutty, mildly sweet and toasty malt comes over the top while the citrusy, piney and herbal hops cut through very diligently. A fine bitterness tails in late and helps set up the slightly dry, citrusy and toasty finish that draws out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Nice and rounded. Medium body, Co2 is spot on and the 6% ABV gives it a kick but is hidden very well.

Overall: This is OG Bentspoke. We remember this from our first trip to the brewery near on 10 years ago. Can’t believe that’s how long it’s been. It’s still as good now as it was back then. Kudos Bentspoke, this is an absolute pearler.

Rating:

“Make an appointment with the Doctor. Dr Pete’s Fortifying Brown Ale, brewed with ale, crystal, oat and chocolate malts, with just a touch of East Kent Golding for the perfect balance of restrained bitterness and juicy Horlicks sweetness, with hints of chocolate digestive and toasted hazelnut. Recommended for those suffering from NEIPA intolerance and IPA related hop fatigue. Good for what ales you.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Cola-like pour with a mahogany tinge when held to the light. Two fingers of tan foam perched on top. Decent retention but scarce lacing as we imbibe.

Aroma: We’re getting super conventional English Brown Ale vibes. Subtle roasted malts layered upon subtle nutty malts layered upon subtle chocolate malts. Then that distinctly earthy spice from the use of Fuggles woven through. Undertones of coffee, mildew, toast, molasses and raw cacao add extra depth and complexity to an already impressive aroma.

Flavour: Quite slow off the mark but once it gets going it keeps intensifying. We pick up subdued notes of lightly roasted chocolate malt initially. Coffee, roasted nuts and treacle building on top then the mild hop bitterness is injected along with burnt toast and raw cacao. It hits its crescendo then gradually tapers off into a toasty and nutty finish.

Mouthfeel: Slick, oily, mild-medium bodied. Flat-ish Co2 and a nicely positioned 5% ABV.

Overall: You don’t see a lot of traditional stuff from GP but it goes to show the skill level their brewers possess. Be it edgy high ABV IPA’s or traditional Brown Ales, they always hit the mark.

Rating:

“Embark on a journey through the bountiful fields of Demeter’s crops. This beer is a truly unique American Brown Ale that pays homage to the Greek goddess of harvest and agriculture. With a cornucopia of alternative grains including rye, oats, buckwheat, spelt, millet, sorghum, and rice, this brew celebrates diversity and abundance like never before. Hopped with Cryo Mosaic, Simcoe and Experimental hop HS16660.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Dark brown with a deep ruby tint. It forms a thumb of lightly tanned head which slowly peels off. A wet streaky lace is dragged down the glass.

Aroma: First thoughts are Jaffa-like/orange-infused chocolate which for one of us is not a good start. As it settles we’re getting more weedy notes, herbs, pine needle, sappy resins, citrus rind and green mango. There’s a hearty roasted malt profile to meet the hops too – definitely toasty, subtle coffee, grainy and spicy. There’s 7 different grains used which explains the complexity there.

Flavour: Interesting. We pick up a hint of Jaffa again but it’s not as direct as it was on the nose. Strangely enough the 2nd sip follows the nose as well with more resinous and weedy accents, pine and herbals. The malt is subtle but displays some rye spice, toast, nutty and quinoa-like grain as it punctuates with a kinda roasty, weedy and resinous finish.

Mouthfeel: A tad slippery and lean. Not much grip to it. Mild-medium body, carbed nicely. The 5.5% ABV is well placed.

Overall: It wasn’t bad it was just all a bit too pedestrian in our opinion. Feels like we’ve had one like it ten times before. Good but not great.

Rating:

“Our Brown Ale has been popular over the years so we thought we would do it again. However, this time we would change the yeast up. This was seen as a sin by many until we asked the reverend for forgiveness. It looks dark but drinks light with rich malty flavours shining through.”

Glassware: Jindy Brewing-branded tulip.

Appearance: Deep amber with light ruby hues. Good clarity. Notches up a frothy two finger head and leaves a tonne of lace behind.

Aroma: Very interesting profile. There’s quite a strong charred malt/burnt toast character which is beautifully offset by the sweet, nutty and caramel qualities. It’s also giving off a subtle touch of coffee grounds, peppery spice, toasted marshmallow, burnt candi sugar and banana bread crusts. This is a very pleasant surprise.

Flavour: It’s a unique taste. All that roasted malt/burnt toast/toasted marshmallow has carried through and initiates it all. The hallmark Brown Ale sweetness i.e nutty, toffee/caramel malt takes the baton cleanly and powers through the mid. Soft peppery spice, candi sugar and coffee grounds develop late and draw out nicely in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Kinda dry, gassy, medium bodied. Coats the palate nicely. Slightly lifted Co2 and the 5.5% ABV slots in perfectly.

Overall: We’ve gotta admit this was so unexpected. We’ve had their standard Brown Ale many times before but even with the Belgian spin on it aside, the roasty/charred elements, the coffee, spice and the slightly burnt candi sugar make for a truly unique and delicious beer. Superb.

Rating:

“Intense notes of chocolate and coffee for a beer with character! A tasting beer full of greed, sweetness and surprise!”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Solid black pour with just a skerrick of light cutting through at the foot of the glass. It struggles to produce much head and then immediately disappears. Zero head. Zero lacing.

Aroma: We weren’t really sure what to expect from this. We’ve been told it’s a Brown Ale from one and a Coffee Porter from another. French beer has always been very hit and miss so this was certainly a risky purchase. First whiff is pretty decent though. Lots of chocolate, cherry, plum, creamy vanilla, toffee, red currant and sponge finger. Kinda smells a bit like a black forest cake. Subtle coffee coming through too. Not too shabby.

Flavour: The depth falls away a little bit here but it’s still fairly well structured. Like the aroma it’s mostly chocolate, cherry, jammy red fruits and subtle coffee tailing in later in the piece. Some delicate spice like cinnamon, clove and pepper here and there. A soft earthiness also develops as it sets up for a bittersweet and mildly roasty finish that lingers nicely.

Mouthfeel: Slick, oily, but just a tad too thin. The lack of Co2 doesn’t help either. Medium body. The 8% ABV is pretty well hidden.

Overall: We probably changed our mind five times during this review. In the end it’s actually a half decent drop. Certainly an acquired taste though, and one we most likely won’t return to.

Rating:

“Chur Bro, pop on your jandles and make your way down to Resin HQ to try our newest brew: Sweet As! This one is our take on a classic American Brown, switching up the usual roasted bitterness for a sweet chocolatey flavour profile. We’ve used New Zealand hops exclusively in this brew, with Motueka, Riwaka, and Kohatu. Plus, the addition of lactose increases the sweetness and gives off that sought after silky mouthfeel.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Deep mahogany pour that shows ruby edges when held to the light. It constructs a light and fluffy two finger head which retains well and laces even better.

Aroma: Extremely fruity and sweet which screams an American influence. We’re picking up this jammy raspberry and or strawberry-like quality from it. We wouldn’t say chocolate but it definitely has a cocoa or carob accent happening as well. It has a certain herbal character which is totally throwing us…don’t get us wrong we like it, it’s just unique. Pine, red grapes and candied lime also peeking through. What the?!

Flavour: We’re sat here looking at each other waiting for any type of signal. Nothing comes until that good old look of acceptance comes over us. Clean and crisp pine, florals and fresh herbs cut through the nutty and toasty malts but it’s the assertive bitterness that removes all doubt. Hints of dank herbs and cigar box shift into a dry, bitter, fruity and mildly floral finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Pretty smooth, silky and moderately bodied. A rounded bitterness post swallow and a well placed 5.3% ABV.

Overall: It’s a well brewed American Brown Ale but we’re just not totally sold on the aroma and flavour profile. It’s not really gelling. Good but not great.

Rating:

“At Jindabyne brewing we love brewing so to keep it fun we like to change-it-up and brew a variety of seasonals throughout the year., we hope you guys enjoy them like we enjoy the four seasons we experience in the mountains.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Very light brown to amber with a thumb of off-white head perched on top. Good retention and healthy lace clinging to the glass as we hook in.

Aroma: Very old skool style Brown Ale which is totally this brewery’s MO. It’s one of the main things we love about them. Our first thoughts of it once laying eyes on and smelling it is a close resemblance to the O.G – Newcastle Brown Ale. It has a delicate nutty aroma with a good helping of caramel and toast. Something a little tangy and marmalade-like in here too. Love it.

Flavour: That tangy component is much more noticeable here. At first we thought it was a kind of marmalade-on-toast flavour but after a few more sips it’s more of a fusion of earthy and citrusy hops mingling with the semi sweet and nutty malts. There’s a slight shift late in the piece which finishes the beer off with a hint of toast and golden raisin.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky and effortless. Slightly lifted Co2 which we like. The 4.5% ABV is spot on for a conventional Brown.

Overall: Solid. Love the move into 500ml bottles too. Somewhat bucking the trend and going back to glass. How very European. Suits their approach.

Rating:

“Only a select few beers make their way through the incubation period to graduate to the status of Freshly Hatched. These limited-release beers from Fixation Brewing have been skillfully honed and crafted to deliver the very best example of their style.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Deep ruby red pour with full clarity. It forms two fingers of fluffy tan head that holds its shape nicely. Healthy lacing clings to the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: Getting soft and bittersweet coffee off it initially. Gentle roasted notes, herbal and earthy hops, caramel, cookie dough, brown sugar and pine backing up in support. Not a whole let else. Unfortunately it has a bit of a watery aspect to it. Nice aromas but it’s just lacking any sort of vigour.

Flavour: Same story here too – tastes a little insipid which is disappointing considering not only the style of beer but also the featured coffee used in the brew. We get mostly bitterness and roast with restrained coffee earthy-ness and semi sweet caramels leading into a slightly bitter finish with soft nutty, roasty and piney notes on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Not too bad actually. The one part of the beer that isn’t weak and watered down. Nicely carbed, medium body. They’ve hidden the 7% ABV quite well also.

Overall: Not what we were hoping it to be. The coffee was too shy and the beer as a whole was watery and pedestrian. Shame.

Rating:

“Birdrock, not only an awesome right hander, but the place where the idea for Bells Beach Brewing was conceived. This silky smooth coffee brown ale is the perfect combination of malty richness, coffee from our local roaster Mikro and classic British hops.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Deep ruby red pour with good clarity. Too light for a Brown Ale in our opinion. It forms a finger of rocky tan head which gradually reduces to a fine film. A wet but intricate lace decorates the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: Typical Brown Ale characteristics upfront – lightly roasted malts, nutty chocolate, toast, coffee and woody/earthy hops. Not a whole lot else happening to be honest. It’s not like that’s a bad thing at all, especially as the limited aromas on offer still provide a nice robust combination for the olfactory’s.

Flavour: Hhhmmm we were a little apprehensive coz typically a weak aroma is followed by a weak flavour profile. The shame is that the beer is, by description, a coffee Brown Ale but the coffee aspect is far too shy. All we get is slightly sweet, nutty caramel initially then a somewhat diluted mix of coffee, chocolate and woody hops into a short dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Not too bad actually. A little rigid but it holds a decent body with smooth texture. The co2 is about where we like it for the style.

Overall: This was actually our 2nd crack at this Victorian brewery. We remember picking up their IPA while on a beer tour through South West Victoria/Geelong back in 2016 (or ’17. Memory is starting to fade ). This Brown is pretty middle of the road. It’s lacking in certain areas and really isn’t doing anything for us.

Rating:

“Smooth, velvety malt flavours round off this well balanced but distinctly hoppy American style brown ale. With rich flavours abounding this beer is a fitting tribute to a classic style.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Somewhat burnished copper pour with a faint reddish tint when held to the light. It produces a whopping four finger head which breaks down rather quickly. Tonnes of blotchy lace sticks to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Clearly an American style Brown Ale. We love that first realisation when the brain incorrectly thinks ‘Black IPA!’. Really nice hop to malt ratio, just as it seems the piney and resinous hops are having ascendancy over the malts the light roast, coffee and burnt caramel notes even the ledger. Lovely hints of roasted nuts, burnt toast and cola as well.

Flavour: Packs quite a punch for a humble old core range Brown Ale. There’s a feisty hop bitterness that teams up with the delicate roast and coffee. A short cameo of caramel and cola-like sweetness through the mid leading into a very dry and bitter finish with a well drawn out roasted quality on the rear.

Mouthfeel: A little lean and slippery. There’s a good carb to it but it doesn’t mitigate the lack of body. 5% ABV is on par for a traditional Brown.

Overall: Started strong but it slowly went backwards. It’s not a bad drop at all it just didn’t really wow us.

Rating:

“Designed to be enjoyed all year round, this American style Brown Ale is both full flavoured and perfectly balanced. Its dark amber in colour, has hints of caramel and chocolate and is wrapped up with a slight citrus accent and a pleasant bitterness.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Quite light for a Brown Ale – light chestnut with deep amber hues. It forms a massive three to four finger head which takes an age to recede. Thick blotchy lace sticks to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: It displays a rather noticeable hoppy character. Our first thoughts were that it could pass for a mellow Black IPA…which is saying something considering it’s just a humble old 5.3% Brown Ale. The malt base presents a bold roasty-ness, coffee, chocolate and ash while the hops, through a massive counter, offer citrus, pine and soft herbals. Hello! Where did this come from?

Flavour: It kinda takes a step back on the intensity here. Then again, we remind ourselves that it’s the same humble old Brown Ale. The hops, again, do a sterling job of balancing out the toasty, caramel-driven malts. A healthy tussle between the two plays out before it finishes on a dry, roasty but fruity finish which draws out incredibly well.

Mouthfeel: Excellent weight and body for the style. It’s light on but has a good chewy-ness to it. Slick texture, mild Co2. The 5.3% ABV is bang on.

Overall: After trying their Impy Stout a while back we said we left the door open to get a better feel for them. Glad we did! This was a fine American style Brown Ale. Impressive stuff and sharply priced.

Rating:

“We’ve heard your cries and now finally present: Feedback Loop. A beautiful, clear brown ale with tones of toast and toffee; light-b “We’ve spent the last seven years building monster stouts, whipping up fruited smoothie mayhem, iterating on hazy IPAs, and perfecting the crispiest of bois with nary a brown ale in sight.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Deep chestnut brown with a short tan head which collapses and settles at the rim. A thin wavy lace follows it down.

Aroma: Without a doubt an American-style Brown Ale. At its core it displays all of that classic Brown Ale toastiness, nutty malts, cocoa powder, toffee etc but it’s what the hops bring which sets it apart. Quite discernible notes of pine, mixed citrus and musky florals give it a unique, almost India Brown Ale-esque character. We’re also picking up a flutter of cola gummies as well. We’re a little uncertain of this still though.

Flavour: First thoughts are quite pedestrian and timid for the likes of Bottle Logic. There’s no real knockout flavour, it’s just a meandering mix of lightly toasted malts, cocoa powder, roasted nuts, pine resin and a strange black tea-like note (which is stirring up bad memories of a certain tea flavoured Brown Ale we reviewed recently). A faint hint of licorice and a slightly dry roasty finish to punctuate.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly thin and a tad watery. Flat-ish Co2. The 6% ABV is well buried.

Overall: A very rare strike out from BL here. It’s like they went for a hop-forward expression then pulled out at the last minute…leaving it somewhat bland and exposed. Pretty average TBH.

Rating:

“A brown ale with tea in it.. We love the occasional cuppa so we decided to combine some fine English tea with the finest artisanal dark malts from our good mates at Voyager Craft Malt and tin it. The result is a smooth and very drinkable brown ale that showcases the stunning flavours of the malted barley with a subtle hint of tea for the perfect arv refreshment . Smashing innit!”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Light mahogany with a deep ruby red tint when held to the light. It forms a finely beaded two finger head which slowly peels off. Lace rings mark each sip on the glass on its way down.

Aroma: We must give credit to TRBC, they’re always pushing the boundaries when it comes to edgy beers. Sometimes they pull it off and sometimes they fail miserably. We’re not going to call this too early but this may potentially fall into the ‘failed miserably’ category. Classic Brown Ale nuttiness though, delicate milk chocolate and toast on one hand and then the spicy, grassy and earthy tea on the other. Interesting.

Flavour: Oh wow okay. The characters that were already sorta clashing on the nose are now in all out warfare. We absolutely love Brown Ale and we both don’t mind a cuppa every now and then but you’d have to be a true die-hard Englishman to dig this. There’s simply no cohesion between the mildly roasted malts, nuts and spicy tea and unfortunately it maintains this position through to the finish.

Mouthfeel: Slightly rigid and a bit chewy. Mild-moderate body, low-ish Co2. The 5.3% ABV is neither here nor there.

Overall: Well…not much more can be said at this point. It’s a sink pour. Which we hate to do coz we do actually like what TRBC put out (most of the time). This though….this was an exception.

Rating:

“Smooth, Nitro Coffee Brown Ale. Brewed using a fresh cold brew. The blend is comprised of naturally processed coffees from Ethiopia and Brazil, one fruit-driven and the other creamy AF. To serve… Cool can, shake well, vertical pour!”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Very cool. We love the novelty of a good nitro beer (especially when they work properly – as this one did). As the creamy foam transforms into liquid it displays an attractive chestnut brown and a solid three finger head which looks to be settled in for the long haul.

Aroma: Semi rich and nutty malts hit the olfactory’s first. Toast, sweet caramels and toffee follow close behind. Only now does the coffee begin to come through. We expected it to be much stronger but the fact it’s so well integrated is a positive. Maple and a splash of dark fruits are buried a little deeper but are certainly there to be found. Liking it.

Flavour: On point for a nitro Brown Ale. Subtle coffee, nutty malts, caramel and toffee on the front palate and the subtle earthy hops, toast and fig then developing through the mid. The coffee is throwing out a few chocolatey and roasty notes as well as it sets up for a smooth, roasty and nutty finish which draws out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Ultra slick, kinda gelatinous and oily texture with medium body. The nitro adds to the overall creaminess and the 5.5% ABV is nicely positioned.

Overall: Big fans of this brewery. They consistently pump out top quality beers which fit their M.O perfectly. Quality nitro beers are just another feather in the hat.

Rating:

“Rich aromas of molasses, bread crust and toffee are complimented by more subtle notes of vanilla and coconut. A formidable maltiness hints at bitter chocolate and and black licorice while woodiness and tannins contributed by two different types of wood bring this silky-smooth Brown Ale into balance.” 

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Muddy light brown to Auburn hue with a short tan head which slowly peels off. Laced reasonably well considering the lack of retention.

Aroma: Interesting. We’ve been sat here for about 5 minutes trying to work out what it is that has us so intrigued. After reading the very entertaining description on the bottle we realised what it is…pine/pine cones, woody/forest floor and decaying leaves. Behind all of that are the more traditional Brown Ale characters of lightly roasted malts, chocolate, toast, licorice, nutty malts and cola. The only part missing (unfortunately) is the maple wood.

Flavour: Same deal as the aroma: the front palate has us intrigued but this time around we’re not really digging it. The combination of earthy pine cones and forest floor with the lightly charred and toasty malts should work but they’re clashing. Funnily enough though, it all clears midway and robust dark chocolate, licorice, coffee and a complex woody dryness surges into a nice long roasty finish.

Mouthfeel: Pretty chewy, medium-full body, low-moderate carbonation. The 7.5% ABV is nicely positioned.

Overall: Can’t say we’re too pleased with it. We respect the quirky and experimental side to it but alas, it just didn’t come together they we wanted it to. Disappointing.

“One of the original Barrier beers and one that we are most proud of. This is exemplary of its style. Offering a slightly nutty malt taste with presence of toffee and dark caramel followed by a lightly roasted finish. The brown ale for all seasons!”

Glassware: American Pint.

Appearance: Pours an attractive mahogany complexion with a loosely held two finger head. Reduction is swift and the lacing is fairly minimal.

Aroma: Smells very tired and muted. And voila, we’ve been sold another can that’s very long in the tooth (3/3/21). It’s very frustrating coz it smells like it was once a bloody good aroma.

Flavour: Pretty much the same issue as the nose…the remnants of what was very likely a tasty American Brown Ale are all that’s left behind; savoury nutty malts, toast, caramel, cocoa and the ghost of some piney and citrusy hops which left the beer some time ago. Nice nutty finish with a hint of roast and hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Well weighted, slightly gelatinous texture. Mild-medium body. The 6.5% ABV is really well concealed.

Overall: We’re not going to rate the beer as it would be extremely unfair to the brewery. We do find that whenever rare American beers hit our shores they’re already close to past best before. Whether it’s down to interrupted supply lines from covid or not we can’t be sure. Very frustrating.

Rating:

“We’ve taken our classic brown ale, increased the recipe to make it Imperial, and then added enough Columbian Heavy Roast coffee to really make it count! Big coffee, balanced by a delicate toasty malt base. Delicious!”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Very attractive chestnut pour. Hardly any gradient either it’s wall to wall. Only a short tan head which holds surprisingly well. A brilliant cascading lace is strewn down the glass.

Aroma: As anticipated the coffee is nice and direct, super nutty and toasty but with a distinct fruitiness to it. It’s also quite spicy with a very faint hint of cocoa. The base Brown Ale is pretty good too… accentuating the nutty qualities and filling it out with chocolate, toffee, coconut/vanilla, marzipan and soft metals.

Flavour: The coffee dominates here too…as anticipated. But again it’s well tempered as it provides nutty, toasty, chocolate and more delicate fruits and allows the classic Brown Ale flavours of chocolate, vanilla, toffee/caramel and tobacco to mould in. Can’t help thinking a tiramisu-like accent knocks about until it finishes with a roasty/toasty, nutty and chocolatey finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Fairly smooth and creamy. Well balanced. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2. The 8.5% ABV though…wow…very well behaved.

Overall: It always irritates us when we buy these amped up versions without first trying the base beer – in this case their standard ‘Coffee Brown’. That aside we really enjoyed this version. It’s big on coffee but well tempered and nicely executed. Solid offering.

Rating:

NO COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Chestnut-looking pour with a deep ruby red hue. It manages a finger of lightly tanned foam which slowly dispersed. Brilliant lacing in its wake.

Aroma: Smells good. We always like Hoppy Brown’s/IBA’s to be like scaled back Black IPA’s and this is exactly that. A cosy and warming base of toasty and nutty malts, cocoa powder and caramel but spiked with a dose of high alpha acid hops which provide these hallmark pine, citrus and herbal notes that slice through the malts beautifully. And the end result? A Black IPA’s baby brother!

Flavour: Hell yeah…there’s an unexpected aggression which we’re totally on board with straight away. We were anticipating the sweet and nutty malts to dominate but instead it’s really hop-forward and the toasty/roasty malts are in the back seat. It even hits a rather pithy quality midway where it crescendos and then tapers off in to a super dry and bitter finish with soft nutty undertones.

Mouthfeel: Nice weight to it. A little abrasive but it’s well mannered. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2. 5.4% ABV adds a touch of warmth.

Overall: we actually can’t believe this is our first entry for Moorebeer. Their Choc Vanilla Porter is a go-to dark beer for us in winter but we haven’t even reviewed it! We’re fans of this Hoppy Brown Ale. Go and get amongst it.

Rating:

“Brown Ales originated in the UK where dark beers started to vary more and more as Pale Ales started to grown in popularity. The influence of traditional Porters are evident as you usually see darker malt take center stage, providing a rich and bitter malt character, as well as colour. Our American Brown Ale uses the classic UK Brown Ale profile with a fuller body and bigger hop profile. We’ve incorporated UK and American hops to add a layer of familiarity and a nod to the heritage of the style. It is an amazingly drinkable beer, and one that we’d like to see more of!”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Muddy light brown with mahogany highlights. A thumb of tan foam is assembled and holds its shape well. Patchy lace as we go.

Aroma: Pretty basic four to the floor fragrance. A solid base of toasty and nutty malts, burnt cocoa, delicate coffee, earthy/woody notes and soft dark fruits. The hops do create that crucial Black IPA-like quality but it ends there…it’s really hard to call out any particular scent. Maybe just the slightest hint of pine creeping through but it’s way too gentle. Citrus rind…hhmm…again, maybe? Here’s hoping the flavour kicks off.

Flavour: Nope, unfortunately it’s more of the same restrained hops and typical malt characters. As we push on we’re finding that the restrained hops are more dominant than the malt. And thats saying something. At times we’re reminded of that meme of the stickman prodding the lifeless being on the ground saying “do something”. It barely offers anything but a light toasty-ness, a wee hint of nutty malt and coffee in the finish.

Mouthfeel: It holds up alright actually. A slightly lifted Co2 definitely helps. A tad watery, mild-medium body. 5.8% ABV is tucked away quite well.

Overall: Well that was an unpleasant surprise, we must admit. It’s very rare to see such an average beer from 5 Barrel but that’s exactly what it is. Just lacking in almost every department. Except for the mouthfeel! Disappointing.