American Brown Ale Recomendation?

[RichC]

I'm looking for a recomendation for an American brown ale. English brown ales have their place, but I'm looking for something with a little more bite.

I like Brooklyn Brown, but it's a touch dry and I felt like it could use a little more hops. It's still the best I've had so far.

Saranac's Seasons Best is decent. It has a good nutty taste, but it's a lager and I'm looking for an ale.

I'm drinking an Ithaca Nut Brown Ale right now, and I'm wondering where the "nut" is. Well, it smells nutty, but it's not in the taste. It's drinkable, but there's nothing that stands out about it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[ClockworkOrange]

I'm enjoying a Green Flash Nut Brown Ale right now. It's one of the better brown's that I've had.

[TrojanAnteater]

I'm not much of a fan of brown ales, but I liked the Rogue Hazelnut. I hear the Deschutes Buzzsaw Brown is good too but have not had that yet.

[ratman03]

Can you get Ipswich Ale in NY? It is brewed in Ipswich, MA.
Their Brown is pretty good.

Wolaver's Brown from Otter Creek Brewery in Vermont is good too.

[mookow]

I personally enjoy Ellie's Brown Ale by Avery's.

[ClockworkOrange]

I agree with the above. Avery Ellie's, Rouge Hazelnut, and Ipswitch are all very good browns.

[RichC]

Thanks for the recomendations. I'm pretty sure I can get most of those. I know for sure that I can get Otter Creek because I've been thinking about trying their brews, and I'm almost positive I saw Ipswitch there too. Avery and Deschutes are the only ones I'm not sure of, but it's a big store and I'm sure there's lots of beers that I've overlooked.

Thanks again!

[steveh]

Originally posted by RichC
Saranac's Seasons Best is decent. It has a good nutty taste, but it's a lager and I'm looking for an ale.

Why should that make a difference if it's a good brew?

I'm wondering where the "nut" is.

Pretty sure the original use of the adjective "nut brown" was to describe the color.

Moose Drool from Big Sky (http://www.bigskybrew.com/process/moosedrool.html) is a great, smooth and malty brew - so it may not have that "bite" you're looking for. Seen Sierra Nevada's on the shelf, but haven't yet sampled it myself -- anyone?

S.

[skahtboi]

I really like both the Ellie's Brown Ale by Avery, and the Dogfish Head Brown Ale.

[ClockworkOrange]

Yeah Steve, the SN Brown Ale, like almost all of their beers, is very tasty. I also really like Goose Island Nut Brown. I know that's available in New York. I'll second Dogfish Brown. Really good on tap.

[RichC]

Originally posted by steveh
Why should that make a difference if it's a good brew?


In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't. It's decent, but some times I'd rather have an ale than a lager.


Moose Drool from Big Sky is a great, smooth and malty brew - so it may not have that "bite" you're looking for.


It's not that I don't want it to be malty, because that seems to be a defining characteristic of brown ales. I'm probably not doing a good job of explaining what I'm looking for. I'm not even sure "bite" is the right word.

I guess I'm looking for something that stands out a little. Not just malty and smooth. Something a little more complex that has a flavor gets your attention. Nothing over powering, but not just malty sweet and smooth.

Maybe I'm looking for something different than a brown ale?

[denver brewhoo]

here's the brewery's description of one I think you'd like, based on what you say you're missing in the usual suspects:

A cross between a Scotch Ale, an I.P.A., and an American Brown, this beer is well-hopped and malty at the same time. It is brewed with Aromatic barley and caramelized brown sugar.

it's the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, often faulted for not being a "true" brown. I like it a lot, even though it really isn't an American Brown, or a Northern English Brown, or a Southern English Brown. In fact, it pretty much is what they say it is, above.

[steveh]

Originally posted by RichC
I guess I'm looking for something that stands out a little. Not just malty and smooth. Something a little more complex that has a flavor gets your attention. Nothing over powering, but not just malty sweet and smooth.

As pointed out by Clockwork, Goose Island has their Hexnut Brown Ale. It's malty and a bit bigger in body than the Moose Drool and it has a more roasted character to it -- possibly that "bite" you could be looking for.

S.

[ClockworkOrange]

I'm glad this topic came up. Brown Ale's are one of my favorite styles for when I just want a great tasting, lower ABV (usually), satisfying beer. It's kind of a getaway for me from all the hoppy IPA's and DIPA's .

[steveh]

Capital Brewing, an almost exclusive lager brewer, makes a Brown Ale. I haven't tried it in some time, but they always have quality brews.

S.

[hops99]

I'll add Bell's Best Brown to the mix. Solid beer.

I also think that DFH Indian Brown, Goose Island Nut Brown, and Sierra Nevada's Brown all are/were terrific beers.

Great Lakes brewed a brown ale a few years back, appropriately named "Cleveland Brown Ale". It was great.

[wortchillergoal]

I would add to the list of good suggestions Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale. I had trouble with their websites but also look for beers from Southern Tier Brewing Company and Ellicottvilee Brewing Company. You might try looking for Pete's Wicked Ale as well. I believe that Saranac makes a Nutbrown as well.

If you can get someone to trade with you, get a Moosedrool. That is a great brown ale.

[steveh]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
You might try looking for Pete's Wicked Ale as well.

I wouldn't bother - it's been a sad shadow of its former self ever since Pete sold the biz. I used to really enjoy the Wicked Ale too, now it's thin of body, slight of flavor and character, and very light in color.

S.

[RichC]

Yeah, I was a little disapointed with Pete's when I tried it recently. I remember really liking it years ago and I wonderd why I wasn't as impressed with it. I didn't realize it had changed.

[ratman03]

Originally posted by steveh
I wouldn't bother - it's been a sad shadow of its former self ever since Pete sold the biz. I used to really enjoy the Wicked Ale too, now it's thin of body, slight of flavor and character, and very light in color.

S.

That about sums it up. :mad:

[Kiltlifter]

For my money, the Deschutes Buzzsaw Brown tops Big Sky Moose Drool easily. A much more complex yet very drinkable beer. My wife loved it and wants me to try and brew up a clone of the Buzzsaw. Unfortunately, its not even in the stores right now to do sampling.

[n0rmann]

I like Dogfishhead's India Brown Ale, as well as Peak Organic's Brown.


Rogue's Hazlenut Nectar is also very nice.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by ClockworkOrange
Yeah Steve, the SN Brown Ale, like almost all of their beers, is very tasty.

i'm not a huge fan of browns to begin with... just too boring and SN was no exception.

The exception (for me) is Bell's Best Brown... the first brown i've had that actually said "hello!" to my taste buds.

[dparsons]

Make your own.

[RichC]

Originally posted by dparsons
Make your own.

I've got to find one that I really like and then figure out how to copy it first. :D


I'm going to go grab a few singles today from the recomendations mentioned here.

Thanks again..

[RichC]

Originally posted by denver brewhoo
here's the brewery's description of one I think you'd like, based on what you say you're missing in the usual suspects:

A cross between a Scotch Ale, an I.P.A., and an American Brown, this beer is well-hopped and malty at the same time. It is brewed with Aromatic barley and caramelized brown sugar.

it's the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, often faulted for not being a "true" brown. I like it a lot, even though it really isn't an American Brown, or a Northern English Brown, or a Southern English Brown. In fact, it pretty much is what they say it is, above.

I'm drinking one of these right now, and I think we have a winner! It's a little fuller than a traditional brown I think, and it's certinanly more hoppy, but it's not overpowing by any means. It may taste a little closer to a scottish than a brown, but I haven't had all that many of either.

No matter what it is, there's a lot of good flavors going on there.

[sundontlie]

yeah Moose Drool as stated by a few of you guys is awesome, as well as Dogfish.. but one i haven't seen anyone talk about is Lost Coast's Downtown Brown.. that stuff is probably my favorite, its very easy going, creamy, smooth, flavorful, clean.. mmmmm

[RichC]

I can't get moosdrool. I'm suprised at the numbers of beers I can't get around here. I was asking a guy at the store about several and he told me that they just aren't distributed around where I am. I'll see if I can find Lost Coast there.

There's like 10 isles of American beer there.. I assumed I could get just about anything out there. I guess I assumed wrong.