Red Brick - Brown Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Red Brick Brown Ale
Atlanta Brewing Company
2323 Defoor Hills Rd. NW
Atlanta, Georgia USA
Est. 1993
www.atlantabrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review

Cloudy and light brown/amber color.
Sweet caramel malt and hazelnut aromas.
Tan, two finger high head.
Good lacing on glass, early on.

Malt flavors that linger on the palate. There are nutty tastes and a bit of cocoa present.

Medium bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Another offering from The Atlanta Brewing Company is their Red Brick Brown. I am usually not short on words, but it's enough to say that this is a good and solid brown style ale.

This brewery's quirky yet austere labels promotes pride in their Southern roots. Like I said before, short on words for this one, yet found it to be a very nice, drinkable brown. Words may escape me today, but this ale did not.

Pensacola Bay Brewing - Banyan Brown Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Banyan Brown Ale

Pensacola Bay Brewing

225 E. Zaragoza Street
Pensacola, FL USA
Est. 2009

www.pbbrew.com


Brain Damage Quotient = 6.9 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 32.0 (Growler)


Postmortem Brew Review

Deep brown color with some red hues.

Roasted malts, bready and caramel with scant hops on the nose.

Stringed lacing, tan head that sticks around for a while.

Caramel and toasted malts giving way to a dry, nutty finish.

Moderate carbonation. 

Medium bodied. Finishes very clean.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy

This one was supposed to be for someone else. After all, I was brought two others; the Lil' Napoleon and the Sawgrass Wheat. Well, I am not one to turn down good beer, especially when it's draught from a growler.


The brown was tasty and finished with a clean pop. Sorta like it started, when that tipper-top was opened.


Time to pop over to Pensacola and check them out.

Dogfish Head - Palo Santo Marron

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
Palo Santo Marron Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA 
Est. 1995 
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 12.0 % ABV 
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Solid looking, rich thick brown color.
Sweet malt aromas. Bit of woody scents and slightly boozy on the nose.
Small bubbles in the one-finger caramel tan colored head.
Spots of lacing on the glass with each sip. Head simmers to a ring on edge of glass.
Sweet but not too sweet caramelized malt taste. Touches of vanilla on back of tongue.
Medium carbonation.
Full bodied, not too complex, but with a definite heavy alcohol presence. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Not one of your run-of-the-mill brown ales, this one. The first sip told me to sit down. And I did. And it was
consumed by the sip after that. Slowly. Deliberately. Not unlike the process that must have went into building
the most gi-noumous tanks of Palo Santo wood in which, it became a beer.

First sip: Boozy. My oh my the alcohol! But not stinging or warming. Just there...lurking.

Next sip: Enjoyable. Sweet malts rolling.

And the next: Enveloping. Tongue treated to vanilla finish.

Then: Rich. Not dulling. Not cloying. Full, in body. Simple character of malt, vanilla, earthy wood.

Now: Pleasurable. Each sip is taking me further from second thoughts of the 12% ABV. Alcohol still there...lurking...lurking...but not beating up my senses.

I once had a beer. Or should I say, she once had me?

Glass is gone now. This beer has flown.

Sigh. Queue the sitar.

Isn't it good? Paraguayan Wood.

Dogfish Head - India Brown Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
India Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA 
Est. 1995 
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.2 % ABV 
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color with reddish highlights.
Sweet malt aromas mingle with some pungent hops aromas.
One-finger tan colored head that comes and goes quickly.
Spots of lacing on the glass.
Above average balance of hops and malts. Taste is hoppy and malty.
Medium carbonation.
Medium bodied. Bitterness of hops throughout. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
For this one, think - India Pale Ale meets Brown Ale. Yeah, that's the ticket! Dogfish Head's site even throws in Scotch Ale as a third style; you will taste the Scotch Ale signature sweet maltiness along with the hammering hops characteristics of an IPA.

It's a finely crafted balance of borderline aggressive hops (Goldings and Liberty) with clean, sweet tasting malts and organic brown sugar.

This brew has multiple personalities, it's true. But don't think for a minute that this is a case of mistaken identity. According to a video by Sam Calagione on their website, this beer is the "...unsung hero of our year round portfolio..."  Sam goes on to say that it is a "hybrid" ale; one sought after by the staff on "take-home case" days. That's some great insider information. It let's us know that it has a personality all its very own.

A year round ale that is a favorite of the brewers. Sam exclaims, "...we hope you're down with the brown!"

 I am.

Cigar City - Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Maduro Brown Ale
Cigar City Brewing Company
3924 West Spruce Street
Tampa, FL USA
Est.2008
www.cigarcitybeer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich brown color.
Malt, cinnamon, vanilla, fig and a bready oat smell meet your nose.
Tan colored, minimal head that sticks around to a cover.
Medium lacing on the glass, leaving spotty foam.
Malty sweet, tastes of vanilla, cinnamon and brown sugar with oat and raisin.
Nice amount of carbonation.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. Really tastes like oatmeal raisin cookies.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
I went to Cigar City just before the New Year to meet Gerard Walen (roadtripsforbeer.com) along with Erik Boles (BeerTapTV.com) and his wife Carmen. They brewery was busy that day, doing brisk business at their tasting room.  Other customers were stopping by just to have their growlers filled from the taps. Some of the selections on tap included Cream Ale Batch 69, Maduro Brown, and of course, Jai Alai IPA.  No Oatmeal Raisin Cookie on tap this excursion, so I got a 4 pack of bottles to take home instead. Good call, 'cause Mrs. Reaper is also a fan.

If you have never had these types of pie or cookie flavor based beers before, then you are in for a huge surprise. Prepare to have your mind blown. Crazy kinda' good! The name says it all. If you are a fan of oatmeal raisin cookies, you will think this is a "smoothie" version without the milk. Wait a minute. I just had a thought.  What if they made this into a milk stout instead? Then you could have milk and cookies all in one!

Muahahaahaaaahaaaa!    Joey.....Wayne - - - call me!

Cigar City - Maduro Brown Ale

Resurrected Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Maduro Brown Ale
Cigar City Brewing Company
3924 West Spruce Street
Tampa, FL USA
Est.2008
www.cigarcitybeer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich brown color.
Deep malty aroma, not much else.
Tan colored, minimal head that settles quickly to a cover.
Lacing is also minimal on the glass.
Malty sweet with a slight sugary sweet taste at end of each sip.
Nice amount of carbonation.
Medium bodied mouth feel. Pretty easy to drink in a session.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
V I C T O R Y !  Raise your glasses folks.

Went to my favorite watering hole tonight and ordered the Maduro in celebration of the Cigar City Tasting Room's approval for wet zoning.  The Tampa City Council passed the decision in a close 4 to 3 'yes' vote.  CCB had previously been allowed temporary permits that had to be renewed on a regular basis to keep the Tasting Room open.  All seven Tampa council persons showed up on this important vote.  It was a great relief to the local craft beer community of Florida and beyond to hear that Tampa's multi-award winning brewery was allowed to have a permanent wet zoning license.

Cigar City has grown in just two years from two employees to over twenty. People I know have planned portions of their Florida vacations just to visit this renown brewery, showing they have the drawing power to bring tourism into the state. I have visited the place and found it nice to see where the beer is made and enjoy one or two of their delicious beers.  Half growlers or double growlers are available for purchase along with 12 oz and 750 ml bottles. You can also buy shirts, hats and other CCB logo items.

Remember to support your local brewery, your local brewer and fight for the right to drink decent beer. It's the only fight worth having over beer.

Sierra Nevada - Tumbler 2010 Autumn Brown Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Tumbler 2010 Autumn Brown Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA USA
Est. 1980
www.sierranevada.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Root beer brown color.
Roasty malt aromas with nutty dry aromas.
Two finger frothy tan head that coats the glass.
Great head and lace retention completely down the side of glass.
Sweet malty taste; dry easy finish with taste of toasted nuts.
Medium carbonation.
Medium bodied mouth feel. Very smooth. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Today is the 30th anniversary of Ken Grossman's little beer project, a.k.a. Sierra Nevada. Congrats to him and the staff for doing their part in helping the craft beer revolution along.

I'm going to keep it simple here as I usually do with my Sierra Nevada posts....here is a great measuring stick for all brown ales.  Smooth, tight and dry with a bit of nuttiness and touch of sweetness. Another outstanding beer from Sierra Nevada.

Keep up the good work Ken and thanks for all the great ales! Keep 'em coming! Happy 30th anniversary!

Abita Pecan Harvest

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Abita Pecan Harvest
Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Abita Springs, LA USA
Est. 1986
www.abita.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear copper color.
Pronounced nutty aroma with a bit of hops present.
One-finger off-white head that leaves no lacing.
Dry, nutty taste.Taste and smell of pecans.
Modest amount of carbonation.
Light mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Although classified as an American Brown Ale, I didn't get that while sampling this beer. It was in a world of its own with the addition of pecans. Abita makes mention on the label that while other beers hint at nuttiness in flavor, it is usually due to the process of brewing, but not by adding nuts.  They have gone the step farther and added some of Louisiana's finest pecans to the batch making a uniquely flavorful beer.

Don't be fooled by the 'brown ale' handle, it doesn't taste at all like your usual brown.  But that said, it does make for an interestingly off beat version. I liked it.

Big Sky - Moose Drool

Dead Moose

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Big Sky Moose Drool
Big Sky Brewing Company
Missoula, MT USA
Est. 1995
www.bigskybrew.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.1 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Gorgeous mahogany brown with clear ruby toned edges.
Malt, with caramel sweetness. A bit of dry nutty spice to the nose.
Two-finger tan colored, rocky head. Slowly dissipates leaving a complete cover.
Malty with a caramel sweetness that is very pleasant on the tongue.
Modest amount of carbonation.
Light mouth feel. Super easy to session.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Just back from GABF in Denver with the latest haul of beers.  This was one I literally intended to "hunt down" while visiting.  I must say it lived up to the billing.  Moose Drool is one of the best tasting 'browns' I've come across.  It has such a pleasant malt smell and is low in ABV making for a perfect session beer.

The sweetness of the malt seems to be balanced by a hops and carbonation brightness that tickles your tongue. And although it leads with the malt flavor, it achieves a nice balance, sort of like a big bodied moose on those spindly legs.

So the next time I'm in Colorado, there will be more of this stuff coming back with me.  Bag one for yourself.

Smuttynose - Old Brown Dog Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Smuttynose - Old Brown Dog Ale
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Portsmouth, NH USA
Est.1994
www.smuttynose.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep rich brown color.
Hops, malts and maybe cinnamon or nutmeg in the aromas.
Soft warming feel and fruity, soft spice flavor.
Two finger head with some rings of lacing.
Sweet caramel malts and some nutty spices tickle the tongue.
Medium mouth feel and good balance of carbonation.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
There's Olive, perched on her pillow bed, posing for the camera. Good dog! Just a snapshot in time, capturing the moment of her grandeur. Looking like a 1989 GABF Silver Medal winner all the way!

The beer is a snapshot too, of what a good brown ale can be. Just like the working class dog in the photo, this beer will serve you well.  It has enough rich color and body along with some oomph to keep you up and going...perhaps for a walk? Did someone say 'go for a walk'???

Grab the leash and get down to the store to adopt one (or six) of these pups.  Get going.

Odell - Mountain Standard Reserve '09

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Odell Mountain Standard Reserve '09
Odell Brewing Company
800 East Lincoln Avenue
Fort Collins, CO USA
Est. 1989
www.odellbrewing.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Mahogany brown color with subtle hints of ruby tones.
Piney hops and a nutty sweet aroma from the nose. A bit of malt in reserve.
Silky looking, tight foaming, two fingered head.
Great amount of lacing with each sip.
Very active carbonation.
Taste reveals a maltier than expected front with toned down hops finish. Quite the reverse of the smell.
Medium bodied mouth feel and dry finish. Very balanced.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Some days my bony fingers ache, leaving me slack to write about the qualities of a current beer.  Other days, I cannot wait to exude the thoughts on to the page fast enough.  Especially when it is a beer that is not oft seen in this crypt's parts.  The excitement to examine and enjoy spilled out of me, as fast as the beer was poured from the bottle.  I make no shame about this beer - - - Odell is one of my guilty pleasures.

Returned home with this stuff in May and was patient enough to wait to try it out.  At the end of a rather stressful week, digging the ditches at work, this was a just reward.  Shared in the company of close family and offered up as a special treat, I got excited to finally open the Mountain Standard, a beer that is lovingly named for the time zone in which it is crafted.  A rather lucky end-of-the-day to an unlucky Friday the 13th.

Immediately, our noses were greeted by that special hop signature that is only Odell's.  We all recognized it the minute we raised our glasses up to our lips and sniffed in that luscious hop aroma; one that is like no other.  An aroma I can tell with my eyes closed.  I don't know how they do it, but I hope they just keep on doing it the same way, over and over.  Until it is ever locally available, I will have to return with regularity across the Mississippi to one of the states that does sell Odell.  And I pray that there may be another Reserve Series in a coming year for Mountain Standard.

Did I mention how lucky this Friday the 13th was?  I am so glad I brought back two bottles.

Terrapin Hop Karma Brown IPA

Dead Reptile

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Terrapin Hop Karma Brown IPA
Terrapin Beer Company
265 Newton Bridge Road
Athens, GA USA
Est. 2002
www.terrapinbeer.com
 
Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Ruby colored brown body.
Dense piny hops aromas.
Two fingered tan head that lasts.
Draped lace on glass.
Great taste of hops and brown ale notes. Balanced.
Smooth and creamy like a brown and bitter finish like an IPA.
Not overly carbonated.
Medium bodied mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Like brown ales?  Fancy and IPA?  Can't decide?  Well, you don't have to anymore.  Terrapin has a mash-up of both styles in one ale.  "Hop Karma" Brown IPA is complete with a sitar playing turtle wearing Indian regalia.

The brown ale notes are mingled with the hops in the nose.  The first sip says 'brown ale' then it smacks your taste buds with a "ha ha, fooled you" IPA hops pop.  This is very strange indeed.  Hop Karma is so well balanced you really can distinguish both styles rather than just a blurry blending of the ingredients.

Get it "Within You Without You".

Odell - Saboteur Brett Barrel Brown Ale

Dead Assassin

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Saboteur Brett Barrel Brown Ale
Odell Brewing Company
800 East Lincoln Avenue
Fort Collins, CO USA
Est. 1989
www.odellbrewing.com
http://odellbrewing.com/beers/saboteur 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown cola color.
Sweet pineapple and vanilla aroma with slight earthy funk on the nose.
Moderate one to two finger creamy head with minimal lacing.
The taste sours out, but in a good way.
Medium mouth feel. Complex, earthy sour flavors. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
I scored two of these beauties on a trip to Colorado as part of a near $200 extravaganza of beer shopping.

As a fairly new addition to the Odell lineup, Saboteur lives up to it's name by tantalizingly drawing you near with sumptuously sweet pineapple and vanilla flavors.  Then it perpetrates its diabolical plan by turning sour to the taste as you finish the sip.  In the world of espionage, a saboteur's modus operandi is attempting to conceal their identities because of the consequences of their actions.  This is how this ale gets the job done.

The bottle label  introduces you to the fact that Brettanomyces, (the bane of a vintner's existence), is in the batch.  Hence the name 'Brett' in the ale's name.  Brett is typically found in Lambic or gueuze, giving them a sour profile.  It has the same effect on Saboteur, by design.  Saboteur is aged in oak barrels and then conditioned 100% in each bottle.

Tricky little ale that will please, as it performs its artful seduction on your senses. Don't fight it when a Saboteur sneaks up on you. At 10% ABV, you will be infiltrated.  Resistance is futile.

Cigar City - Maduro (Vanilla Aged)

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale (Vanilla Aged)
Cigar City Brewing Company
3924 West Spruce Street
Tampa, FL USA
Est.2008
www.cigarcitybeer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0  (On Tap) 

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown color.
Roasted malt, chocolate and vanilla aromas.
Tight tan head with lacing that evenly coats the glass.
Subdued vanilla mixing with the toffee and chocolate flavors.
Fair amount of carbonation.
Medium to heavy bodied. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
A young brewery here in the bay area of Florida with a sense of tradition to the long heritage of Florida brewing.  Visit their website for a glimpse into the gallery of photos that takes you on a tour of by-gone breweries, in and around the Tampa area.  Hostess Caitlin, of Mr. Beery's, explained the characteristics of this vanilla aged ale, with ease. She was able to describe it to a "T".

As for this brown ale - you have heard me say before that browns are spot on or terribly miss the mark - well, BULLS-EYE!  The additional incorporation of vanilla is a wonderful addition to the chocolate and toffee tones going through this malted pint.  It is the first place I have come across the Cigar City tap offerings and it's surely a hit.  At 5.5% ABV it's easy to session this and pair with a fine cigar of your choice.

Tampa was long renown for its cigar production.  I ask you, what goes better with a cigar than a brown ale such as this beauty.  Right in my back yard...I must pay them a visit, soon.

Rogue - Hazelnut Brown Nectar

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.0 (On Tap) 

Postmortem Brew Review 
Solid brown with ruby cast tones.
Malty aroma; pleasingly sweet. Hearty dry nut aromas.
Practically no head that sticks around as a cover showing spotting of yeast.
Drying bitter chocolate on after sip with creamy finish.
Good amount of head coats the glass.
Surprisingly light bodied for a brown ale.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This one had been recommended by a friend for a while.  I should have listened to him sooner.  He was right on about this brown ale.

I found the head was non existant and the ale looked lifeless in the glass, but after tasting those smooth nutty flavors, it seemed to wash away any notion of doubt.  Its maltiness and nuttiness come through with each smooth sip.  There is a touch of sweetness in there,as well.  There's also some good carbonation in this ale.  No more doubt about it; this is a great brown ale any way you look at it.

Rogue!  How do you make such great beers?

Sierra Nevada Brown Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Sierra Nevada Brown Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA USA
Est. 1980
www.sierranevada.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.0  (On Tap) 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color. Great clarity when held to light.
Malty and nutty on the nose.
Nicely foaming one finger head that sticks around.
Nutty and malty taste; lots of earthy flavors. Soft hops.
Medium bodied mouth feel. Smooth and balanced. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Sometimes, less is more.  On that note, there may be little to say in this post, but it speaks volumes.

I have the hardest time posting for the Sierra Nevada beers.  They are remarkable.  I sometimes can't think of enough superlatives to laud on their efforts.  But simply stated, they make fine examples of beer and ale.  Beyond that understatement, they are consistently tasty, consistently well crafted and thoroughly enjoyed.

Brown ales are some of the hardest to get right, in my opinion.  But this is as good as any I have tried to date.  Try one against your favorite 'brown ale' and compare for yourself.

He'Brew Messiah Bold Dark Brown Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

He'Brew Messiah Bold Dark Brown Ale
Shmaltz Brewing
New York, USA
Est. 1996 (5757 Hebrew Metonic Cycle)
www.shmaltzbrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color.
Firm malt flavor.
One finger head that disappeared quickly.
Negligent lace on the glass.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
If this beer were a movie, it would be "Cool Hand Luke". "What we've got here is failure to communicate!" Nothing extraordinary speaks to the drinker. As the character Dragline explains it, "You're an original, that's what you are!" And so is Messiah Bold. I'll tell you this, 'shtick' with He'Brew and you can't go wrong, but like Paul Newman's character, you may want to escape this one.

Typical of brown ales, I was expecting the maltiness, sans the hops. But there wasn't anything else remarkable that set it apart from other brown ales I've sampled. Brown ales are an acquired taste, and it seems the British pretty much own that category in ale.

You might be tempted to throw this one in the ditch, but just like Luke, it has redeeming values and is far from criminal. And also like Luke, Messiah Bold just casually refuses to change its behavior in order to please others. Gotta' admire that quality.