Indian Brown Ale - Dogfish Head Brewery

diddly

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass

Pours a dark, rich black, with a nice, creamy, off-white to tan head.

Aroma is rich and roasty. Hints of coffee are most prominent, with a slight alcoholic scent, and some hop aroma.

Taste is roasty first and foremost, with a nice balance of bitterness and sweetness. As the beer warms, alcohol warmth shines through, and hints at a barrel-aged flavor.

Mouthfeel is surprisingly light for such a heavy and flavorful beer. The bitterness complements the flavors well.

Overall, an excellent beer, very smooth, and something well out of the box - definitely not something with a lot of competition in the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 04:29:32 | More by diddly

majinsnake

West Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I had this for Thanksgiving. It was okay. I had every last drop. I might have another one of these,

appearance Normal appearance.

smell Smell was normal.

taste Pretty dark, though not a flavourable taste.

mouthfeel Much mouthfeel.

overall It was allright.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 03:50:14 | More by majinsnake

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up one of these on a trip to Phily. Dark brown color. Unique and plenty intriguing. The flavor brings out more juniper and malt again with a slight change to the bourbon side of whisky. Some herbal/citrus hop jumps into the picture as your tastebuds adjust to the array of flavors, caramel malt rises nicely throughout. This brew is medium bodied with modest carbonation and a rich, smooth feel. A definite pleaser.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 01:45:10 | More by cfalovo97

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Much thanks Will -

12oz bottle to New Belgium Globe...

A: Tawny brown color, dark with transparent gold and red hues. Tannish head settles into a nice ring and leaves some lacing here and there.

S: Malty sweet and a bit sugary, nice aromas of browned caramel and molasses, with hints of vanilla, maple-wood, and even a ghostly flash of oak...faint dark fruit character, figs...light earthy hoppiness.

T: With lots of malty caramel, the taste is right in line with the nose. There is the slightest hint of alcohol, and a coffee-like roasted bitter edge that competes with the sweetness. Toasted grains, burnt caramel and brown sugar.

MF: Thinner medium feel with a light syrupy edge and a touch of warming. Lower bitterness.

O: A really pleasant brown its own unique twist. I could drink more of this, definitely.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 15:01:16 | More by Scotchboy

tviz33

New York

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle in to a pint glass.

A- Pours a rich dark brown with a one finger tan head. A nice thin cap of foam sticks around for the whole serving and some lacing is present.

S- Caramely and rich with some brown sugar and maybe a little bit of chocolate. Slightly nutty and has a touch of alcohol scent to it.

T- Roasty and sweet at the same time. This is one that you can really enjoy as it warms. A noticeable hop presence comes around at the end.

M- Leaning towards the thicker side of things and creamy. Well-carbonated, smooth, and easy-drinking.

O- A very solid and drinkable brown ale. I'm not seeing a whole lot wrong with this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 05:10:04 | More by tviz33

TuffNut87

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first Dogfish Head..most excellent. Dark brown with a half inch head poured into a pint glass. Pleasant,strong scents of caramel and brown sugar. Very smooth on the tongue, and full of flavor. Sweet malt, subtle hop flavor, and great caramel flavor. Creamy and tasty!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 00:23:38 | More by TuffNut87

DarkBeer

4.75/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Indian Brown Ale is a cross between Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale and an American Brown. The caramel notes from the Scotch Ale blend nicely with the IPA hop flavors. The Brown Ale adds to the richness. It's a very well-balanced dark beer. This is a good winter beer, something I would drink during the Christmas holidays while the wife and kids are drinking hot chocolate. It's very warming and rich with hints of caramel and brown sugar. The buzz I get from it is accompanied with a warming sensation suitable for the holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 21:54:42 | More by DarkBeer

dannydetox

California

3.83/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

for an American brown, this is a tasty example; i must add that it is much more brown than indian. deep, dark reddish brown beer with a tan head that clings to the sides of the glass. not as aromatic as i would have wanted/hoped/expected. some brown sugar, a little grassiness and some caramel, but little else. you'll get a rich, mouth-coating body on this brew as it crosses across the palate. more caramel malts in the mids, and the hops assert their presence at the very end. i like the dry finish here, but would personally prefer more of those hoppy aromas.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 02:17:07 | More by dannydetox

pschie1

Louisiana

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: very dark mahogany. Tan 1 finger head. Retention is good. Fades into off white. Lacing s perfect.

Smell: nice floral hops aroma mixed with bitter chocolate. Not the smell of a true IPA like some have said!

Taste: strong chocolate/toffee taste. Close to a burnt caramel flavor. Great balance of hops. More than any ive ever had in a Brown Ale, but not over powering. Gives a great dryness. You can taste the 7.2% abv. slightly more than i'd prefer but this is a great high gravity beer.

Mouth feel: Medium bodied, a little dry a little harsh, but nothing to complain about.

Overall: This might not be a typical Brown Ale but it might be one of the best i've had. Very closely rivals Rogue's hazelnut Brown Ale. A very good beer. Im glad i got a case! :)

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 04:03:30 | More by pschie1

Mojo

Alabama

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a dark mahogany with a off white head and lots of elaborate lacing. Smell is pine, resin, and floral notes. Mouthfeel is full with just the right amount of carbonation. Taste is caramel and toffee up front followed by citrus and pine hoppy bitterness. I recommend this beer. I didn't expect it to have the amount of hops that it has. It only makes it better!!!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 02:45:48 | More by Mojo

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice. Poured a 2.5" cappuccino velvet head with decent lifespan. The body is a dark burnt umber brown but held to the light it's a pretty red wine. Smells of roasted malt and medium hops. Taste reflects the smell but flips hops to the front, and then in the long finish they express even more. Taste also has some caramel and burnt sugar. Basically this is a deep brown ale with an IPA-styled hopping.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 09:49:26 | More by MoreThanWine

pvo

Virginia

4.48/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A great sessionable beer. Few breweries put out hoppy dark beers (outside of imperial stouts) before the recent black lager fad, which I wholeheartedly support. This falls into the same category, of beers that combine dark roast flavors along with some hoppiness and importantly, the ability to have one or two as part of a meal. DFH was ahead of the trend; it's not as unique as it once was, but it's still a good one.

Appearance: dark brown, blocks most light.

Smell: much like an IPA: the hop flavors come out more than anything else.

Taste: richer than an average IPA, with more depth to go along with the hops.

Mouthfeel: not too rich, but stays on the palate.

Overall, a very well-balanced beer. Some hops, some malt, some of everything. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 00:53:39 | More by pvo

CloudStrife

New York

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Bottled on 08/13/12.

A: Pours a clear dark ruby brown with a 1 finger off white head. A little bit of visible carbonation. Head fleets to the edges after a few minutes, leaves some faint lacing.

S: Starts off with some hop and dark fruits. Some sweetness and carmel in the background as well. Sort of a fermented fruit smell to it maybe from the roasted malt. Background tinge of alcohol.

T: Well balanced mix of a hoppy ipa, nutty brown and sweet scotch ale. Doesnt overpower with any particular facet, instead blends together in a nice harmony. Starts with some hop, some nuttyness, then a scotch like booze. Slight hop lingers.

M: Medium carbonation and body. Nice smooth and drinkable mouthfeel. Doesnt leave any unwanted stickinesss.

Overall a solid brew by DFH. Can be enjoyed by a wide variety of beer fans.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 23:43:17 | More by CloudStrife

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 Oz bottle poured into a tulip.

A- Pours dark brown/black with little light around the edges. A one finger khaki colored head.

S- Hoppy, very nutty, somewhat sweet. Slight roasted character and some coffee.

T- A refrehsing and sweet hop profile comes first. A slight citrus and pine flavor, somewhat oily and sticky. A lot of nutty flavors in this beer, like cashews and peanuts. A sugary caramel quality to the beer. The roasted flavors and coffee flavors are subtle and best felt in the aftertaste.

M- Oily and slightly bitter from the hops. Charred and roasted aftertaste. Sharp, yet dry. A good overally body to the beer.

O- This is a truly a solid brown ale. It wont disappoint any.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 00:56:44 | More by TwelveOunces

MikeB20

Delaware

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

P: 12oz bottle into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A: Pours a nearly opaque dark brown with some lighter highlights and a creamy single finger light brown head. Lacing is okay and hangs around for the whole glass.

S: Roasted malt, some caramel, burnt sugar and a hint of alcohol on the back-end.

T: Lots of roasted malt that finishes sweet. A nice balance of sweet and bitter, neither overpowers but this beer leans to being on the sweet side. Hints of dark chocolate and coffee but they aren't upfront. It feels like this beer is well hopped but the choice of hops pairs so well with the other flavors that it brings everything together vs adding another layer of distinct flavors.

M: Medium body and carbonation. Coats your mouth nicely but the flavors don't hang around for long. Very smooth and drinkable.

O: An intense but deceivingly drinkable brown ale. All of the components come together to form a great and unique ABA. This beer would stand up to a really hardy meal but is also delicate enough to have with dessert, something chocolate would be nice. This has always been and continues to be one of my favorite brown ales. Buy this beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 17:09:19 | More by MikeB20

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.03/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - Pours solid black with a one finger head. Light still somehow penetrates through the glass. Very feint lacing is left.

S - Coffee, burnt malt, slight alcohol, slight chocolate, and that's about it. No hop presence what so ever

T - Toasted malt up front, slight hops follow through shortly, coffee makes a small appearance. Caramel is also slightly off in the distance. The flavros don't meld as well as I had hoped.

M. Mouthfeel let's a large alcoholic bite to come through, with a medium body and heavy carbonation.

O - Overall, this beer was a disappointment. I expected an IPA meets a Scotch Ale which met a Brown ale as the description stated. This thing tasted more like a very weak porter. It is somewhat easy to drink though and I guess it isn't a terrible choice for when you want a quick drunk.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 04:53:34 | More by SometimesIfart

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep brown with hints of amber when held up to light. The head is ample and retains well throughout consumption. Good lacing on the glass. Smell is floral hops with chocolate malt. Taste is similar with malt sweetness coming through first - mild chocolate and some bread. Well balanced with spicy hops coming through on the back end.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 23:53:16 | More by Oakenator

kylehay2004

Florida

3.88/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: single finger head on a deep amber brown body.

S: toasted and chocolate malts. Hops are light and mostly earthy.

T: excellent toasted and chocolate malt base. Hops provide mostly earthy and light pine notes

M: medium body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: this is a very nice brown. Easy to drink and very flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 06:39:41 | More by kylehay2004

idResponse

North Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a great brew, full of character, flavor, and passion. Dogfish isn't messing around here, they aren't doing their usual "let's see what goes together and might make something drinkable." sort of idea here. They are making pure gold in a bottle. This is a beer that is sessionable, beautiful, and thirst quenching all at the same time. Grab this if you see it. If you don't see it, request it!

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 03:10:34 | More by idResponse

bjohn84

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Great tan head that laces on the glass. Awesome deep raisin brown color with excellent clarity
S - Nothing overly strong. Roasted caramel, vanilla
T - Heavy Brown Sugar, roasted nut, vanilla, some bitterness from hops
M - Very easy drinking, Creaminess lingers through like a stout
O - Great Beer. Has a lot of character that seems to be almost a mix of a brown, porter, and stout with a touch of bitterness

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 22:07:09 | More by bjohn84

Offa

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is excellent, balanced, characterful, and well rounded.

Deep brown, almost black, it has a small dark tan head slowly shrinking.

Aroma is brownies, coffee, brown sugar.

Taste is clean, balanced, flavourful and characterful. It has sweet caramelly toffee/brown sugar, strong roastiness and coffee-woody bitterness. It has light warming alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 23:05:48 | More by Offa

notchucknorris

California

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep chestnut color with a nice one finger sand colored head. Leaves some spots of lacing down the glass.

S: A really nice mix of medium roast coffee, roasted malts and some brown sugar with just a hint of earthy hops in the background.

T: Roasted malt along with a rich nuttiness, burnt brown sugar and some earthy and slightly herbal hop notes near the finish. A slight sweetness near the middle that reminds me of a fruity, rich dark chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 22:13:26 | More by notchucknorris

vkv822

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz : tulip

Pours a very dark amber red. Thick foamy light tan head.

Caramel malts mixed with brown sugar notes, floral hops, light nuttiness.

Caramel and toffee malt, and floral hops primarily. Light herbal hop notes.

Medium body, prickly, bubbly carbonation.

An enjoyable brown ale. The brown sugar gives a slight accent to the caramel malt notes with a nice floral, herbal hop profile.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 08:34:56 | More by vkv822

socon67

New York

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a SA perfect pint

A - Dark brown to a near black pour. Impressive creme colored foam head that retained well. Solid pattern of lacing in the glass.

S - Scents of fresh malt, ginger root, licorice, and smoky scent that I had to take a moment to smell since I was in a BBQ joint. Complexity was nice.

T - Has a malty-foward taste that had spicy notes, some flavor of nuts and a sugary finish. I found that as the beer settled the malt and fresh nut flavor became more prominent and there was les sweet flavors coming through.

M - Easy drinking brown ale that was robust enough to make you respect it, but not too heavy. Great to have, but maybe not sessionable.

O - Another tasty beer from DFH and one of their staple brews. Wierd that it took me so mong to try one.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 19:35:43 | More by socon67

mschind

California

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, no freshness date.

A- Very dark for a brown ale but clear with a big mocha head with average retention.

S- Malty chocolate, coffee and vanilla plus a little oak

T- Much like the nose with bitter chocolate dominating with some nut notes. Hard to tell if the bitterness comes from roasted barley or hops. Deep, rich flavor.

M- Smooth, almost creamy like an imperial stout. Carbonation is appropriate for the style.

O- A big, malty brown ale with a kick. I could enjoy this with pot roast or use it to make the pot roast, or maybe both.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 01:11:15 | More by mschind