Brownstone - Sixpoint Brewery

Gavage

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: clear brown with a nice 2" thick fluffy head. Medium lacing.

Smell: malt and caramel sweetness is easily detectable.

Taste: nice big malt base, caramel, hint of chocolate, along with a touch of nuttiness, brown sugar, and earthiness. Bitterness is mild. Solid and hearty brown ale here.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp at the start and smooth at the finish. Very short aftertaste. Medium bodied beer.

Drinkability: great session beer. Easy to drink and leaves you satisifed unlike many other brown ales. Try this if you see it.

Serving type: cask

07-20-2007 14:07:39 | More by Gavage

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Hop Devil in NYC.

Ah, this reminds me of Surly Brewing's Bender, though a step behind. That's no knock at this beer. A borderline porter, this beer featured a rich, dry cocoa flavor with a slight roasted edge. Nice and dark like a porter too, but this is a case where style doesn't matter. This is just a tasty beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2007 01:50:27 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.04/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Ruby caramel tinted mahogany brown body with a fine bubbled cream colored head, nice textured lacing around the sides of my glass. Aroma has some chlorophyll green quality mild citrus leafy tobacco notes, with caramel malt backbone riding thru with a quality bready maltiness. That's where Sixpoint ales win it's there malts they never forget that the hop show is nothing without the base malt, flavor here screams that with a nice bitter hopped up brown ale still able to show off a complex malt base. Semi bitter finish medium to light bodied nothing cloying or holding me back from another drink gravity did all the work, damn where did the beer go...drinkability is insane I want a whole four pack. Damn good balanced but hoppier neo brown ale.

Serving type: can

05-04-2013 00:21:23 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown. Nice off white head. Nose is nice and deep with a sweet tone. Flavor is deep, robust, and at just the right levels. You know you're drinking a brown ale with this one. If I were blind and tasted it, I would know exactly what it was. Nice lasting caramel aftertaste. Feel is smooth on liquid with a great bubble on the tongue. It kind of stays with you and nibbles on your mouth long after you are done (the bubble that is).Extremely drinkable. Another great brew from Sixpoint and a beautiful take on the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2007 08:57:56 | More by RblWthACoz

Wasatch

Utah

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Sixpoint

Pours a nice slightly cloudy dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice huge two finger off-white creamy head, some islands and sticky lacing afterwards. The nose is malty, slight hop, slight chocolate, and caramel. The taste is malty, and a nice chocolate/caramel. Medium body. Very drinkable, a nice/different brown ale, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2007 02:28:11 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

16oz pounder, freshness date on the bottom of the can.

LOOK: Hazed amber red hue, sticky two fingers of froth

SMELL: Clean hop resin, toasted bread, mildly estery, spicy, caramel, faint orange peel, herbal, hay, roasted pecans

TASTE: Very malty, medium bodied, very smooth, toasted character throughout, juicy hop bitterness, chicory, hint of unsweetened chocolate, peppery alcohol, slightly orangey hop flavor, citrus pith, vaguely nutty, drying finish

A bit raw but certainly not unfinished, layers peel away with each sip as it warms up. I've had this on tap many times and the can seems to have held on to all of this greatness. Hands down one of my favorite American brewed browns.

Serving type: can

10-22-2012 02:09:04 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Six point's nite at the Blind Tiger in NYC, sampled a pint of this one first. Pours chocolaty brown and murky, Nose is faintly bready. Minimal white head was noticed and minor lacing was left on the glass. I picked up some caramel, chocolate, and roasted grains. This is a lightly hopped, medium bodied, pleasant and refreshing brew. Perhaps a tad thin in the flavor department, but still a decent sessioner.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2005 11:57:05 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tap at Armsby Abbey

Fizzy and creamy 1 finger head semi with creamy lacing fades slowly over hazy dark woody brown.

Nose is malty, today brown nutty malts, sweet caramelized brown sugar, molasses, toffee, creamy, some earthy and light herbal hops,

Taste is malty to start, toasty sweet brown malts, sweet caramelized brown sugar, molasses, little creamy, light herbal hops, light tobacco, light citrus floral hops, very interesting. Finishes a bit drier, lingering sticky malty flavor and some floral light herbal hops.

Mouth is med bodied good carb.

Drink is good, light little biter but a nice malty balance, sessionable, dry finish, little sticky though.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2011 03:31:33 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap tonight at Beer Authority. Very excited to see it on tap as I've wanted to try it for a while.

a - Pours a murky mud brown color with one inch of light tan head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of nuts, caramel malts, burnt malts, toasted malts, and roasted malts. Ton of malts; very nice nose.

t - Tastes nuts, roasted malts, toasted malts, cocoa, chocolate, caramel malts, toffee, and some burnt malts. More nuts than the nose; again very malty and nice.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Very easy to drink.

o - Overall a very nice brown ale. Ton of malts and nuts, and very easy to drink. Hope they can this one; would like to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 00:39:05 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to sixpoint for the trade...
Appears a murky mahogany toned brown with a small, 1 finger head of beige fluff that quickly fades into a mild cap and sea-foam collar. Streaks of lace stick all around the glass. A small amount of grainy residue finds it's way to the bottom of the glass.
Smell is of rich toffee, toasted nuts, light caramel, some "green", earthy hops, and mild peppery spice.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with more of a hop presence detected in the flavor. The brown sugar-like beginning works it's way back to a toasty, mildly bitter flavor with a very light undertone of a cocoa powder, or espresso bean.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, semi-sweet, mildly fizzy up front and leading to a creamy, smooth ending that has a texture like a piece of tiramisu.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2007 00:15:12 | More by weeare138

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Light cola pour from the can appears a dark mahogany brown in the vessel. The head is 2 fingers plus, beach sand coloring, with a spongy and porous texture atop. Retention stays long, while a rush of effervesce quickly rises to the occasion beading up and rebuilding the head. Thick stratified frothy ring lacing condescends the vessel.

S: Nutty aroma, some spicy cola.

T: Dry nuttiness, cola and roasted chestnuts with some coffee are prominent on the open. Dry earthy bitterness, grey earl tea, deep malted tones add depth. Spicy cardamon, sweet dry nutty warming with a hint of woodsy hops, dry pine and underbrushing.

M: lively with carbonation, tingling and dancing on the tongue while a warm and dry nuttiness provides a powdery and alkaline like coating on departure.

O: Overall a beer that is intriquing with many layers of complexity when savored and slowly explored, yet just as enjoyable to drink in multiples just kicking back. 6 pack worthy. and yes i couldnt help but hum Mr. brownstone by gnr during drinking.

Serving type: can

03-14-2013 22:55:18 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy soft brown hue with a two finger creamy head. There was very good retention and good sticky lacing.

The smell was very subtle. Freshly baked bread comes to mind.

The taste was very interesting. A solid doughy backbone was highlighted with a candy like tartness. Nothing too crazy, just a little sweet tartness in the front of the mouth. The beer finished smooth. Very fresh tasting.

The mouthfeel was very clean.

I really enjoyed this brown ale. Very drinkable. Would be a good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2006 00:55:03 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was hoping to score a CAN or two of this latest CANned offering from Sixpoint at The Fridge but to no avail. The Foodery (Northern Liberties) to the rescue! I stopped in shortly after they opened on Labor Day and lo and behold, Brownstone. Good on ya, boys! The CANQuest (TM) marches on!

From the CAN: "... and coming out of the brownstone house to the gray sidewalk, the watered street, one side of the buildings rises with the sun like a glistening field of wheat."; "Brownstone is our bedrock; the first fortress of Sixpoint. Mahogany malt and balanced bitterness is our home."; "Please keep refrigerated. This ale was dry-hopped with fresh hops."; "Beer is culture".

The first quote is from the poem, "Letter to N.Y." by Elizabeth Bishop. The Crack and Glug was from my kitchen. I could not invert the CAN, but the massive head that formed anyway created a cascading action as it fell away to become liquid. I had a dense two-plus fingers of light-tan head with great retention when all was said and done. Color was a reddish-brown with NE-quality clarity, but not deep enough in its shade to be called mahogany. Nose had a real hop presence to it, very pine-y, underlain by a slight malty sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium and the hops really presented up front, followed by a light chocolaty sweetness on the tongue. The finish was dry, mostly from the hops, but the extreme finish allowed me to experience the malt again. Once more, they are not doing things to style, but that suits me just fine.

Serving type: can

09-07-2012 00:23:31 | More by woodychandler

Brad007

Vermont

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got "Mr.Brownstone" by Guns N Roses going through my head thanks to this beer.

As one would expect, it's a nice mild brown color with a frothy head. Not BROWN but not brown either.

After it settles, I pick out a faint hint of sweet malt and not much else in the nose. You don't need hops in a brown ale. It's not sickly sweet.

It is what it is. Sweet with some chocolate and brown sugar notes. There are still hops but they compliment rather than overwhelm the palate.

Lingering sweet brown sugar and cocoa make up the mouthfeel. The carbonation level should be dialed down a bit but otherwise, easy going, easy drinking.

Check this out if you want a simple, drinkable brown ale that you can also take to the beach or public gatherings where glass is forbidden.

Serving type: can

09-10-2012 01:30:18 | More by Brad007

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz can poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint
6.0% ABV, 45 IBUs, 21 SRM, Best before 26APR2013

A - Rich ruby mahogany in color, Brownstone pours clear with a tall tan head. The firm pile of foam lowers slowly, collapsing around the perimeter but leaves whispy-to-chunky lace left on the pint for a sexy appeal!

S - Brownstone has a pleasant balance to the nose from the very beginning. Dry toasted bread is drizzled with zig-zagging strings of melted caramel and served up to combat the hoppy nose. Delicate pine and wood earthiness keep with the brown ale theme while a faint ale yeast fruitiness of plum and fig closes the aroma out.

T - Brownstone loses some of the aroma's more intricate complexities but replaces them with other interesting and unique traits. Toast and caramel sweetness linger with a lightly roasted coffee bean flavor that all overcomes the faint pine and woody hoppiness.

M - Smooth to the last drop, Brownstone is a medium bodied brown ale with a dry bite and crisp hoppy lingering bitterness but the finish feels just a little bit thin with a touch of alcohol poking through.

O - An easy drinking brown ale, Brownstone is crisp and clean with great malt and hop balance for an understated result. Sixpoint packs in delicate nuances which prevail when contemplating it's nature but are comfortable being lost in it's drinkability.

Serving type: can

10-24-2012 23:41:24 | More by BeerFMAndy

smakawhat

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass.

Real good head formation off the pour on this. Light tan head. Creamy, somewhat together with lots of retention and staying power. Body is a deep dark redish brown color with not much ability to see through it.

Bouquet on this is neutral for a brown ale. Malt action not so much, sugar sweetness or nuts, no. But there is a distinct aromatic hop on here, something akin to a mellow pine which seems to make a woody character nicely to a brown ale.

Taste is very light bodied, with a simple feel. Much of the flavor is in the aftertaste as to the mid palate, and very subtle. Light chocolate, light malts and a lingering mild hop astringency. Body makes with the lightness also, almost wet but luckily not too bad.

Overall an easy drinking brown, with some light flavors. Something in my gut tells me this on tap or nitro would make it sing.

Serving type: can

09-05-2012 23:40:33 | More by smakawhat

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.38/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Growler from Bellport Beer & Soda. Pours dark brown with a small ring of white head. Aroma of roasted malt, caramel, light roasted nuts, and sweet malt. Flavor of sweet malt, crystal malt (iced tea) and light roasted malt. Definitely sweeter on the flavor side. An ok brown, definitely on the sweet side.

Serving type: growler

06-09-2009 18:27:52 | More by LilBeerDoctor

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's.

Poured a medium brown color with an averaged sized off white. Lighter lacing left on the glass. Aromas of toasted nuttiness, earthy, roastiness, and lighter coffee. Tastes of toasted caramel, nuts, chocolate, and roasty. Decent for a brown ale.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2009 19:35:58 | More by hopdog

tdm168

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - dark caramel amber with a large, thick, dense, brownish head that has great retention

S - caramel, faintly nutty, citrusy

T - caramel, big citrusy hop character, mild piny bitterness, an underlying nuttiness

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is really a nice beer. It has the hallmarks of a traditional brown ale with big caramel notes and a faint nuttiness. This beer, however, brings a big hop punch with an intense citrus character and solid, balanced bitterness. This is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: can

04-23-2013 22:53:17 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

16oz can served in a glass beer mug.

L - semi-hazed deep mahogany color with a creamy beige head that thinned out leaving a thin sheet of lacing.

S - caramel cream candy with a bit of earthiness.

T - sweet & toasty caramel upfront with a touch of bitterness at the back end.

F - medium bodied, crisply carbonated with a refreshing feel.

O - all around good brown ale.

Serving type: can

08-25-2012 01:07:28 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Snagged a single for $2.69 at Vintage Estates.

A - A nice deep clear brown hue with a 1/4 inch of head that seems to settle into a mild lace ring.
S - rather hoppy for a brown ale, citrus hops, brown malt, and some chocolate notes.
T - Quite good as other said the taste grows on you. Not too sweet or bitter just fruity with the house yeast, some brown malts, and a splash of citrus hops in the finish. Has mild roasty tones.
M - Quite light for a brown ale still kind of chewy and moderately filling.
Overall I would get this again it's a pretty solid brown ale.

Serving type: can

02-17-2013 04:32:42 | More by DrDemento456

flagmantho

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 16oz tall can into a dimpled mug. Best before March 2013.

Appearance: medium tawny brown with a moderately heavy haze. Head pours a finger of frothy tan foam with decent retention and an attractive lace. Pretty good!

Smell: rich and complex malt aroma with caramel and toastiness which change character over time; a good dose of earthy hops is also present. I like it.

Taste: again, toasty and caramelly malt character which seems a bit sweeter than in the aroma. Hops are earthy and a little bit herbal and are more intense than the aroma. Bitterness is on the high side for the style, but altogether it works pretty well.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a very good carbonation and a concomitant creaminess. I like it.

Overall: a bit bitter for a brown ale, even an American one; still, quite drinkable and definitely worth having again.

Serving type: can

12-01-2012 00:28:10 | More by flagmantho

Gmann

New York

3.45/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours your standard chocolate brown color with a moderate bubbled khaki head that left some nice webby lacing on the glass.

The aroma is of a light grapefruit hop. Some metal notes from the malt and a subtle toasted malt.

Hops dominate the flavor of the American Brown Ale. Grapefruit in nature but of are a strength that won't confuse this with an IPA. Some leafy and grass notes from the hops as well. The malt is fairly weak for a brown ale. It provides some toasted flavor and perhaps a hint of brown sugar and chocolate. Some dry lemony notes in the finish.

Light to moderate feel with appropriate carbonation. Dry and almost astringent in the finish, not overly bitter.

A weak brown ale base with a good hop profile. Sixpoint definitely cut down on the yeast profile from the last time I had this beer. Would love to see more body to this beer.

Serving type: can

08-19-2012 20:21:43 | More by Gmann

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Brownstone pops open with some ivory foam already formed in the CAN. Once out, the liquid takes on a shoe polish brown look with some red poking in at the sides. Not much of a cap, semi lacing.

Smell is fairly easy for a fairly simple beer, Brownstone does have pungent strength. This includes a boatload of English malt giving off nuts and slight toffee and grain. A nice hop presence from the dry hopping.

Taste starts off malty and nutty and well, that's pretty much it. But wait, English malt is just large in this. A bit of chocolate malt in there as well, maybe a pinch of cocco flavor/brown sugar. Brownstone is a str8 forward style with a str8 forward taste. No bells or whistles.

Feel is kinda nice and the carbonation is pretty lively for a brown. It just sort of goes down smooth like and there is no prick. For the style though, not everything needs to pop like that.

Brownstone is great beer and one I would take down with some BBQ, it seems like a great match. 6% leads to all day drinking.

Serving type: can

12-14-2012 03:37:31 | More by onix1agr

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark brown in color with some garnet red highlights when held up to the light and very light amounts of visible carbonation along the surface of the beer. The beer has a two finger tall dense creamy dark beige head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium sized very thick patch and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of bready malts and some caramel malts sweetness. There is a light citrus hop presence that disappears as the beer warms up.

T: The flavor of the beer starts with a body of sweet caramel malts and just a hint of bready malt. There are some notes of coffee and nuts along with a light citrus hop bitterness that fades quickly.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: Very easy to drink and very sessionable - I could easily have a couple of these in an evening. The beer is enjoyable and pairs well with foods, from pub fare to upscale. The flavor profile seems to have shifted just a bit (with a little hop presence) since this moved to a year round offering in cans.

Serving type: can

08-29-2012 23:53:48 | More by dbrauneis