Wolaver's Brown Ale - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.64/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottle > Pint Glass
A - Pours a murky amber color, half a finger head, thinner on the lacing.
S - Toffee Malts, with some nutty characteristics like hazelnut, earthy hop scents, and a slight touch of smokiness.
T - Moderate malt, clove, nice balacned hop bite with the slightly roasted malt.
M - Middle of the road, smooth and drinkable, the good flavors stay with you.
O - I'd say this would be best for fall, but is an average brown ale, not the best but certainly drinkable by all means.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 23:12:50 | More by Omnium

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew pours a cloudy orange brown with a one finger head which lasts for a few minuets and moderate lacing stays on the glass to the end.

The smell is strong with nuts, and sweet malts. Some roasted malt smell as well. Some floral hop smell is also present.

The taste starts with strong carbonation, sweet and roasted malts. Some carmel and nuts come next then some oily hops at the end. However the various tastes run together a little too much. It would be nice if the tastes were 'spread out' some more.

The mouthfeel is crisp, from the carbonation, slightly bready, chewy and oily at the end.

Overall this brew shows promise, it has some great smells and tastes. This is a good brown ale but it would be great if the tastes were more spread out across the palate instead of running together.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 23:31:38 | More by microbrewlover

MadScientist

New York

3.7/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: A deep amber with a slight haze. The light tan head is made of thick rocky bubbles with excellent retention.

S: A light malt aroma and moderately-light earthy hops. There are some slight caramel malt notes and vanilla. No diacetyl. Light esters of dried fruit and plums.

T: A balance of caramel and malt sweetness against a hop bitterness. The medium malt sweetness and medium bitterness give a balance that is about even. There is a light, citus hops flavor. Notes of vanilla, coffee and light dried fruit. The finish is off-dry with a light bitter aftertaste. Slight diacetyl.

M: A smooth creamy, medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. No astringency and a light slickness on the palate.

O: An enjoyable American Brown that balances the malt and hops bill well making for a great beer to pair with robust autumn dish that include squash, pumpkin or roasted root vegetables.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 23:26:25 | More by MadScientist

jifigz

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A bottle poured into a pint glass.

The appearance is a light reddish/amber brown color with a small bubbly heat that disappears rather quickly. The aroma of the brew is sweet, slightly grainy, with a little touch of iron to it. The taste is very sweet with just a touch of bitterness riding the tail-end of this one. The flavors are slightly husky and grainy and just a touch of a roasted flavor. The MF is pretty thin and weak feeling on this brew, but it has enough backbone to hold the light flavor and feel of this overall.
This is an average brown ale....nothing more....nothing less.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 14:39:59 | More by jifigz

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a light, bright, chestnut coloring that is unfiltered and opaque. Sparse, thin, filmy white surface coating of head. Aromas of tangy caramel, richly sweet nut, and a slight roasting. Maybe even a hint of toffee dabbed in there, too. Smells inviting, but not overpowering. Flavors are a tad on the sharp side due to the light body and increased carbonation in the mouthfeel. Once past that, there are an abundance of nutty sweet layers cascading the palate, with hazelnut and roastiness being the mainstay. Touches of toffee again make their presence known on the tail-end of the palate. The sweet and roast make the transition into the aftertaste, but that stay is very short-lived. The aftertaste washes away very quickly, leaving a clean, slightly sweet finish. Not a bad beer, but not one of my top Browns.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 23:16:18 | More by GarthDanielson

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Into a pint glass:

A: copper/red, slightly brown colored body and leaves a nice off-white two finger foamy head that lasts for a good two minutes. The body is too dark for any carbonation to be seen rising. Some minimal spotty lacing is seen here and there.

S: grainy nuttiness backed up with some slight malty breadiness.

T: pretty much the same smells in the flavoring.

M: medium with some slight harshness on the tongue. The aftetaste is dry. I would say this is fairly drinkable.

O: as much as I like browns, this one hmmm. . . I kinda don't think I'd come back to. Why? Well, probably because there are too many other browns that I enjoy more. Its just another average brown.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 15:48:42 | More by kangarooAdam59

smakawhat

Maryland

2.75/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured on tap into a shaker pint at Bee's Knees diner in Morrisville.

An interesting very copper red body and fairly clear. Slight tan brown head, with no lacing. Can't see much carbonation coming up from the glass.

Nose is virtually non existent, with perhaps some faint malt, no sense of nutty or brown bread.

Taste is rather unremarkable. Faint nutty action with an extremely wet and slapping body. Finish is lacking, flavors don't seem to stick around what little there are. Extremely weak body, that doesn't carry much forward. THere's some very faint nut and malt but that's about it.

Overall though it's still drinkable, but really nothing remarkable. Kind of hits like a very bad mild, not worth drinking there is so much better in this style out there.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2012 02:26:21 | More by smakawhat

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Hazy amber color with a rocky white head. Nice retention and lace, more than I expected.

Rich aroma in the nose. Toffee, caramel and a hint of vanilla. Minimal fruit, maybe some earthy hops at the back.

Mouth is not as rich as I thought from the nose. Caramel and toffee are present, but not dominant. Surprisingly not as sweet as I thought. Toffee lingers for a bit, with a flash of vanilla near the end. A bit of drying, earthy hops at the end.

Medi body, softer carbonation. Seems to be a nice session beer with some character. A solid brown, bonus for the organic thing.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 01:01:23 | More by Bierguy5

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at the brewery.

More of an amber than a brown beer in color; small head that falls rather quickly; patchy lacing. Nose is fairly muted; a mix of caramel sweetness and lightly toasted malt. Not really a lot of aroma at all.

Overall quite bland in flavor; lacking in distinction and roasted notes, chocolate, coffee, or what-have-you. Again there is a bit of caramel sweetness and some mild toasted malt but not much else. Very faint bitter hops buried underneath. Dry finish, short aftertaste.

Pretty non-descript and uninteresting take on a brown ale, a style which is seeing more and more fine offerings lately. This wasn’t one of them for me, unfortunately.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 03:41:36 | More by tobelerone

magine

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a nonic.

Pours a light caramel brown with a quick fading off white lace head. The head goes by quick. Minimal patchy lace remains, sheen layer of head remains as well. Decent looks.

Brew smells of caramel malts and vanilla. Good nose.

Brew is balanced; initially smooth and creamy good maltiness upfront and then the hops finish things up. Surprising hops at the end. Good drying finish. Good caramel sweetness and floral hops is what I am getting, maybe even a hint of vanilla. Maybe a little too hoppy for a brown, but good though. Good brew.

This is a good brown ale here; good flavors good balance and good feel. If it looked better it would be a stand out. Still good stuff though.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 01:27:50 | More by magine

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle stamped: 3295051712. Sampled on June 8, 2012. The pour is dark amber like a brown should look with a slight haze to it and a small head that lingers throughout. There is nothing extraordinary in the aroma which brings out a little maltiness and a slight hoppiness but nothing nut like. The body wasn't bad with a medium, smooth texture. The hops take over most of the taste but not to the point of being overly bitter. However it comes across as a little acidic. The brown malts are subdued.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:20:13 | More by puboflyons

SaCkErZ9

Florida

2.88/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tall, slender pint glass. Emerges a clear and ruddy brown color. Topped with a small white head that recedes rather abruptly to a small, wispy, cloud like presence on top of the beer.

Aroma is bready, cracker-like. Some caramel malts make an appearance. Rather sweet smelling, kind of like a malt liquor. Hints of chocolate and toffee.

Decent flavor profile. Still, a little sweet for my tastes. Bready with too much caramel sweetness. Thin on the mouthfeel. Slightly toasty. I guess this one was okay, but there was a sort of corn, cheap sweetness to it that turned me off. I have four of these in a mixed sixer and that will be plenty for me. I will pass next time.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 20:58:18 | More by SaCkErZ9

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

2.03/5  rDev -42%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

This beer pours a clear, bold copper at first then becomes increasingly cloudy as the glass fills. It has one finger head and lace until the end. It's aroma is of toffee, toast, and some pine. The flavor is roasted malt with grapefruit and toffee notes with an increasing alcohol bite as it warms. The mouthfeel is stichy and light-medium. Wolavers Brown Ale is an okay beer, not bad but no more, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 04:14:42 | More by B967ierhunter177

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

2.93/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle purchased at Market Basket in Somersworth. Pours a murky brown with a thin film of khaki-colored head. Smells malty and slightly fruity. Tastes roasty, somewhat sweet, and slightly astringent. Light bodied with moderate carbonation. A little drier than I usually like my brown ales. Middle of the road.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 01:12:42 | More by MrHurmateeowish

Dave1999

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This pored a brown/red cloudy colour with a thin white head.

The smell was very nice had strawberries, figs, liquorice , prunes and biscuits.

Tasted of bread, malts, cherries and prunes.

The mouth feel was light to medium with a nice level of carbonation.

I really liked this beer wasn't what I expected from a brown ale but I will buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 16:08:21 | More by Dave1999

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle from Wolavers mixed 12

A- golden brown, slightly hazy but translucent, pretty much no head.

S- slightly sweet, light caramel/toffee, a little bit nutty.

T- lightly sweet, nutty, slight caramel.

M- medium bodied, well balanced, drinkable.

O- This beer wasn't as good as the other Wolaver beers from the mixed 12. Slightly above average brown ale with a nice slightly sweet taste. Kind of similar to Newcastle, but a little bit sweeter and definitely better tasting.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 01:50:21 | More by jaasen64

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Warm and robust copper to leaning slightly brownish with a large lightly sherbet hued light khaki head. Keeps a good ring and leaves okay splotches of lace.

S: Toasty grain, light nutty malt, even more light hints of sweetness and esters. Hunting finds a barely noticeable and sort of earthy hop impression. Quite a shy nose.

T: Firmly nutty – far more so than the nose. Solid toasty backbone rounded out by a bit of sweetness, caramel, and a touch of roast. Barest ghost hints of dark fruits. Woody, earthy, and slightly grassy/leafy hops stay just a step behind – but quite a bit more forward than nose.

M: A tad over medium body with CO2 just slightly under matched. Start on the sweeter side, but slides just a touch semi-drying in the finish.

D: A rich but uncomplicated brown. Quite nutty and toasty, but also with a fair bit of sweetness and caramel. Somefruity esters and soft hops round it out. Unassuming, but well-crafted and quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 23:19:59 | More by SickGnar

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a lovely chocolate syrup brown with a tall bubbly tan head. smells like dark chocolate and brown sugar. taste is bitter though, not hop bitter, more of a coffee bitter, not at all unpleasant, but unexpected. a full malt body and moderate carbonation give it an appealing mouthfeel, although probably not the best session brown ale. worked very well with braised beef shanks and winter squash

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 23:40:12 | More by StonedTrippin

hosehead83

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Cloudy copper in color, with a big, thick head of light tan foam.
Aroma-Toasted malt
Taste-Toasted malt,vanilla and caramel notes, subtle hop presence. Faint citrus note.
Pleasant and sessionable. A nice Brown.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 17:52:36 | More by hosehead83

yourefragile

District of Columbia

1.95/5  rDev -44.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle served in a nonic.

Pours a clear ruby color with a dense foamy cream color head. Long lasting retention and light clumps of lacing. This doesn't smell like a brown ale. At all. Soapy and fruity, sort of like my liquid soap in the kitchen. Actually, that's exactly what it smells like. Fizzy light body with a fruity (cherry, peach) flavor with light caramel malt and a wet cardboard finish. Tastes less horrible than the aroma, but still not a brown ale. Ummm...I dunno?

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 21:22:04 | More by yourefragile

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass at the shore.

Pours a reddish copper color with a finger of foam that fades away pretty quickly. Aroma is subtle, some sweet caramel aromas but not much else.

First sip is quite malty, dominated by crystal malt flavor, heavy on the caramel. Quite sweet. Hops don't really play much of a role.

This beer is pretty straightforward. A nice sweet malt flavor and not much else. No real complaints or off flavors detected, but this beer just doesn't excite my tastebuds.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 03:17:06 | More by FickleBeast

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz Bottle

Appearance – Slightly hazy reddish copper colour with an average size fizzy beige coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some good lacing. The head lasted for around 3 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, hops, butterscotch, roasted nuts

Taste & Mouth - The beer has a low amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, butterscotch, and hops. There is also a bit of a dark fruit flavour, perhaps raisins - and even a touch of chocolate. The beer finishes with a malty slightly sweet aftertaste.

Overall – A decent highly drinkable beer.. but also nothing that is going to excite you. In some ways it reminded me of a scotch ale. Happy I tried it, but wouldn't rush out to get it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 18:40:51 | More by spinrsx

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours brown, some red tints with very little foam or residual layering. Light vanilla smell, modest malt. Nutty taste, hazelnut, caramel, toffee, dark chocolate - all blends into one flavor. Firmer carbonation for a brown ale. Hop bitter pokes through at the close. Pretty good ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 18:08:10 | More by KTCamm

Buckettt

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Poured a decent amber, and left a 1/2" head that quickly dissipated, not leaving much lacing.

S- Malty, and I also noticed a slight vanilla note

T- Similarly, malty with a vanilla note, but unlike the smell, I also noticed some caramel, which in combination with the other notes, was very enjoyable. Also, the hops were quite mild.

M- Fairly thick, not overly carbonated

O- Worth a try for the delightful palate if nothing else

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 23:46:35 | More by Buckettt

KajII

North Carolina

2.68/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

[Best served in a Dimpled Mug]

Poured a hazy medium brown with an average sized light tan frothy head that was mostly diminishing and had poor lacing. The aroma was of toasted caramel malts, resin hops and a mild earthy yeast with a mild hint of coffee. It tasted kind of mild with a sweet coffee flavor at first the became a little bitter and slightly hoppy at the end. Mouthfeel was light to medium in body and watery in texture with a very soft carbonation. Overall a somewhat tasty brew but lacking for the style. Not sure if being an organic brew had anything to do with the lack of flavor but I am sure it did not help.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 21:19:26 | More by KajII