Rail Ale Nut Brown - Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance- Pours a dark walnut brown with half a finger width of head that quickly disspates.

Smell- Caramel, hazelnut, almond, milk chocolate, hint of licorice.

Taste- Caramel, hazelnut, almond, milk chocolate and hint of licorice all come through. The chocolate malts make a presence to. The beer finishes toasty.

Mouthfeel- Medium bodied with light carbonation. A tad watery.

Overall- A enjoyable brown ale. Could of used a little more to the body and flavours but nonetheless, a good brown ale to have to see where you stand with the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 23:19:53 | More by leaddog

maclean25

British Columbia (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I loved my first Howe Sound beer (a Pumpkin Ale) so I had big expectations for this. Because it only comes in a 1 litre bottle it is rare for me to find an opportunity to get one.

It pours with a small, but decent, light-brown head. The body is dark brown (on the red side of brown) and appears to be clear (it appears there may be a slight cloudiness in there). The aroma is not very strong but has a fruity-hoppiness and rootbeer-malt quality to it. The hops is more pronounce in the taste. It has a deep taste in which I get the molassas and licorice malt flavour. It feels like it has a full body, medium carbonation but a deep, creamy taste. I don't get the nut taste. Overall, a very good beer. The deep flavour and smooth body appeal to me. This is the kind of beer I expect to find at brewpubs.

Serving type: growler

06-14-2012 02:41:00 | More by maclean25

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Howe Sound "Rail Ale"(american)Nut Brown Ale @ 5.0% in a pot-stopper 1L served cold into a stein
A-poured a a dark brown that had an ok head and lacing
S-roasted nuts and malts , woodsy
T-licorice and molasses some chocolate and brown sugar
MF-taste is a bit thin , medium carbonation
Ov-just ok , not bad just a basic brew

cheers LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 04:12:04 | More by LampertLand

CrazyMike

Alberta (Canada)

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

Cloudy dark brown appearance with thin white head that slowly settles down leaving some lacing. Smell consists of brown sugar, roasted nuts and malt.

Taste is similar to the smell, roasted nuts, malt, grain, various fruit and coffee. Picked up a hint of chocolate and caramel as well. Everything blends together good. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Aftertaste is a lingering grainy bitterness.

Overall, this is a decent bad Brown Ale. Good robust combination of tastes and very drinkable. Worth a try, one of the few dark beers I'd recommend when it's hot out.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 05:08:59 | More by CrazyMike

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This has been around a while. Enjoyed on tap at the brewpub. Brown coloured body, lacey. The aroma is nutty and rootbeerish. Licorice taste, some chocolate malt, brown sugar. Average mouthfeel, suitably carbonated. Decent drinkability.Run-o-the-mill brown.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2011 23:50:51 | More by northyorksammy

Dawkfan

Alberta (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- An enticing clear brown body, tinges of red when held to light, especially on the bottom of my pint glass. Some sparse lacing, head retention on this thick beige beauty is average.

S- Chocolate malt is abundantly clear on the nose. A little nutty, not picking up any hops.

T- Chocolate & nuts most predominant, a bit of coffee in the finish.

M- On the lighter side of medium, ample carbonation.

D- Fairly one dimensional, reminds me of a Brown Ale homebrew I made that was over the top with chocolate malt. I've got another 1L swing top for the next batch I got fermenting away right now though.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 22:30:10 | More by Dawkfan

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Again, surprised to find this one on tap at the Hop'n'Brew, and was excited to give it a whirl.

A - Pours a nice dark brown colour, finger of creamy beige head with very solid retention (lasted well beyond 5 minutes) and leaving a solid film of sticky beige lacing down the side of the glass. Fantastic presentation!

S - This one is nutty for sure with roasted almonds followed by some chocolate and espresso malts and a bit of buttered bread.

T - The nuts flavours come through very nicely with buttered bread and almonds that linger on the tongue. The chocolate and espresso malts burst through on the finish as well, and I really enjoyed it.

M - No complaints in this department. Medium body that finishes creamy and smooth.

D - I really enjoyed this pint and if I didn't have to drive home I would've tossed back another. Stoked to find it on tap, and the flavours are nice and strong, but not overwhelming making it very sessionable. I'll be picking up a flip-top bottle to see if it's as delicious as it was on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 17:18:02 | More by andrenaline

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1L brown flip-top bottle, brought this one back from BC thinking I had something special - alas, I now see it in Alberta liquor stores. 5%

Deep brown color with a large beige head. Good looking pour with nice foam and retention, lots of thin sticky lacing. Smell has some sweetness from toasted malt, also some nuttiness coming through.
Toasted malt flavor, earthy, nutty. Some chocolate hints also coming through (more as it starts to warm). Mild leafy or herbal hops to finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, maybe a touch thin.
A solid brown, very drinkable - I polished off the bad boy (minus one small taster glass) on my own.
Not as much smokiness as Wild Rose Brown, but very comparable as my favorite browns.

The Bottle: This re-closable bottle known as a "pot-stopper", was widely used prior to the 1950's. Today, its use denotes a beer to be savoured and shared.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 01:57:16 | More by BigBry

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 1L flip top bottle, courtesy of IllNate into two pint glasses, shared at my girlfriend's birthday about a month back. Review taken from a few notes.

Poured a deep brown, with a tinge of orange around the edges. Big fluffy and billowing head, with some thin lacing and decent retention throughout the duration of the pint. Aroma is of chocolate, roasted malts, some licorice. Taste follows, with some more chocolate and maybe a bit of marshmallow-like flavour to it, interesting. A tinge of metallic flavour was there, but I don't know what to attribute that to. Smooth drinker, and some creaminess in the mouthfeel. A decent brew overall, thanks for this one Nate!

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2010 04:50:37 | More by liamt07

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - poured a clear dark brown, towering pillowy tan head that retained and laced nicely
S - not quite what I was expecting, there are fruity and spicy hop notes quite prominent, the sweet and nutty malts are there but much more subtle
T - on the taste the nutty malts are much more prominent, the spicy hops are there but a little more subtle than the smell suggested, and just a little chocolately sweetness
M - decently carbonated, slightly chewy and bitter, with a rich malty breadiness lingering
D - a well balanced brown ale, not too heavy, and the flavour balance tastes nice, so I think I'll be enjoying all of my 1L pot-stopper in one sitting

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2010 03:04:35 | More by joemcgrath27

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

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

1L capped with attached swing top for later use.

A - Deep brown with reddish, mahogany highlights and a few finger tan head.

S - Toasted bread, nutty, hint of chocolate and roasted malts. Light but nice.

T - Bready and grainy with toasted nuts, chocolate, slightest hint of coffee and toasted malts.

M - On the light side of medium with a good amount of carbonation. Lingering bready and nutty flavors.

D - Enjoyable and easily drinkable. The 1 liter will not last long.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 00:52:31 | More by brewcrew76

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another nice re-closable swing-top bottle, at least good for all my homemade hooch needs...

This beer pours a clear dark reddish brown colour, with a few fingers of creamy light beige head, which dissipates quickly, leaving thin webbed lace around the glass. It smells of lightly-roasted caramel malt, and earthy, weedy hops. The taste is much more of the same, some nutty roasted malt, and dry,slightly tangy, earthy hops. The carbonation is a bit high, the body just a bit thin, and it finishes mostly dry, the nuttiness and emerging mild hops holding sway.

A good balance between malt and hops, for the style, but the bubbles and body are bit too out-of-whack to recommend highly.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2009 22:48:34 | More by biboergosum

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1L swing top bottle poured into 400ml dab glass oct7 2009

A hazy deep maroon with a fast falling thumbs width of head that left no lace

S nice malts, chocolate and perhaps some maple go quite well together

T chocolate comes through a little stronger and some mild coffee I didn't smell

M a little thin and flat

D I would drink another, worth a try

this is another decent beer from Howe Sound I'm stoked I got 2 more to try today

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2009 05:37:45 | More by wordemupg

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A big ass bottle for sure...a bomber with the store-it-if u can't drink it all stopper. Rich mahogany red with a very larde, frothy head that took a long while to receed.

Nice roasted malt, some faint floral nuttiness.

Watery and bland up front..malts and nuttiness don't show through until after a good 3-4 steamboat count. Bit of a bite on the tongue, maybe from Hops?? Then there is a nice mix of mild toasted malt and slight nuttiness. Slight metallic twang that sticks to the back of the tongue 10 seconds after the first swig.

Certainly not as chewy as it looked. Would call it almost medium in body.

Would concur with my buddy Jeff ( Iron Djinn ) in it makes a nice entry level brown ale. Certainly easy enough for me to have several if I was @ a bar & they had it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2009 03:12:45 | More by Shadman

froghop

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a dark brown with a red tint, a large tan head, and good lacing.

smell is of spice, brown sugar, a little roasted nuts, and malt.

taste is of malt, spice, roasted nuts, and some maple syrup, ends a little dry and a little bitter.

overall a nice brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2009 16:08:30 | More by froghop

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From a 1L brown capped yet reusable flip-top bottle, or a "pot-stopper" as it calls it on the blurb on the side of the label, which was more common before the 1950's. There, I learned something new today...

Pours out a deep brown opaque in appearance, initial massive frothy beige head with good retention. Thin rivulets of tight sticky lacing

Sweet toasted malt, some nuttiness and a bit of neutral detergent on the nose.

Flavour seems robust at first, yet seems to peter out until the aftertaste once again. Toasted malt up front along with some woody nut shells, hints of chocolate wafer in the middle, finishing with mild herbal hops. Dandelion greens and some earthy wood spiciness in the aftertaste that really lingers in a benevolent way. More coffee character comes out from the middle to the aftertaste as it warms more.

Mouthfeel is smooth yet a bit on the thin side.

The jury's a bit out for me on this one, I like it but at the same time it isn't all that memorable either, well, except for the spicy herbal aftertaste that still continues to linger. Makes a more impressive English Brown as well. And except for that robust aftertaste this is otherwise mild enough to act as a decent stepping stone brown for those interested in checking out the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 02:23:25 | More by IronDjinn

lumikuuro

British Columbia (Canada)

5/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

1 litre bottle with new artwork for 2009.

Appearance: Rich, transparent mahogany colour with beige three finger head when poured into tall tankard, rapidly receding to a ring and a thin film of head that lasts for the whole glass. Heavy lace.

Aroma: Nuts, hint of dark fruits, roasty malts.

Taste: Lots of flavour in here. Nuts, dark and milk chocolate, coffee, vanilla, liquorice, very subtle dark fruits. It seems like every time you take a mouthful of this beer, there is something else you notice each time. Soft, smooth malty finish. You can't get a better nut brown ale than this. I've tasted nuttier, more coffeeish, or more chocolatey; but this beer from Howe Sound has a ton of complexity.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, easy to drink, slightly silky.

Drinkability: Goes down very easily, it's difficult to savour this because it just begs to be drunk. And at 5% abv, it's very much a drink you can session. There is nothing wrong with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2009 05:58:05 | More by lumikuuro

GrimmReaper

British Columbia (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1 litre bottle with swing top,pours a dark brown almost black color with a huge creamy tan bubbly head that holds up rather nicely and very decent sticky lacing.Nose is of fresh brewed coffee,some caramel,roasted nuts and a hint of chocolate.Taste is coffee,nuts,chocolate,caramel,molasses and fresh bread,all blended in very well,great tasting brew,really enjoyed this one after a long day of home reno's,split it with my buddy and wished i had more,will have to hit my local LCB and grab a few more of these,well worth trying,great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2008 05:10:47 | More by GrimmReaper

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

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

One liter capped bottle. Shared this one with my brother.

Pours a clear brown/orange, thick tan head forms, pretty damn solid, nice lacing on the glass, some solid retention. Smell is nuts, caramel, light chocolate, some bread, bit of grain, pretty standard but enjoyable. Taste is nuts, chocolate, roast, coffee, bread, grain, some spicy bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied with medium carbonation, pretty smooth and decent tasting, pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2008 08:54:25 | More by Viggo

Hornet2003

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What a great beer from a little known BC brewery. Or at least one that rarely gets much exposure. Pours a really rich looking mahogany. Not much head/retention. The aroma is dominated by coffee and stout like flavours. A definiate nuttiness like you find in a good strongly brewed coffee. Tastes of coffee and hazelnut. Very nice flavour, complemented with a slight bitterness at the end. The carbonation is a little on the low side, but for a beer with such a dynamic flavour profile, it works. Considering it comes in a 1L swing top bottle, this stuff is drinkable. Standard 5% alc/vol makes it very sessionable.

Overall, this is a great beer to drink on a cold, snowy night. I imagine that in the summer, this would be a little heavy. Under the current setting, though, it hist the spot right on.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2007 07:00:47 | More by Hornet2003

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Comes in a swing-top litre jug via Brewery Creek. I'm glad they got this in, as I think it is one of BC's better brown ales.

Rich mahogany-ruby colour with an ever-so slightly cream colour head. Dense, toffee malt smell with backings of chocolate and dark roast coffee. I can detect an odd, raisiny sort of smell that is uncharacteristic of a brown ale, but not unpleasant.

The taste lacks this unique scent, and is very rich. Good malt finish with definite toffee and chocolate flavours. Big flavour.

Mouthfeel is good, but can come off as a bit watery for the flavour. It should just be a bit chewier. Drinkable, but then, it only comes on tap or in a 1 litre bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2006 06:17:26 | More by BDTyre

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Malty and full bodied this the solid dark offering from Howe Sound. I really liked the big malty finish on this beer. A bigger beer than Baldwins so it can tackle BBQ and burgers with lots of toppings. One of the better brown ales around BC. A must try if you visit.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2005 16:23:01 | More by canucklehead