Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

socon67

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Brown pour with slight carbonation and patchy lacing. Bubbling foam retains fairly well.

S - Scents of caramel and dry roasted coffee. A dash of earthy spice is present as well. Very pleasant combination.

T - Has a robust taste that begins with an initial sweetness of sugary caramel candy. There is some dry malt present and some mild coffee notes. Finish is slightly bitter.

M - Easy drinking brown. Great pub beer to have a few with good conversation.

O - Just a solid american brown by SN. Not going to standout among the craft varieties of the style, but uts accessibility and quality make this a nice go-to beer in the fall.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 17:07:59 | More by socon67

tectactoe

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On tap at the Oak Cafe. Pours a solid brown color with light tinges of copper, decent clarity, fluffy white head that reduces quickly leaving little lacing behind. Nose is clean with some dried cocoa powder and a very heavy nuttiness that smells both delicious and inviting. First sip is reminiscent of charred wood; oak and maple flavors pull through, along with a strong nutty profile. Earthy, dirty esters run rampant atop a very slight hop flavor that stays on the leafy/grassy side of things. Bitterness is low overall, but it balances out the earth tones enough to keep things interesting. Unsweetened chocolate, roasted caramel malt, and burnt walnuts are left on the palate, fading long into the aftertaste. Medium body, maybe even slightly on the thin side, medium amount of carbonation.

Sierra Nevada never fails to impress me, and this is certainly no exception. A very solid brown ale with a great nutty flavor that does nothing but hit the mark. At 5.5% ABV, this beer is drinkable as can be. Chalk this one up as a victory.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2012 14:14:21 | More by tectactoe

Murrhey

Montana

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap at Slater's 50/50 in Huntington Beach, Calif. Reviewed from notes.

A- Half finger white head. Low retention, little lacing. Mahogany color with some clarity. Not too dark.

S- Roast barley, lighter smell, some toasty malts. Nice smelling beer.

T- Creamy flavor with toasted malts. Quite good, warm flavor.

M- Creamy, smooth and dry.

O- Nice little beer, above average.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2012 00:53:44 | More by Murrhey

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew was served from the tap at The Old Toad in Rochester, NY. It arrived in a house nonic glass glowing a nut brown coloring, with golden flecks when held to the light. There was no real head, but a ghostly film topped the liquid. This left splotchy lacing. No haze or sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared average. The nose was wrought with rich and toasty malts, light caramel and toffee, light chocolate, dates, dried leafy hops, and chalky, dried barley. Phenolic bite seeped out with some warmth. Our first impression was that the flavoring was simply nice. As we sipped, brown sugar sweetness and roasted caramel started things off. The grain then became more wheaty and chalky, bringing bitterness to the table. The peak hit with sour lemon peel, darker coffee malts, and sweet milkiness. We finished on notes of sweet cola sugars, toasty chocolate malts, light grassy hops, bitter dark chocolate, and raw espresso beans. The aftertaste breathed of licorice, powdered milk, lactics, caramel and chocolate malts, and cashew nuttiness. The body was light to medium, and the carbonation was medium, yet prickly. There was decent slurp and smack, with okay cream and froth to each sip. The mouth was left with light, toasty astringency all around. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the flavoring. There was a certain depth to the malts that really helped to lock in, and keep, your interest. The lightness of feel helped this fact. The nose, however, is where we lost points, as it presented quite generically, and was rather uneventful throughout the sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2012 22:50:40 | More by TheBrewo

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Tapped into a pint glass.

Appearance - Tight creamy white head. Good retention and extreme stick. Clear dark brown body. Blankets side of glass.

Smell - Musky. Nutty. Faint caramel.

Taste - Nutty brown body. Light hop. Moderate malt. Unchallenging.

Mouthfeel - Kinda water. Smooth. Mild astringency. Slight creaminess.

Overall Drinkability - Sessionable. Not much of a tasting beer. Near boring, but not quite.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2011 08:31:41 | More by ZenAgnostic

McGiboney

Georgia

3.08/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Apperance: Dark brown. Ring of head around the glass, less concentrated in the middle. Lacing stays on the glass well. Medium opacity.

Smell: light scent

Taste: Light caramel taste, hint of chocolate. Solid aftertaste with a bit of sourness.

Mouthfeel: light bodied, smooth texture

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2011 04:15:07 | More by McGiboney

NittanyBeerFan

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap recently at Mad Mex in State College, PA.

Garnet brown in color with striking ruby hues in the light. Pour produces a creamy and fluffy head -- almost looks like it was poured from a nitro tap -- but there is no lacing to be found. Hints of peaty smoke, earthy hops and yeast, along with light fruity esters. Overall, well balanced and flavorful, but the complexity falls short as the smokey notes take over the beer. Creamy and thin and smooth on the palate. Decent brown ale, but not top-notch.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2011 14:31:29 | More by NittanyBeerFan

drtth

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a standard shaker pint glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: As served the beer has a 1/8” off-white head covering a brown liquid with a touch of gold throughout. The head soon recedes to a ring around the glass with a thin island of foam in the middle. Sipping leaves some scattered patches of lacing and a sheet of foam that quickly recedes back into the liquid.

Smell: The aroma, although faint, is clean and fresh with touches of caramel, light chocolate and some sort of nut. The hops are hard to detect here but seem a bit grassy and earthy.

Taste: The flavors include some roasted malt sweetness, a bit of brown bread and some earthy, nutty bitterness in the background. While not overly complex the flavor blend and balance is quite pleasant.

Mouthfeel: Mouth feel is on the light side of medium bodied and the carbonation is light but prickly for most of the beer. The finish starts in the sweetness of the malt but gradually turns into a nicely bittered ending that leaves a nice dryness that invites another sip.

Drinkability and Overall Impression: I through this a quite enjoyable brown ale and enjoyed sipping my way through both the first and the second one. My overall impression is that this beer is a good solid brown that well made quite good even if not among the best. This would be a good beer for an evening of dinner and conversation with friends.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2011 02:52:45 | More by drtth

elNopalero

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served ice cold on tap. Poured a glorious ruddy amber topped with a finger of thick white foam. Not a whole lot of aroma. As it warms the flavor comes through but the aroma stays muted. It has a pleasing, sweet malt flavor, very agreeable. Nice carbonation, great finish, just an all-around enjoyable beer. For me to praise a brown ale it better be good!

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 21:56:42 | More by elNopalero

cmq103

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from freshly tapped 1/6th keg into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Dark brown, almost stout like, with a 1/2" frothy tan head. Lacing became quick friends with the head and didn't mind hanging out for a while.

Smell: Nutty, roasted maltiness, mildly sweet nose typical of the brown ale style. Mild chocolate was also present

Taste: Very similar to the nose: Nutty, with hazelnut coming to mind, with moderate roasty malt, almost mild stout-like with its lightly bitter chocolate finish. The classic Sierra Nevada hoppiness is there, but easily tamed by the nutty, slightly sweet tongue.

Mouthfeel: Dry, moderate carbonation allows this to be an easy drinking session beer. Although a litter watery for a 5.5% ABV, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Overall: Another great offering in the form of a brown ale from the Sierra Nevada lineup. I found a new addition to my autumn selection. I took a gamble committing to a 1/6th keg without trying it first, but Sierra Nevada hasn't failed me yet. If you like Brown Ales, give it a try.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 02:58:05 | More by cmq103

Nugganooch

California

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at O’Brien’s Pub

*Notes from 10-20-11

A: Tumbler pours a deep dark chestnut brown color with good clarity and some streaming bubbles. A dark mahogany like brown. Thin khaki cap of foam left waves of lace upon the glass with each sip.

S: Smells nutty and rich with toasted grains and some roast coffee bean notes. Sweet caramelized malts dominate the nose.

T: Tastes nutty and rich as well with complex roasted malts. A toffee like sweetness and nice light hop bitterness come together really well here. There is just a hint of smoky malts with some accompanying pine and spice notes. This is a solid brown ale all around.

M: Light body and great carbonation provide a nice creamy texture. Dry crisp finish.

D: Really nice balance of flavors and a very refreshing brown ale. Creamy mouthfeel and dry crisp finish that I love in a brown. Very smooth, rich, and flavorful.

More true to the English style browns. Not as hoppy as I would have liked Sierra to do here but overall exceeded my expectations. Will definitely be picking up some bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2011 19:05:09 | More by Nugganooch

brewcore

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Cork in Chas, SC into a pint glass.

A: Pours a one finger off-white head that quickly disipates to a ring. No lacing to speak of. Dark brown with beautiful copper hues. I really good looking brown ale

S: Sweet and roasted alts with a slight hint of sweet apricot lingers.

T: Malts and more malts. Just like the nose, primarily sweet with roasted coming in second. Not much hops going on, but they are there. (Suprised at the tameness on the hops coming from Sierra.) Interesting milk-chocolatelike finish; a flavor I have never picked up in a brown ale. Interesting in a good way.

M: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation.

O: This is a really good brown to which I plan on returning. Really could be more than a seasonal.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2011 14:10:32 | More by brewcore

mdaschaf

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Pickled Pig

A: Served in a pint glass, the beer was a very deep brown color with a small off-white head on top. Not much head retention or lacing.

S: Some toasted malt and caramel right away as well as some nuts. There is a very faint fruity aroma near the end.

T: Starts off with some caramel, a little bit of maple, some nuts, and some bready malt. There is a slight hop presence and a bit of sweet fruit.

M: Medium bodied, very smooth and crisp. Medium carbonation.

O: Pretty tasty brown ale. Has a nice fruit component that most do not have and is very easy drinking. Not my favorite brown, but better than most.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2011 13:20:28 | More by mdaschaf

isualum12

Idaho

2.65/5  rDev -31%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I tried this beer at GABF. I really enjoyed stopping by Sierra Nevada booth. Loved the VW and loved the taster books.

A- Cooper brown color with not a lot head on it.
S-Well there was some burnt aroma rolling off early with a carmel finish. I didn't get the smoke that others got.

T- Bitterness was really unexpected and just a disappointment. The bitter taste hit early and often. Not a brown taste I was looking for.

M- Just not creamy or smooth like I was looking for from their brown.

As much as I really like most from Sierra Nevada this was not one of them for me.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 04:18:24 | More by isualum12

emmasdad

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a nice rich brown color, with a good taupe head that hangs around for awhile. Nice aromas of roasted nuts, good milk chocolate and maybe a little lightly roasted malt. Somewhat dry on the palate, with some roasted malt, chocolate and a late bitterness. Pretty solid. Really a let down on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2011 02:57:02 | More by emmasdad

chinchill

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

served in pint glass at Taco Mac.

Pours a dark reddish mahogany with a short, and short-lived light tan head. Clear. Leaves some lacing despite scant head.

Somewhat weak aroma, but spicy hops are present with the expected malts. The aroma improves a little with warming. The malt balance seems a bit darker than usual; this becomes more obvious in tasting. Nicely nutty.
Nice dark roasted malt finish with a gentle and subtle hop presence.

O - a nice ABA an seasonal,

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2011 23:20:33 | More by chinchill

corylew

Oregon

2.93/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nose of malt and co2. Flavor is malty with slight hop bitterness twinge. The big selling point for this beer has to be the toasty brown flavor it brings forward without adding a heavy finish. Good gateway beer for your non "beer drinker" friends and nice for kicking back a few pints. Certainly not an incredible piece of beer artistry though.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 01:53:14 | More by corylew

dcook11

California

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Two finger off white head. Light brown body with tinges of read when held up to the light. Medium carbonation. Good lacing.

S- Maple syrup, malt, slight metalic note, touch of brown sugar slight coffee smell, rosted malt. Oddly enough...a touch of belgian yeast.

T- Hoppier than the smell. Hops, malt, nutty, hints of coffee, roasted malt, belgian yeast. Nice mesh of flavors.

M- Light approaching medium bodied.

o- Fantastic brown ale. One of my favorite fall seasonals.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 01:05:08 | More by dcook11

smakawhat

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured on tap at ChurchKey DC into a tumbler.

A tan light caramel colored head with much staying power, giving to chestnut hues on a dark brown body. Not much going for lacing here however, but still looks very solid and appetizing.

Nose is quite muted but good. Small roasting sense, a little weak and wet.

Taste is a classic brown ale mild nut with hazelnut small sweetness. A little bit of carbon dioxide fizz and aftertaste but still bringing a solid nutty taste and malt backbone.

Overall not too bad for a Brown Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2011 03:05:07 | More by smakawhat

DrinkingDrake

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown but translucent. Small amount of big bubbly head. Roasted malt, some copper bitterness. Slightly earthy/nutty. Somewhat of an earthy hop character but more of an earthy nut aroma. Burnt caramel, bready malt for the flavor with a earthy nut finish. Crisp but also roasted and earthy bitter for the finish. Malts dominate but Sierra busts out some hop flavors for this one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2011 00:28:00 | More by DrinkingDrake

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Very good brown ale, and I don't usually care for the style. Pours a dark chocolaty brown with a nice off-white head that retains as a thin layer. Smells of dark roasted malts, nutty, with hints of chocolate and resiny hops. Kind of reminds me of autumn. Nice helping of roast in the taste, dark malts, very obvious chocolate notes, toffee, pine. No one flavor comes out too strong; very well-balanced and not strong or heavy at all. About middle-of-the road medium-bodied, and pleasantly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 13:36:01 | More by Rifugium

jayhawk73

Maryland

2.73/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a nice medium dark brown w/ very little cocoa head. Very little carbonation, and below average lacing. Nose is that of yeast, malt, some hops, yeast, and smoke. Taste is very thin and dry from what I was expecting. I'm wondering if the tap line was clean, because this beer really disappointed me based on the glowing reviews I've read. Mouthfeel is dry, w/ a little hop bite/malt smoothness. Overall I wouldn't look for this again. I might pick up a bottle at some point, and will adjust my review accordingly if needed.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2011 16:46:09 | More by jayhawk73

tdm168

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Wine 101 in Wake Forest

Poured a dark brown with 1/2" of thick brownish head. The nose is malty and sweet; caramel and bread notes. Taste is nutty and biscuity up front with rich, smooth caramel malts to finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied; goes down easily.

This is a solid beer. Sierra Nevada's second best seasonal. Second only to my beloved Celebration Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 09:25:52 | More by tdm168

omnigrits

Texas

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

A. Dark copper colour, clear, with a very pale tan head. Lots of lace and the head sticks around right to the bottom of the pint.

S. Mostly malt, medium roast, a touch of higher roast bitterness, slightly sweet, it smells... creamy. And I don't mean it smells like cream.

T. There's an underlying brown ale sweetness that's held in check by some nice roasted flavours and a subtle hop bitterness. Well done to SN for holding back on the hops with this one. Still quite bitter in the finish though. No complaints from me there.

M. Medium bodied, very easy to drink, doesn't lay heavy on the stomach.

O. Brown Ale is far from being one of my favourite beer styles but I've come to look forward to Tumbler season. It's just a little high on the ABV to be considered a true session beer but I wouldn't supping this all evening.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2011 23:32:12 | More by omnigrits

Northsider

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz on tap at Pizza Rock in Sacramento.

I ordered this on recommendation from staff. Not bad at all. Very malty. Typical Brown Ale style in my opinion. Not too boozy for me. Dark in color. I don't drink brown ales too often but I think this is a great style. Almost similar to stouts or porters I would think. Overall, I'd order this again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2011 14:33:04 | More by Northsider