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

cpl78

Maine

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice smooth brown ale, not too hoppy and plenty of flavor. Much smoother on the mixed gas. This is the third sierra nevada to impress me, after not liking the Pale Ale. This is a great beer to add to Sierra's growning brand across the U.S. I cant wait to get my hands on more.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-10-2010 02:51:38 | More by cpl78

Segelstrom

Pennsylvania

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

good flavor but the carbonation, like most Sierra Nevada beers, is a little harsh. I prefer a more smooth carbonation. Poured to a nice clear dark amber with slight head. Smell was not overly hoppy and seemed to have a little lingering yeast smell. That's all.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 22:30:16 | More by Segelstrom

SmashPants

Australia

3.48/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Bottle: reasonable 355mL brown bottle with an original and decent label.

Appearance: clear but solid brown throughout, with a two-finger head with good staying power. Sporadic lacing.

Aroma: an interesting combination of brown sugar and bread malts, with some earthy and nutty qualities backing up. Not mind-blowing, but solid.

Taste: follows the nose fairly closely, but with a smooth, roasted grain as well. A hint of forest pine and those earthy qualities remind one of the smell of the forest floor.

Aftertaste: dissipates very quickly, which on the one hand is fine as it is a good throwback beer, but bad due to the price.

Mouth feel: medium in body with a limited, fine carbonation. Dry on the finish.

Overall: a good quality American Brown Ale. Note sure I'd want to pay this much all the time though. I'd like to stop getting ripped off in Australia so we can actually enjoy this sort of stuff at a reasonable price.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 01:20:44 | More by SmashPants

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.99/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I've had the Tumbler before....i guess I just never rated it. The beer pours a deep brown with creamy slightly offwhite head which is leaving a nice lace. The smell has some rich sweet malt with hints of nyut meg. The taste has good bready/biscuity foundation with bitter hops to balance. The mouthfeel was a medium to light brown ale...the carbonation is a bit strong and detracting from teh taste. Overall its a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:27:30 | More by WoodBrew

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured in a Great Divide shape pint
2012 vintage

A - Pours a clear dark brown with 2 fingers of off-white that has quality staying power. Very impressive lacing all the way down the glass.

S - Sharp toasted grains, brown sugar, earthy, nutty, dried grass, nice fall aromas.

T - Roasted grains, sweet dark bread, mild spicy hops blend in, has a sweet nutty characteristic, earthy berry fruit, nutty tea like bitterness on the finish.

M - Light body, firm carbonation, wet middle with a drying finish.

I can't believe I've passed this up every year for so long. One of the best all around brown ale's that I've had the pleasure of drinking.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 20:26:30 | More by StaveHooks

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.71/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours very dark copper with a two-finger sticky slight off-white head. Left a good amount of lacing.

S - Some nuttiness and caramel malt. That's about it.

T - Some sweet candy and an ever so slight chocolate and citrus hop type deal going on up front followed a very small amount of nuttiness and toffee.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O - Overall, It was good but Sierra Nevada is far better at making IPA's and they should invest their time in that.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 18:45:20 | More by SometimesIfart

Greywulfken

New York

4.01/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: confident pour into a nonic pint produced a nice looking brown ale of the the medium amber-brown variety, with some appropriately autumnal orange highlightlights and a full head of tan foam that had a moussy look and feel; scattered lace all the way down

S: mild toasty malt aromas, some brown sugary notes

T: crisp and toasty malty brownness, lightly nutty and slightly suggestive of maple and brown sugar sweetness

M: fresh, light, and easy-drinking, brisk, light body, nice carbonation level

O: I'm not a big brown ale drinker, as the style often leaves me feeling kinda "meh" but I really enjoyed this ale - it was quaffed quickly and with gusto - it had a brisker, crisper, lighter feel than other brown ales I 've had, and I liked it. Perhaps the things most people look for in a brown were missing, hence its middling reviews, but for me it may have been these very factors that elevated it above others for me in particular. Absolutely worth a try, as Sierra Nevada has firmly established themselves as a reliable brewer of great craft ales.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 01:21:09 | More by Greywulfken

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.66/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

"Tumbler is our take on the classic brown ale-full of roasted malt flavor but delicate on the palate, and perfect for crisp fall days. Layered with notes of chocolate, roasted bread and a hint of smoke. Tumbler is the ultimate autumn beer. Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale features roasted malt used straight from the kiln to give it a gracefully smooth malt character perfect for an autumn afternoon." Sierra Nevada's Fall seasonal for many years, commonly available in 6 packs and 12 packs. No bottle date.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a Sierra Nevada pint glass. Served above 45º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a light frothy tan-white head over a copper-brown body with ample carbonation. Mild sediment is visible through the glass. The head quality is below expectations and lacing is thin and specked. A bit shallow on appearance. 3

(Smell) Malt includes medium roasted caramel, a hint of chocolate and some earthy hop notes with a mild nutty bitterness. It's a generally clean aroma, slightly acidic with a light biscuity yeast profile, and a very subtle touch of fall spices as well, notably cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Potency is mild and there is limited depth to the aroma. While there's nothing upsetting about the aroma, it doesn't particularly carry enthusiastic appeal nor depth. 3.25

(Taste) Bold yet mostly clean roasted caramel malt presence- a touch of caramel husk with a bit of earthy hop bitterness. Bitter baking chocolate powder exists in small amounts, and a nutty bitterness makes for a dry, tart finish. Despite most of my brown ale experiences settling on the sweet side of things, The bitterness component in this beer prevails and makes for a better rounded, highly drinkable brown ale. Despite being a thinner-bodied and less sweet beer than the rest of the competition, the flavor of this beer certainly isn't a letdown. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Light airy crisp carbonation compliments the bitterness of the hop and tart malt characteristics. The body is light/medium for the style and medium amongst all beers. Alcohol is nicely concealed. A bit more lively carbonation than usual for Brown Ales, but works due to the exemption of the more roasty, sweet brown ale notes. 4.25

(Overall) Amongst Sierra Nevada's immensely popular seasonal options, Tumbler stands alone in an increasing market of Oktoberfest Lagers and Pumpkin Ales, but offers a decent balance and high drinkability in it's own regard. It's a lightly flavored Brown Ale, but it's good to know that there are some with a decent balance of hop character that avoid the malt bomb trap of Brown Ales. Even if you have shut out the sweet, syrupy cliché of Brown Ales, I'd recommend trying this beer for a change of opinion, especially if you haven't already, as it may change your opinion on what a Brown Ale is capable of. 3.75

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's
Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale
3.66/5.00

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 00:01:21 | More by Jadjunk

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a pretty dark brown color with a 1 inch head. Smell is a bit nutty, some hops. Taste is malts, nuts, some hops, a bit of caramel, easy drinking. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 00:57:41 | More by tone77

mactrail

California

3.74/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Lovely golden brown pour in the tall Stella glass. Frothy with a nice carbonation that is less sharp and more rounded.

Warm roasted malt is the main taste. Nutty flavors are quite pleasant. A little buttery and even a hint of cocoa. Just a little scrape of hops, but it's not overly sweet. A hint of bitter walnut shells. It is hard to find fault with yet another well-made SN brew, and I know this bottle has been around for a few months.

Overall, a more flavorful Brown Ale, but within the style guidelines which seem to consist of "do no harm." A very gently malty experience. From the 22 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:09:43 | More by mactrail

Scutt

4.39/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Great taste and color! a worth while try for sure. I found this at kroger of all places in the make your own 6 pack section. a must add to that 6 pack. This is a shinning example of an autum beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:27:58 | More by Scutt

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

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

Next to Serra Nevada's pale ale I am surprised I haven't ticked this yet. Found an old 2012 bottle at a shop I frequent for 2 bucks.

A - Looks amazing well over a 1/2 inch of opaque colored head atop of some dark brown red hue colored beer. Mild sediment at the base due to age.

S - Caramel and toasted almond smell next to some fairly good chocolate and coffee roast. Much better than most I have smelled.

T - Taste is fairly balance with no flavor really getting out of control. Quite a good starter brown except for a bit of herbal bitterness from the hops. Brown malt, toffee, caramel, and cheap coffee highlight. Not bad but not great.

M - Light to medium in body. Easy drinking.

Overall not a bad brown ale at all yet I don't think I could session more than one. Quite a good staple for this above average company.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 01:05:47 | More by DrDemento456

Dope

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A; A clear deep brown pour. Huge, ridiculous tan head. Monstrous island of foam persists constantly. Good lacework remains behind.

S: Caramel, brown sugar and maple syrup. Sweet and malty.

T: Caramel and toffee up front. Toasted malt and brown sugar in the middle. Finishes dry with a little maple and toffee. A little hoppiness to boot, grassy maybe?

M: Medium bodied and simple. Bit drying on the back end.

O: Decent brown ale. Smells better than it tastes. A mildly hoppy and plain brown ale. Not as much toastiness and nuttiness as I'm used to.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 06:41:37 | More by Dope

mpedara429

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Reddish brown in color. It is a little hazy with two fingers of off white head with a good amount of lacing

S: Nothing huge, but there are roasted malts and some breadiness.

T: Again, the roasted malts are prominent with some hop bitterness. there are some nutty sort of hazelnut type flavors along with some bittersweet dark chocolate.

M: Medium carbonation and medium body. This beer is a tad oily and creamy.

O: Another great Sierra Nevada brew. It's not super heavy or robust, but it is a perfect option for throwing back a few while watching a football game on a Fall day.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 05:03:54 | More by mpedara429

Weli

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark brown with a fine off white head, subsiding to thin white lacing

S-Hints of cocoa with bready malt

T- Malty, slightly fruity, with a dry american hop bitterness.

M- Medium bodied, well carbonated, with a slightly dry and bitter finish

O-Not the best brown ale, Not bad, but seems lacking when compared to other commerical examples that have more intense flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 01:22:48 | More by Weli

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance- The beer is poured a deep brown color with some mahogany highlights shining through. With the pour there is a big cream colored head that has a good level of retention, slowly fading over time to give a fantastic level of lacing.

Smell- The aroma is heaviest of roasted malt, coffee and some aroma of a herbal and earthy hop smell Mixed with these smells are lighter notes of a chocolate and caramel smell.

Taste –The flavor starts out with a nice blend of roasted malt and some sweeter caramel and toffee flavors. The roasted taste remains constant with some hop flavors coming to the tongue more toward the middle of the taste A stronger chocolate and nut flavor as well as a light earthy hop flavor come to the tongue more toward the end of the and when mixed with the roasted flavors it leaves a nice crisp flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel –The body of the beer is on the slightly thicker and creamier side with a carbonation level that is a little above average for a brown beer. The creamier of the beer is rather nice for the roasted flavors but the carbonation level may be a bit high.

Overall –A tasty brew being rather crisp for a brown beer without being overly sweet, and yet still maintaining some nice roasty and cocoa flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 02:22:17 | More by Darkmagus82

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

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

2012 bottling. Poured from a bottle into a New Belgium snifter. A gentle pour unleashes a massive foamy head resting atop a clear, dark brow beer with ruby highlights. On the nose I get some toast, nuts, and faint floral hops.

Nice medium body and firm feel. The taste is all about the malt. Nice sweet toast and biscuit like flavors arrive first. At mid-palate, a perfect amount of balancing hops adds just the right amount of spice to the malt. The finish is slightly dry and leaves a faint, lingering smokey flavor.

Overall, an excellent brown ale. Like Autumn in a bottle. Can't believe it took me this long to get around to trying it.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 00:47:11 | More by deadonhisfeet

thlayli87

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Deep translucent brown with a beautiful creamy 3 finger head. Excellent lacing on the glass.

S - Roasted malt and herbal hop aromas.

T - Rich roasty malt flavors up front, with some coffee notes, and a hint of smoke. Assertive hop bite on the back end. Nice lingering herbal hop bitterness. Some warming alcohol as well.

M - Medium body with a nice texture. A little bit creamy. Really wakes up the taste buds.

O - Has everything a great fall beer should. Perfect brew for kicking back after a day of raking leaves, or sipping by a backyard firepit. Tastes like fall.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 21:51:03 | More by thlayli87

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

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

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

Poured into a Pint Glass

Appearance - Clear Dark Crimson color and a very voluminous fluffy 4 finger head with a dirty white color. Head retention is quite excellent and stays put for a long time.

Smell - Floral Hops, Chocolate, Caramel Malts, Yeast and Barley.

Taste - Chocolate, Floral Hops, Yeast, Coffee and Caramel. Flavor is nicely balance and even a bit sweet, not bad!

Mouthfeel - Light Body and Light on Carbonation. Not crisp feeling but easy to drink nonetheless

Overall - Solid Brown Ale from Sierra Nevada. Nothing special but pretty good!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 05:25:52 | More by NuclearDolphin

Schwerzpunkt

3.48/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip

Appearance: Poured a ery dark brown with a thick, brownish cream-colored head. The head disappeared fairly quickly and their was very little lacing.

Smell: A fairly weak aroma, very much dominated by malts. Slight hop notes were present.

Taste: Again, very much dominated by the malts. Biscuity, wheat-like taste with slight sweetness. This was excellently balanced by hints of hop bitterness. Left a slight bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Moderately bodied (a bit on the light side) with medium carbonation.

Overall: Very drinkable, enjoyable brew. Not overly aromatic or flavorful, but nice and refreshing. Perfect for easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:00:45 | More by Schwerzpunkt

openmind

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had high hopes for this beer, as Sierra is top-notch.

However, i was not impressed. The nose is off - in a way that the industrial beers are. The body is thin for a brown. And the bitterness is out of place here.

There are better browns out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 22:31:29 | More by openmind

burns1066

Iowa

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful, rich caramel color with a nice head. The head takes a bit to dissipate and leaves nice lacing. Rich, malty flavors dominate; some nice light hopping balances the considerable sweetness of the malt. A feel-good brew for when the weather starts to turn colder.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 04:56:24 | More by burns1066

AmitC

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown color. About one finger thick tan colored head that quickly disappears into almost nothing. Moderate number of bubbles. Clear in the glass. Almost non-existent lacing.

Aroma: Very porter like. Reminded me of Guinness draught (extra stout). Roasted malts, somewhat burnt. Strong malt and low hop presence in the nose.

Sweet malt with some after taste roasted, burnt flavor. Slight hop presence provides some balance. Semi-dry finish.

Mouth feel :Medium bodied. Slightly high carbonation leads to some astringency. Drinks very much like a porter.

Blind tasting would certainly have me failed. It is an out and out porter for me.

Note: Towards the end it felt more like a brown ale than a porter.

Style Rate: 3.75
Personal Rate: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 23:22:05 | More by AmitC

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