Bighorn Nut Brown Ale - Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Rock Bottom in Minneapolis, MN.

Appearance: Dark brown with a slight ruby red at the bottom. Decent tan head slowly fades into a small layer. Decent retention.

Smell: Dark roasted malts with some coffee, nuts, and earthy hops.

Taste: Roasted dark malts followed by chocolate, coffee, nuts, and earthy hops. Hints of dark fruits.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation. Pretty smooth.

Overall: A very good mix of dark malt and hops.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 07:25:21 | More by MattyG85

smibroncos

New York

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A. Poured a dark cofee with some ruby red. Short diminishing tan head. Not much lacing on the glass.

S. Dark roasted malts, coffee, earthy

T. Sweet, chocolate, molases, slight spicyness. The sweetness and taste last on the tongue.

M. Medium bodied, decent carbonation. Good duration

D. A decent brew good sweet maltiness, I wished it would have some more bitterness, but an allright brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2011 22:54:07 | More by smibroncos

tmcelvain

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Translcent brown. slight reds at the edges. I'm expecting a thin drink from this one. Nutty and fruity smells greet the nose.
Tastes pretty sweet and fruity for a nut brown. Some cocoa and a slight smoky flavor round out the taste.
The mouthfeel is only slightly watery, medium carbonation. It Has a better than expected based on the look.
Overall, this one is average for me. It is well-crafted, but the cocoa flavors are out of place here.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2011 21:44:18 | More by tmcelvain

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at the MSP airport on 12-01-10 and presented in a 20 oz. weizen glass. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a beautiful chestnut brown color with crimson highlights and a creamy beige head that trails sticky lacing. Aromas of chocolate, toasted malts and hazelnuts.

Opens with toasted chocolate malts. Subtle notes of hazelnuts, raisins and cocoa powder emerge. Wonderful balance between bittering hops and semi-sweet chocolate. Medium bodied with a creamy smooth mouthfeel. Finishes dry and powdery.

Pairs well with the Laredo Burger. A great brew to unwind with after 5+ hours in the air.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 00:03:55 | More by CaptainIPA

Yeastcakes

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving notes - cool off the tap, forth 4 oz sample in a 6-glass sampler at the Rock Bottom Restaurant, Minn-St. Paul Airport
Aroma - malt forward, nice mild chocolate notes.
Appearance - quarter inch of bright white head, dark brown body.
Taste - Nice full malt roast with no hint of bitterness. Some chocolate also found in the aroma. Some sweetness comes through mid-way and lingers.
Mouthfeel - medium carbonation, light body.
Drinkability - Great balance and a brown ale that I would buy again.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

07-25-2009 05:18:16 | More by Yeastcakes

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sample at the MSP location. This beer is a dark brownish color with a medium thin beige head that has decent retention. Stringy lacing on the glass. Aroma of malt and nuts, plus a little bit of hops. Medium-bodied with flavors of chocolate malt, nuts and hops. The finish is sweet and nutty with a lingering malt aftertaste. Decent overall.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

04-16-2009 19:46:13 | More by Dogbrick

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serviceable brown, the aroma of a malty brown. Thick brown colour with a little white head, and follows with a trail of lace. Some hazelnut flavour, not a bad one for a compulsory part of a regular lineup, though a bit on the sweet side. A bit of malt aroma.Appropriate carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

11-20-2008 03:58:00 | More by northyorksammy

pweis909

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Tapped pint at the MSP airport. Sign says ABV = 5.5, OG = 2.7? Presumably a typo, meant to be 12.7!

This pint arrived without a head, cola-colored and translucent. Slight cocoa aroma, slight raisin. Comes through stronger in taste. Thin texture with dry chalky finish. Supposed to be a nut-brown but comes across more as a brown porter, to my way of thinking. It lacks the overt nuttiness one gets from using the right malts. This one seems to play heavy off of Belgian Special B as opposed to the biscuit malts that would add some nuttiness. Still, it tastes fine, just not what I was hoping for given the name.

The chalky texture is sort of annoying. It sort of prevents it from being thirst-quenching.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

12-17-2007 15:57:17 | More by pweis909

jbsteiny

Hawaii

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got 3 oz. of this at the Minneapolis airport as part of the Rock Bottom sampler, and I wish I had time for an imperial pint. It had a great color – dark brown with chestnut highlights – and excellent lacing. Subtle scents of cocoa and raisin drew me in, and the flavors on my tongue sealed the deal. Sweet & nutty (roasted chestnut, hazelnut) with baker’s cocoa & raisin offset by the delicate earthiness of Willamette hops. Medium to full-bodied, and creamy, this ale goes down easy and left me wanting more. This and the Itsaca Pale Ale were easily the best of the sampler.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

04-29-2007 05:56:18 | More by jbsteiny

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Oh man, this beer is like Surly Bender's little brother. You can tell Surly's brewmaster used to work here and that's not a knock. He should leave more good beer lying around this town. It was light bodied brown with roasted chocolate and nut flavors. Very, very easy to drink yet quite tasty. The best beer of Rock Bottom's regular line-up.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

12-21-2006 05:33:21 | More by tempest

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap - (16oz glass, $4.09) at the brewery in Minneapolis, Mn. Pours with one finger tan head that goes slowly leaving a good lace. Deep mahogeny color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Nose was like a candle just being blown out. Starts malty, good balance, nutty finish. Goes good with their pubs tips.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

06-16-2006 02:22:06 | More by jdhilt

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Excellent auburn to dark brown color. Great tan head, decent retention and good lacing. Tons of hazelnut and milk chocolate in the nose. Bakers chocolate and caramel in the flavor. Slightly dusty, very, very dry. Bitter chocolate finish. Very enjoyable. Wouldn’t want more than one though.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

03-13-2006 04:26:38 | More by DaPeculierDane

ZAP

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown...awesome sweet milk chocolate...big sweet chocolate taste...roasted malts...slight splash of booze on the finish...

Full bodied...perhaps too full bodied for the style..

Very tasty...a little big for the style and a little sweet on the chocolate...some added nutty components would have made this truly special...with that said this is a kickass brew...I'd call it a chocolate borwn ale...might sell better....very tasty and a quality brown ale I would love to drink again.

Serving type: growler
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

12-31-2005 01:41:17 | More by ZAP

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Nice looking beer. Clear crimson/auburn deal. Frothy looking light tan head. Lacing comes in nice, full patches and rings. Web-like almost. Aroma is very nice. Nutty and chocolatey. Fresh yeast. Light roast. Very inviting. The flavor relays the nose perfectly on the palate. Chocolatey and roasty first and foremost. A little nuttiness in the background. And the perfect compliment of bittering hops. This is one helluva an English Brown. Very drinkable. And very tasty.

Serving type: growler
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

12-27-2005 21:41:42 | More by Bighuge

RBorsato

Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On-Cask 09/14/05 at the Minneapolis, MN location.

Solid brown in color with a thin beige head. Nice complex nutty, malty, raisiney, light cocoa balance of aromas and flavors. Medium bodied with a light roasty dry finish.

A nice drinker right out of the gate without having to let it warm up like you have to do with the on-tap version.

Contrary to my usual findings, and like the Itasca Extra Pale Ale here at RB Minneapolis, I liked the on-tap version of this one a bit better (especailly after letting it warm up)...

Per Menu: Belgian Aromatic, Chocolate, and Special B malts. Willamette hops.

Serving type: cask
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

09-21-2005 16:10:07 | More by RBorsato

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lightly hazed, caramel-y brown appearance, nice, creamy cocoa tan froth, a bit thinnish.

Chocolate and nuts dominate the aroma, toffee and caramel, a very malty thing, sweet and appealing.

Sweet delights abound in the taste. Medium-bodied, light nutty finish. Toasty, and well-balanced. A very servicable brown ale, with unrelenting flavor.
Fairly quaffable, to say the least.

Serving type: growler
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, 800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis

07-29-2005 01:53:47 | More by feloniousmonk