Kick-Ass Brown - C.H. Evans Brewing Company

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this brew on a visit to the pub. I was driving so really had to only drink the smaller beers. The brew is served in an english pint glass chilled. Brew exhibits a chestnut brown color with a thin beige layer of head resting on surface creating sparse islands of bubbles.
Aroma is some brown sugar and surprisingly so a bit of citrus rind and grassy hops as well.
First sip reveals an average body and mild fine carbonation.
Flavor is roasted malt and some dark chocolate and then rolls to the rindy and grassy hops again.

This is an easy drinker easy to see why it is a previous GABF winner!

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2006 01:19:31 | More by sulldaddy

aerozeppl

New York

4.65/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Have had this many times over the last 10 years or so. Finally a review.

A: Fairly dark brown color. Looks almost like cola when held up to the light. A finger of slightly brownish head with very impressive lacing and good head retention.

S: The nose on this beer is a nice balance of dry hopping and malt. The hops smell very fresh and work quite well with the malt. Even before all the hops this was an above average brown ale.

T: Malt up front. Nice malt complexity. Very fresh tasting. Very rich tasting. A little touch of chocolate. The hops are always there and the citrus works really well with the malt. It is everything you want in a beer at once.

M: Medium body that can feel a little heavy at times.

D: This has won quite a few GABF medals and I can see why. Personally this is much better than Bender and that is a good beer. This is the best american brown ale out there hands down.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2011 21:52:10 | More by aerozeppl

merc7186

New York

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer on tap served in a pint glass at the Albany Pump Station (obviously).

NOTES: This beer has won 3 gold medals at the GABF and Silver and Bronze Medals at the WBC. Yeah, its that good.

The beer looks amazing with a nice brown color with a slightly reddish hue to it, has a beautiful brown head and clings to every inch on the side of the glass (even half way through the pint). The beer smells great with a great balance of dark malty smells, mild coffee taste and a blend of great hoppiness, not too citrusy, not too piney. The tasteis is amazing with a smooth blend of dark roasted malts and a great smooth hoppy finish. Just outstanding blend. The mouthfeel is decent as the beer is well carbonated and you sit with a mild bitterness. Overall, WOW. This beer earned every honor it has won (and will win) in its existance. Amazing. If you are ever in Albany, this is what you should come for.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2011 00:32:05 | More by merc7186

Kendo

New York

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got it at the brewpub on 4/23/11.

A: Served in a pint glass. The body is brownish-red (or maybe reddish-brown is more accurate), with a small off-white head. Leaves behind real good lace.

S: Sweet malt - caramel, toffee - and roasted malt. Touch of citric hops.

T: Very nice - good malt foundation that follows the nose (caramel, toffee, some brown sugar). This is followed by a nice citrusy, bitter finish that leaves a clean, drying impression.

M: Just about medium in heft, carbonation is appropriate.

O: This is probably the "flagship" ale at the Pump Station, and for good reason. I could easily quaff this one for awhile and not get bored with it. . . .

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2011 18:09:52 | More by Kendo

Westsidethreat

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Sponberg for the growler!

A: Lightly hazing (maybe from the chill) mahagony brown body. Tight oatmeal colored head stayed at 1/4 for quite a while. Its reduced to a quality thick ring around the glass and foamy patches across the top.

S: Immediately the amarillo hops jumped out at me. Nutty and slightly roasted.

T: Acorny sweetness begins but doesnt get the limelight for long. A solid bitter burst wash crosses the tongue immediately with flavors of tangerine and grapefruit. Slight tastes of powdered hot chocolate and syruped pancake with strawberries flirt with the palate. Ends with a slight rosemary sour twang.

M: Quality mouthfeel. Medium body with good carbonation. Not prickly yet not flat. Leaves a bit of a coat on the tongue.

D: Remarkable how well it held up in the growler. I was definately stoked when I popped the top. Bit bitter to be a true session beer but as it warms the sweetness begins to prevail.

Serving type: growler

06-08-2006 02:41:57 | More by Westsidethreat

rlee1390

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Deep brown with a one finger head that leaves behind some lacing

S-Roasted malts, spice, caramel and brown sugar.

T-Tastes more like a Black IPA almost. Lots of roasted malt and spices. Wonderful bitterness in the finish as well. Great balance.

M-Medium bodied, some carbonation, smooth.

O-A wonderful beer by a local brewery. One of their best, along with the Hefe IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 04:26:56 | More by rlee1390

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Deep golden brown appearence with a foamy head that only lasts a few seconds. Smells great...a very intesnse hoppy aroma.
Pretty good taste. A nutty/hoppy flavor...something different...however it has that small town microbrew undertaste...not sure what it is. Very carbonated which makes the drinkability a little lower than expected. A decent beer...hardly "kick ass".

Serving type: growler

10-10-2007 12:38:50 | More by DrinkSlurm

ybnorml

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A dark brown ale with amber highlights. Has a creamy tan head. There is a deliciously inviting floral hop aroma. The taste starts with a nice hop sharpness. The following interplay between the hops and malt back and forth ends in a well balanced finish. One of the best brown ales you can try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2004 19:47:22 | More by ybnorml

bjohnson

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled 06/30/06. Review from notes.

Rated best American Brown Ale at the Great American Beer Fest 2002, 2002.

A: Pours a reddish dark brown color with a half finger off white head. Decent lace.
S: Huge floral hop presence, which I was not expecting, but definitely liked. Slight maltyness behind the hops. This is one odd Brown Ale.
T/M: Huge grapefruit and pine hop notes up front. Only huge because this is a brown ale and I wasn’t expecting it. Good caramel malt backbone to compliment the hops—As I wrote that I though, shouldn’t this be the other way around? Smooth mouthfeel that bites a tad as its going down. Good bitterness. Well balanced and medium bodied. A tad more hops than malts--who am I kidding, a lot more hops than malts..
D: Highly drinkable beer, but beware if you’re looking for your ordinary brown ale. This is not your ordinary brown ale. I was very pleased that I ordered this as I don’t usually like browns, but it surpassed it’s billing as one “Kick Ass Brown.”

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2006 00:44:09 | More by bjohnson

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this beer drinks like a dark pale ale with an intense hoppiness in the nose and great grain character. It's quite sweet with loads of hop bitterness to complement. The carbonation really pushes this beer into a light, drinkable brown ale. Very effing tasty beer

Serving type: growler

03-31-2012 23:32:35 | More by ThePorterSorter

Stimack

New York

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is probably my favorite brews at the Pump Station, The brew pours to a nice dark brown color with not much of a head. The aromas from it are very hoppy with some roasted malt tones. The taste is superb; I could drink a afternoon away with this brew! Have always been surprised at the hop it has but seems to be balanced perfectly with the roasted malt flavors. One wish is that it would be a bit heavier/thicker. Can’t wait for my next experience, would love to try it on cask sometime!

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2004 02:44:18 | More by Stimack

williamherbert

New York

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The appearance is ruby brown with a mocha brown head. Through head shrinks, the lace is magnified. Thick and murky.

The smell is heavy resiny pine of a thick IPA. Some earthy malts but the brown is overwhelmed. Dynamite. Evolves as it warms up, with more nutty malts emerging.

The taste is a major pine and oak. As it warms, that nutty brown malts peeks its head out, sweetening the pot a bit. It's really fantastic.

The feel is thick, milky and creamy, like chocolate milk. This is a rich, deep beer. When it warms up to room temp, it is world class.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2009 03:59:05 | More by williamherbert

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Appearance: Deep ruby brown, I can barely see my hand through it without holding the glass up the the light.

Smell: Earthy hop aroma with hints of darker malts.

Taste: Amazing, this is my kind of brown ale. Nice and hoppy, with a strong malt backbone. I can taste the Amarillo hops for sure, and they accent the malts surprisingly well.

Mouthfeel: This sat in the growler for five days after my most recent trip to Albany, but the carbonation has held up perfectly.

Drinkability: I could drink this all the time, I wish I could get it local. My girlfriend bought me the first growler for my birthday and I will definatly be filling it up whenever I'm in Albany.

Serving type: growler

01-27-2006 01:59:17 | More by ericj551

crwills

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Pump Station in Albany. This is apparently their flagship brew, and has numerous awards from various beer festivals. Was definitely quite good, and went well with my ribs! Very hoppy for a brown -- Americans seem to like making brown ales this way (tangy, hoppy, light bodied) instead of the more traditional English style (malty, nutty, oily). Tasted more like a slightly toasted pale ale than a brown, but I still really enjoyed it. Definitely sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2007 02:17:18 | More by crwills

lovindahops

New York

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from tap into a pint glass at the pump station

A- a dark as midnight look with an off white head. Head was good but quickly dissolves

S- coffee and toffee. And lots of nuts. Some earthy hop scents

T- wow! An unexpected citrus hops hit! The coffee theme still dominates. This is a real unexpected blend of good themes. The flavor is still sweet

M- medium bodied and creamy

D- this is a delicious combiination of flavors in a brew. This is so yummy! Why won't they bottle this?!? A great beer to try when out here

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2010 01:31:59 | More by lovindahops

waughbrew

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A chocolate color, darker than mahogany. Small off-white head, tight lacing. Smells of floral hops, sweet candy malt, and chocolate. The flavor is a grand balance of malt and hops. Strong toasty munich malt flavor, chico-ish neutral yeast, and high alpha American hops. Lingering earthy toasty grain. Clean yet present bitterness. Very medium body = good drinkability and good feel.

Definitely one of the best brown ales that I have had. The only thing lacking in this one is some yeast character. Great beer!

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2006 22:45:30 | More by waughbrew

Gtreid

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

64 oz growler poured into my bruery tulip. Thanks to naproxen for the hook up.

A: Deep brown color. Not much head comes from the pour, but it does leave a thin collar. No lacing to speak of.

A: Very hop forward nose for a brown ale. I get notes of chocolate, slight roast, and citrus hops.

T: Again, surprisingly hoppy. Chocolate malt notes and citrus. I get a bit of a metallic taste toward the back end. It finishes dry and somewhat sweet with no hint of the abv.

M: good levels of carbonation, medium body.

O: A different take on the style and one I am glad I got to try. I think I prefer the more malty browns, but this is a nice departure from what I'm used to.

Serving type: growler

12-29-2011 21:44:30 | More by Gtreid

UDbeernut

New York

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

from my notes, tasted at the Pump Station in Albany, poureinto a pint

a: nice tan color, nice off white head with good retention

s: nut and citrus hop, mild caramel

t: nut and caramel on the tip pierced by citrus hoppyness. Deffinatly a nice take on the brown ale

m: medium bodied, slightly drying and sticky

o: excellent beer!

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2011 18:57:49 | More by UDbeernut

sponberg

New York

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The appearance gets average marks only because the cask was still settling. The brewer was warning us all about hop chunks, but none found their way into my glass - what did find its way was an astoundingly quaffable American brown ale just loaded with hop character. The distinct smell of fresh hops dominated the aroma. The flavor started out with a full frontal spicy, citric, bitter hop assault, with a creamy (gotta love cask!) slightly roasty malt backbone that balanced things out beautifully. The finish was bitter but not astringently so. I've had it on tap and enjoyed it, but the cask version floored me.

Cask conditioning absolutely shows off this two-time GABF winner in its best light. They usually put a cask on on Friday evenings - definitely worth a trip. Many thanks to brewer George DePiro for hauling this one out on Saturday afternoon to slake the thirst of a couple of BAs.

Edit, 5/5 - No cask for a while. Yet on tap this beer just keeps getting better.

Serving type: cask

01-21-2003 12:21:41 | More by sponberg

iceball585

New York

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Dark brown/black color, non-transparent, thin head that lowered quickly to a thin ring

S- Caramel malts, sweet, citrus, light flowery hops auroma

T- Earthy, citrus hops, grassy, dark malts, brown sugar, fairly sweet

M- Medium body, medium carbonation, smooth, clean, oily finish

D- Worth getting again

More hoppy than your average American Brown ale but still worth trying if you get the chance.

Serving type: growler

03-11-2009 01:26:33 | More by iceball585

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Deep brown body with a sticky creamy head. Big head with great retention.

S - The nose holds all you would want from a brown ale. A robust nose with scents of bitter, toasted, roasted, a nutty components.

T - A big deep flavor profile with tons of roasted nut. Bitter yeasty brown bread. Toasted nuts again with a faint mocha addition.

M - Robust, deep and drying. Finishes like an Irish dry stout.

O - This beer has depth and complexity and is very well rounded. Closer to a solid porter in my opnion.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2011 22:43:44 | More by BeerForMuscle

Shiredave

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Country Inn. A goodly brown color with a sparse off white head and steady carbonation. Aroma of caramel and some citrus is light and doesnt instantly indicate a brown ale.
Body is light to medium as it warms with a very different kind of toffee sweetness that blends excellently with sharp hop flavors.Smooth and creamy mouth feel.
Finish is also a mix of earthy hop and tasty toffee. Highly drinkable and a fine beer with Big flavor w/out being heavy or highly alcoholic. Next to other ales named for thier brown color, this one stands out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2003 04:17:18 | More by Shiredave

PBoegel

New York

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A clear favorite of mine from the core line of ales on tap at the Pump Station. Big malt flavors mingle with an intense American hop profile, with notes of grapefruit, light pine, pineapple and hints of lemon zest.

Mix it up with the nachos w/jalapeños or some chili and then a pump station burger.

Then finish up with a second pint and let those zesty American hops clean the palate.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2008 13:46:37 | More by PBoegel

bultrey

New York

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Amended on 11-17-06: I'm not changing the scores for this, because it's still a great beer. But I can no longer claim it is the best brown ale I've ever had. See: Brownstone, Sixpoint.

Original review 8-22-05: The best brown ale I've ever had, though almost not really a brown ale -- more like an IPA brewed with dark malts.

OK, so the color is a gorgeous deep mahogany, as a brown ale should be, with an attractive light tan head. But when you smell this, you start to understand that this will be no ordinary brown ale. Leafy, herbaceous hops leap out at you, along with the slightest caramel-tinged malt aroma.

This is a hop-lover's wet dream, as I'm sure any hophead that bothers to drink a brown ale would want it to be like this. I have to believe it is dry-hopped. Leafy, marijuana-like herbaceousness smacks you upside the head, along with sharp cheddar cheese. Then the slightly burned toffee and caramel notes leap in, trying to subdue the hops, but the hops won't be outdone. But instead of attacking again and crushing the malt, the two peacefully co-exist and make a perfectly balanced beer. Long snappy hop finish with enough roastiness to pair up with the caramalized sugars that might be on a nice grilled steak. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. I could sit here and drink this all night in spite of their several other tremendous offerings. That's how good it is.
Kick-ass indeed. Please God let me try this on cask someday...

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2005 15:50:37 | More by bultrey

stercomm

Ohio

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

In Albany on a business trip and stumbled upon The Albany Pump Station. Obviously had on tap

A-Dark brown with a slight tan finger head, slight lacing

S-Getting lots of roasted malts, some spice and caramel

T-Nice taste, get lots of roasted malt along with a nice hoppiness that gives this beer a nice bitterness on the finish.

M-Medium bodied, slight carbonation.

O-A very well balanced beer brewed locally. Very subtle but good

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2012 01:35:23 | More by stercomm