Tallgrass Ale - Tallgrass Brewing Company

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a nice IPA. It's no hop bomb or blast in the mouth, but it delivers a consistent flavor profile. I feel like that is one of the things that comes up short on some American IPAs: the flavor profile falls off or diverts from what it started out from. This is not one of those IPAs. I can dig it. Likin' Tallgrass so far. And supposedly I'm saving the best for the last.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 23:37:22 | More by RblWthACoz

chocosushi

Oklahoma

4.28/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle -> Mustang Pint

i've had sips of this from a can, but saw some single bottles for sale at Freeman's which I would not pass up

A ~ Hazelnut brown (and almost maroon) Medium clarity,
with decent carbonation. Good lacing through the whole 12 oz as It gets dominated

S ~ Raw Sugar, toffee pudding, with faint cherry & candied apple. Smells pretty good, really sweet.

T ~ Holy cow, lot's of flavor. Getting a whole lot of berry (black & blue), toasty honey-wheat bread flavors, some apple juice and a cinnamon-potpourri like flavor that I cannot put my finger on. It's very complex with perfect amount of thickness to it.

M ~ Mellow sweetness first-off, with some nuttyness and a crisp finish that I wouldn't call dry. Medium-Light bodied. This has to be the best part of the beer besides the flavor.

D ~ Can't stop drinking it. This is one I believe should stay in the bottle for session purposes. Incredibly drinkable. It is very smooth and not over-carbonated. At 4.4 it's a good after work beer as well. I didn't think too much of this one before, but I like it.

Well played Tallgrass,
I definitely need to review the can again.

Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 02:50:14 | More by chocosushi

mvforegonian

Oregon

3.45/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Easy-drinking enjoyment! A rich English style brown ale. the ale is distinctively dark, yet smooth with a clean finish. Slightly musty aroma but tastes of banana, dried fruit and brown sugar. I didn't really detect any hops, which was a disappointment. Overall, great English brown ale! Tallgrass does a great job with this brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 01:45:42 | More by mvforegonian

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #37 (Feb 2010):

Heady topping with a matching lace down the glass and a dark mahogany glow in the light. Smells of brown bread, citric-woody hop twang and some vague nuttiness. Some smoothness within the medium body; heavy-handed toasted-malt flavor seems to blanket from front to back. Suggestion of toffee sticks in the middle. Hops are very modest with only a quick smattering of bitterness and flavor. Borders the Dark Mild Ale style with the hoppiness being so subdued. Very nutty. Toasted grain has some subtle roasted qualities and a faint fruitiness. Roasted flavor does jump up for a brief moment but does not make it too far as the toasted dominance pushes it back down. Semisweet, toasted-bread finish.

Good Brown Ale drinking here, the aftertaste seems to linger forever ... not a bad thing at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 19:52:29 | More by BeerAdvocate

maleman

Mississippi

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a - poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. opaque, dark amber with minimal head that receded into a thin film. spidery lacing.

s - dark, roasted malt notes. some caramel, some grass.

t - smooth coffee at first impression. the roasted malt comes across in the aftertaste.

m - light to medium bodied. less than avg carbonation. slight bitter aftertaste.

d - nothing outstanding, but not a bad quaff. could work as a session. will probably buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 22:23:11 | More by maleman

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A very pleasant and understated Brown Ale.

A dark brown beer pours with a froathy white head that shows no signs of waivering. Medium lacing and medium haze round out the appearance.

Toast, pine, nuts and caramel play lightly with the olfactories. Solid malt aromas provide the backdrop for the aroma.

Dry toast flavors up front with the taste of roasted pecans, burnt caramel, and barley malt close behind. Pine and (to a lesser extent) citrus tastes come in at mid palate and chase the beer into the finish, all the while increasing in bitterness for a malty-dry, hop balanced finish.

Nicely attenuated for a crisp and clean texture that starts out medium but finishes dry and toasty but without becomming arid, harsh, grainy. Only a lightly oily feel left on the tongue afterwards.

A very tasty session beer. It works hard to remain understated and with a quiet confidence. Quite sessionable and palatable.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2010 01:33:20 | More by BEERchitect

chaz01

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Found this hidden in the fridge from a previous beer of the month club selection. No date on the bottle, but it was shipped about 6 months ago.

A: Dark amber color, almost brown with a thin head that produces some lacing in the glass.

S: Picking up some butterscotch and lemon character in the aroma.

T: A little lemon zest, mild hops flavor. I'm not picking up any nuttiness or earthy flavors that I would expect in a brown ale. Finish is a bit tart, but maybe I waited too long before opening.

M: Medium bodied

D: Best at cellar temperature, as more of the nuttiness and roasted malt flavor comes out. I'm thinking it would pair well with a salad or soup course part of the meal.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2010 05:34:51 | More by chaz01

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4.2/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(brought a bottle back from the liquor store in Junction City, KS)

Dark clear brown brew (the color of Shiner Bock). Great rich toasty aroma. Flavor is a mix of coffee, dark brown bread, a nice toasty finish. A slight tang. Not much hops. Fairly dry.

Lots of carbonation. Very sessionable.

Overall, a very decent English style brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 08:38:34 | More by jmbranum

NStLincoln

Nebraska

3.2/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours with a very thin tan head into a pint glass with a muddy brown, almost coffee color.

Nice nose. Graham crackers and toffee. Also kind of smells like pot roast.

Simple on the palatte, not much on the back end. Straight forward malt, light coffee.

This beer either has really tiny, prickly bubbles, or it's kind of flat. It's too early in the morning, and my tongue is asleep.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 13:42:58 | More by NStLincoln

shivtim

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured out into a pint glass.
Very clear, ruby brown in color. Looks flat. Small but persistent cafe au lait head.
Nose is pleasant slightly spicy malts. Hints of nutmeg. Slight green hops on the end. Surprisingly complex and refreshing.

Taste is straight-forward but solid. Gentle malts and lingering white pepper hops. Decent mouthfeel. Very Sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 01:28:56 | More by shivtim

armock

New York

2.28/5  rDev -36.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - Poured a brown color with a light tan head that leaves some lacing behind

S - Is of sweet malt and is a little nutty

T - Not too good has a very earthy taste as in it tastes like liquid dirt

M - This beer has a very thin watery body with light carbonation to it

D - To me this was just a bad beer and not in an infected way just a poor beer the taste was bad it was like drinking dirty water so unless your into that stay away

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 19:20:42 | More by armock

mooseisloose

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smells of brown sugar, molasses and whispy hops. Pours to a translucent but not transparent brown with a thin quickly disapating head. Taste is very dry with a golden grahams- like sweetness and a tarty but not bitter hoppiness. The hops then finish out with a real dry chaulky-like finish that almost sucks the sweetness right out of your mouth to the point of puckering. Interesting. I have never had an ale that starts out as a full blown ale up front then finishes super dry. I really like this brew, a very different twist on English ale. I'd like to know what hops are used to brew this, it is very good.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 21:46:39 | More by mooseisloose

cnally

Indiana

2.5/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Another sampling from the Beer of the Month Club.

Cloudy, hazy, dirty looking reddish brown beer, with a tannish head fading quick and leaving little lace.

Malt bomb aroma, spicy, nutty and a bit sour.

A flavor unbecoming to the style. Watery flavor, slightly sweet, a little malty, and the middle tastes are sour. Finishes bitter and sour.

Watery, loose feel and not very creamy/substantial.

Not the favorite brown I have ever had. Sour, unbalanced, watery, can't see wanting to drink this ever again.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 01:22:18 | More by cnally

WJVII

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

BOM Sept. 2009
Poured into a pint glass this brew has a nice amber color with a dark red tint when held to the light. The head is full but diminishes fast and leaves a frothy cap. The aroma nutty with some grassiness and dry notes. The taste is very earthy, with light malt roast and some sweetness in the finish. The body is medium with moderate carbonation. This is a well balanced brew but has a lacking in actual taste. Just a OK brew, not great but not bad either.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 00:14:25 | More by WJVII

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

from my Sept BOTM Club shipment...

A- Medium copper color, slightly cloudy, plume of off white head, little retention or lacing

S- carmel, toffee, honey roasted peanuts, buttered popcorn

T- sweet carmel, toffee, honey roasted peanut flavor with some semi-burnt buttered popcorn in there... little bit of a bite on the back end.

M- chewy medium body... almost wet and gooey sensation

D- nice blend of flavors, but a little too sweet and a little too gooey

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 13:46:42 | More by rfgetz

bsp77

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Received as part of the September shipment of my BOTM club.

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Hazy orangish-brown with initial frothy head receding to a thin line with slight lacing.

Smell: Rich toffee and sweet caramel with light fruit and English hops. Unfortunately, the rich smell fades quickly.

Taste: Semi-dry toffee, caramel and toasted malts. Maybe a slight nuttiness. Not much going on at the finish.

Feel: Low carbonation, creamy yet almost thin body.

Drinkability: Nice, but really doesn't stand out. Mostly just simple malts.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2009 03:02:37 | More by bsp77

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From the BOTM Club:

Appearance - Pours a dark brown color. About a half inch of head that quickly dissipates and leaves little lacing.

Smell - Smells of caramel, malts, bitter coffee, and a hint of chocolate.

Taste - Similar to how it smells. However, there is a very "buttery" characteristic to how it tastes which makes it a bit odd. Can taste nuttiness, coffee, and a bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium bodied. Decent carbonation but honestly could ask for a bit more.

Drinkability - This brown ale is not really my thing. One and I'm done. I look forward to trying their IPA, however.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 18:29:05 | More by SpdKilz

gyllstromk

Belgium

3.63/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I find brown ales to be generally boring and inoffensive and I will almost never order one in the presence of alternatives. This is a fine example of the style which is pleasant but does not excite me. It pours a dark amber. Nutty, roasted, chocolate malt on the nose with a little dark fruitiness. Flavor is bitter with crisp, chocolate, burndt finish. Mouth is wet. Browns always seem to leave a residual, thin maltiness which I don't enjoy. Fans of browns will enjoy this; I'll pass.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 18:34:15 | More by gyllstromk

omahawk

Nebraska

2.1/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Really surprised by this, not in a good way. Their IPA and Hefe were much better.

This brown ale looks just great, has decent lacing with a small but lingering head. I am not exaggerating when I say that the smell is atrocious, it smells like old sweat socks that have been in the trunk of my car for all of July. Taste is somewhat off - lacking the malt sweetness I was anticipating, but has more than it's share of off-skunkiness. Drink by date is Nov 2009, so I should have plenty of time before this "goes bad" (whatever that means). I am severely disappointed in this beer and will not be able to finish it. Not sure how this is getting a "B".

Edit Addition:

Not sure if the off-taste and smell was due to handling by distributor or what - I bought it from the neighborhood supermarket that does a large volume business with generally quick turnover. I opened another bottle from the same 6er, and it was as bad.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 22:07:38 | More by omahawk

drunkmonk

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Included as an extra from Springdogg. Thanks Marc.

Pours chestnut brown. Thin spotty lacing. Nutty aroma mixed with some toffee and caramel malts. Some fruity aromas as well. Lots of toffee and roasted nutty flavors. Hops may only be present in slight fruity and herbal notes. Moderate body. Finishes with a malty and roasted butterscotch sweetness. If you like a traditional English Brown ale, this one will certainly do ya.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2009 21:10:11 | More by drunkmonk

srandycarter

California

3.05/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Dark cola. Nice head down to disk, NICE sticky lacing.

S - Roasted malt, bitter malt.

T - Same as smell. OK, just unimpressive.

M - Medium body, creamy, good carb.

D - Just not my cup.

Mostly, this is a thin beer with a lot of not exceedingly pleasant taste and smell qualities, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2009 06:52:44 | More by srandycarter

joe1510

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz Bottle

I was lucky enough to receive this in a recent trade with Goliath, thanks Brad! I believe this will be my first beer from the great state of Kansas. Tallgrass is a brown ale that with a perfectly clear body and chestnut highlights. A touch of ruby flashes through here and there with the light directly behind the glass. I had to pour hard to conjure up a one finger head that fell the a creamy cap and left some impressive lacing down the glass on its way.

The nose has a toasty graininess and a solid nuttiness that, unfortunately, becomes artificial the longer I keep my nose in the glass. There's a slight bit of coppery twanginess that I'm not too fond of along with a soft herbal hoppiness throughout that's adds a nice touch. The copper isn't so bad and actually comes and goes but it isn't very complimentary.

The toasted malts get things moving and push all the way through. Day old coffee grounds that are a bit acidic lean in hard along with the coppery twang. The nuttiness comes back in the form of hazelnut and the longer it sits on the tongue the more artificial it becomes. Herbal hoppiness brings up the rear. This isn't a bad beer but it's just a little on the bland and boring side.

The body is light and the carbonation is fairly fast moving. Each drink slides quickly over my tongue and shows some prickliness on the swallow.

This brown ale goes down fairly easy but just doesn't keep my attention well enough to keep me wanting more.

Not a bad brown but a little rough and boring. I'm glad I got to give it a whirl and would like to try more from Tallgrass if I ever get the chance. Thanks again Brad!

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2009 02:30:41 | More by joe1510

EPseja

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Siebenmorgen for this Kansas import.

Served from a 12oz bottle in my SABL glass at between fridge and cellar temperature.

A - Hazy, deep hazelnut amber color. Small, odd-bubbled head comes and goes rather quickly. Head retention and lacing are not very good.

S - Deep, rich malty biscuity goodness. Nice and forward for a brown. Some slight cidery-tart notes buried within.

T - Very unassuming and clean in the front, with only a slight caramel sweetness. A tartness comes in the middle, like a yeasty Christmas Stolen, followed by a quick and fleeting swallow. Aftertaste is nice -- biscuits and apple butter.

M - Decent carbonation and tingle. Moderate body after the initial "puff", and a quick and easy swallow.

D - Easy and subtle. This brown ale has an amazing nose going for it, as well as a nice low ABV for sessioning. Everything else is pretty average and tame, which all adds up to a pleasant, if not overly exciting beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 03:13:54 | More by EPseja

CHSLBrew

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint glass.

A-Copper to deep copper beer with a tan head, thick with moderately good retention. Ever-so-slight haze to the beer.

S-Prominent aromas of sweet malt and toffee.

T-Nutty, toasty malts, a little bit of sweetness and toffee maltiness. Very slight bitterness, just there to help balance the sweeter malts and help give this beer a clean finish. Little to no aftertaste.

M-High-moderate carbonation and a medium-light body. Feels almost chewy, complimenting the heartiness of the malts.

D-This is a good beer. Enjoyable, smooth and easy-drinking. Will enjoy this one again soon :)

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 02:57:01 | More by CHSLBrew

EGledhill

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into pint glass

A. Nice dark brown body with off white head that fizzled away quickly.

S. Sweet caramel malt smell to this.

T. Wow... not what I was expecting. Honestly it tastes like I'm drinking a stick of butter with a slight taste of caramel in it. Pretty disappointing.

M. mouthfeel is alright. thin.

D. Drinkability would be good if you can get past the taste or if it's what you're into. just not to my liking though

wasn't sure what to expect from this one. haven't tried anything from this brewery but was let down by this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2008 13:21:54 | More by EGledhill