Hub City Brown Ale - Hub City Brewing Company

hardy008

Minnesota

1.8/5  rDev -31%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Dark orange to brown color with a very small head which vanishes quickly and leaves no lace. Smells somewhat of caramel and fruit. This is supposed to be a brown ale?

Tastes like caramel, fruit, and grain. Also somewhat watered down and unpleasant. Not much good to say here.

Light bodied, low carbonation, metallic. In general, pretty bad. Hub City needs to go back to the drawing board on this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 22:14:23 | More by hardy008

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper/amber color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Slight retention and poor lacing. Smells of yeast, sweet malt, slight hops, and slight citrus. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of hops, yeast, slight citrus, and a faint sweet malt background. Overall, not near the malt flavor I'm become accustomed too, but overall a drinkable beer. It just doesn't remind me of a Brown.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 01:17:02 | More by WoodBrew

delmarnate

Wisconsin

1.73/5  rDev -33.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Awful. I hate to pile on any brewer , but I really don't understand how this beer got distributed out of it's local area. Very chemical aroma to start, followed by an appallingly thin mouthfeel for a brown. The taste is watered down caramel and acid with a bitter aftertaste similar to stale coffee. Really bad, stay away.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 06:00:09 | More by delmarnate

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.4/5  rDev +30.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I bought a Hub City 6-pack sampler from Woodman's in Janesville, WI for $7.79 in Spring 2011.

Pours a semi-dark brown color with a cream colored head of foam that doesn't stick around too long. There's a scent of sweet cocoa and chocolate malts as well as some hops. Taste starts off rather promising with a bold chocolate nutty flavor but quickly goes away. Some sweet carmel malts in the mix and it leaves a nice after taste on the tounge. Decent and something new to try from Iowa but that's about it.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 23:15:33 | More by Lemke10

biggred1

Indiana

2.75/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Clear orange amber..not the color I expest from a Brown ale with a creamy tan head. Dark cherries and caramel in the aroma with some herbal hop notes. While not a bad tasting beer, Hub City Brown is not true to the style at all, this beer tastes more like an Amber or even an O-fest than a Brown ale. Caramel and a hint of fresh strawberry and floral hops. Medium light bodied. Sorry, this beer is not a Brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 02:31:43 | More by biggred1

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +43.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A - Reddish brown with almost no head at all. Some tan bubbles around the edges. Slight lacing left on the glass.

S - Nuts and malts, all very slight.

T - Sweet Nutty and blueberries???

D - Low carbonation.

O - Very drinkable. different than expected, but nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 03:08:31 | More by HuskyinPDX

match1112

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev +18%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

poured from bottle to pint glass. appears more red than brown with little to no head, and no lacing. has a strong sweet malt smell with lots of chocolate. tastes like watered down tootsie rolls with a slightly creamy mouth feel. not a brown i would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 22:08:42 | More by match1112

Tballz420

Minnesota

2.68/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Alright my pour was a little aggressive and im staring at a glass with 98% head. Really pillowy. Give it another ten mins to reset...

Anyways, mine has a really big head, hazy dark caramel body. Sweet brown malt nose. Pretty light on the malts for the taste, which might actually be a plus since it tastes less like a brown ale than a lot of brown ales. Thin to med, pretty soft. Eh, not horrible, but my least favorite style and pretty standard at that.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 04:14:12 | More by Tballz420

emmasdad

Colorado

3.05/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Dan for sharing this one last Friday night. The last time I reviewed a Hub City beer, the brewer contacted me and questioned my review of one of his beers. Here we go again. Poured a light amber color with a minimal amount of light beige foam on top. Bits of nuts, milk chocolate, caramel and sweet malt, but fairly disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 04:56:49 | More by emmasdad

alleykatking

Indiana

2.4/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from 12oz bottle. Review from notes.

A- Pours a amberish brown color. Half finger off white head dies rather quickly. Light whisps of lacing on the sides of the glass fall back into the beer.

S- Light chocolate malts along with a toasted caramel malt give way to most of the nose. There is a light grainy scent from time to time. A dash of brown sugar in the ending and this beer is done for in the nose department. Average at best.

T- Nice caramel malts in the front of the beer with a light toasted taste to them. A light darker fruit flavor gets covered by a metallic taste from about the middle of the beer to the ending. This really killed anything from the middle on with this beer.

M- Light mouthfeel. Carbonation is alright for the beer. Metal is all I can taste and is left on the palate for awhile after each sip. No real alcohol drying on the palate. Flavors are off and no real clean taste to this beer at all.

D- This beer had potental and I would like to try a batch that isn't...well...off in flavor. I've had a couple offerings from Hub City and it looks like they either brew a good beer or else don't come close to what they were doing.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 00:49:31 | More by alleykatking

KarlHungus

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

This beer took twenty minutes to pour. A torrent of foam exploded out of the bottle the second I opened it. Upon pouring one once of liquid into the glass the entire glass was full of foam. That foam took minutes to recedes enough for me to continue pouring. Another once poured, another glass full of foam. The process repeated until the whole of the beer was poured. The color of the beer is brownish amber and cloudy. The aroma is of faint caramel with a hint of barnyard. The over-carbonated head really gets in the way of the aroma. The taste is of a sour brown ale. I'm sure this beer is infected, but it tastes good nonetheless. There are some nice chocolate and caramel notes with some mild funkiness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and nearly flat. Overall, I'm really surprised this beer is drinkable given its condition. I actually like the taste quite a bit, and if the aroma wasn't so hidden by foam I could really get into this beer. As is I'll just have to content myself with the knowledge that infected beers can actually taste good on rare occasions.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 00:18:25 | More by KarlHungus

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

2.68/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle poured into an imperial pint. No date or info.

Thanks to Beerwolf77 for bringing me four of this brewery's beers from a vaca! Starting with this guy.

A - I got more head from pouring Samuel Adams Utopias than this! What gives?! An absolute disaster to start with, nothing but a small ring of off-white foam rests on the clear amber-brown colored beer.

S - Light notes of cocoa do nothing to mask the adjunct grainy aroma. Toasted amber malts are in there too as well as this port-barrel hint that's actually quite nice, even if it is wayyyy off for what this beer should smell like. Hints of brown sugar and maple syrup on the finish. I'm going back and fourth over the aroma being off and the fact I actually kinda like it that way.

T - Toasted amber malts have good flavor initially. That goes away pretty quickly though. It turns into a grainy, husky finishing flavor.

M - Medium-bodied but thin with no carbonation. It's even a little slick on the tongue. It finishes dry and slightly metallic.

D - I don't really understand what's going on with this beer. It seems like it's either off, or just poorly made, or maybe a combination of both. The flavor is just odd. It's not awful, but it does need a lot of work. I just finished bottling my second 'real' batch of beer, a Brown Ale, that's far better than this. I'm a little worried about the other three...

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 00:41:07 | More by BeerFMAndy

FreshHawk

Illinois

2.4/5  rDev -8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A - Caramel, copper brown. Really light for a brown ale. Small creamy off white head. Average retention that fades into a thin creamy lace.
 
S - Strong metallic and apple aromas. Smells a lot like an amber ale or a cider and less like a brown ale. A lot of tartness and some spicy aroma. Not a horrible aroma but definitely not like any other brown ale I've had.

T - Similar to the nose with a good amount of caramel and funky apple taste. Some metallic flavor on the finish. Some slightly off dark fruit flavors as well. A bit off tasting with an odd funky and mineral taste. Doesn't really taste much like the brown ale taste that I was expecting.

M - Lighter body with a fair amount of carbonation. A bit thin and watery feel with a bit of a slickness.

D - Not all that drinkable. Just not balanced very well and has some funky, off flavors.

Notes: Not what I was expecting for a brown ale. The flavors just seemed a bit off. The flavors aren't really offensive, they just aren't all that appealing. Probably one you could skip.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 00:15:22 | More by FreshHawk

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

2.42/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Picked this one up in a mixer pack from Hub City.

A - Pours a copper brown, thin layer of head and no real lacing. A little disappointing.

S - Scent is metallic with some chalky chocolate scents. Need to check the date on this as I'm concerned it's off.

T - Taste is sour with a nutty chocolate malt coming through. Almonds and cashews are present, but the sour flavour is a bit of a turn-off.

M - Nothing wrong with this aspect, but the rest of the aspects are kind of dragging this beer down.

D - A little disappointed with my first Hub City experience. I've got 5 more, and this is not the best first impression. Is it terrible? No, I've had worse. Would I buy it again or recommend it to others? Nope.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 03:56:17 | More by andrenaline

JackieTH

Minnesota

2.9/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Red-amber-brown with a half-finger of off-white foam.

Smell: I get fruit, dried apricots and sweetness.

Taste: Initially sweetness, caramel, but then tart with more dried apricot-like fruit. I want to say complex, but I think it's just unbalanced.

Mouthfeel: Medium.

Drinkability: For about 1/2 the bottle I thought...okay, this isn't at all bad. But by the end the unbalanced flavor was a bit off-putting.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2010 20:23:33 | More by JackieTH

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +49.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Golden brown with a finger of foam, lacing ring present

S - Brown sugar and caramel malts, couldn't pick up any hop presence

T - Medium bodied, taste the caramel with hints of brown sugar. Can't taste any hops

M/D - A pretty tasty brew, I recommend this brew and will purchase again. It was a pretty well balance brew. Medium bodied that sat really smooth. Could pass off as a session brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 00:52:30 | More by FreshmanPour77

morimech

Minnesota

2.65/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear, reddish amber color (Brown Ale huh???) with half inch of white head that slowly settles to a thick cap. A little lacing is left on the glass. Has a carmelish and fruity aroma that does not scream brown ale to me. Taste likewise is confusing. Carmel malt and slightly fruity. Has a caustic aftertaste that is not pleasant. Nothing remarkable about the body but it has nice carbonation. Not a horrible beer but as a brown ale it is a failure. If they called this an amber ale I could almost go along with giving it a B rating. A cheap beer that you can pawn off on your leaching buddies.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2010 19:46:22 | More by morimech

ZAP

Minnesota

1.38/5  rDev -47.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Pours a cloudy bronze color...no head...smells fruity like apples and pears....some of that fruitiness on the taste too but a sweeter caramel accented flavor...doesn't mesh well..body is lifeless...little carbonation...thinnish....just doesn't drink well...not recommended..

As it warms it takes on a bit of a vomit flavor...it is only warming because it is hard to drink...

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2010 04:14:42 | More by ZAP

Morinehtar

Minnesota

2.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 1 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle from a sampler 6 pack.

Beer is dark amber in color with no head at all from a hard pour. There is no lacing, beer tastes almost flat.

Smell is sweet, taste also sweet caramel and maple with minimal to nonexistent hops. Mouthfeel is thin without carbonation, and nothing too horrible but also not great. There is a distinct aftertaste of cheese. Maybe it's the curry I paired this with that causes this funky aftertaste.

I could drink 3-4 easily, but there's nothing to get excited about here for me.

It's a beer, but not one I would look for. This is the my favorite from the sampler pack (Oatmeal Stout and Pale Ale).

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 21:27:00 | More by Morinehtar

emerge077

Illinois

2.53/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This pours IPA orange, not really brown ale at all. A flaccid skim of bubbles strain to form on the surface. Aroma is strange, sweet with sulfur and grain.

Odd sulfury flavor, just off with some astringency and sweet husky grain. An upleasant watery grainy mess. Muddled with no distinct flavors. Not looking forward to drinking the rest of this, or ever seeking out again. Glad this was a single bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2009 02:00:11 | More by emerge077

happygnome

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

a: pours a brown color with about a half inch of head that disappears quickly leaving no trace of lace around the edge of the glass see through lots of carbonation
s: caramel malty sweetness hints of earthy hops
t: caramel malt sweetness very sweet brew
m: light bodied beer with a lot of carbonation

overall, this is not a beer that i would buy again

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2009 02:02:03 | More by happygnome

smibroncos

New York

2.88/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A. Poured a clear amber, with a a one finger tan head. Good lacing on the glass.

S. Dark roasted malt, leaves, earth.

T. Roasted malt, sweet brown sugar, maple, bitter hops. It had a soapy aftertaste.

M. Medium bodied, medium carbonation.

D. A decent brown ale, good balance, but a little thin.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 02:14:42 | More by smibroncos

Tone

Missouri

3.15/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper/amber color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Slight retention and poor lacing. Smells of yeast, sweet malt, slight hops, and slight citrus. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of hops, yeast, slight citrus, and a faint sweet malt background. Overall, not near the malt flavor I'm become accustomed too, but overall a drinkable beer. It just doesn't remind me of a Brown.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 01:01:49 | More by Tone

Kraken

Maryland

2.5/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed from notes consumed 8/6/09

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a standard water glass. Firm pour calls fourth virtually zero head. No lace. Color is a slightly muddied very light brown.

Nose- Slight sweetness, nuttiness, mild caramel.

Pallate- Very mild caramel, some sourness. Very disappointing.

Mouthfeel- Tart, mildly carbonated.

Drinkability- Not great.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 01:31:09 | More by Kraken

Ragingbull

California

1.35/5  rDev -48.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Dark amber in color more than a light brown. There is some light lacing and a rim of foam. Some prickle can be seen where the light shines through. The nose is earthy with some malt tones and a gentle grain character. The nose more like wine than beer. Some sharp notes in the flavor are a major turnoff, especially in a brown ale. A highly grainy attack. Some nut tones are able to come through somehow. It seems to be undermalted in my opinion. Almost as if they used half the grain and malt and twice the water. The malt really struggles to hold up to the grain flavors and the sharp acidic tones. Way lighter and sharper than I expected when I bought a six pack of a brown ale while in Iowa. Ugh. I am not crazy about it. I shouldn't have reviewed it yet. . .maybe some schlub will want to try one of the four I have left.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2009 04:47:21 | More by Ragingbull