Nut Brown Ale - Santa Fe Brewing Company

brentk56

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear tea color with a decent head that leaves a fair amount of lacing behind

Smell: Vague sense of cocoa, hazelnuts and toffee

Taste: Toffee and hazelnuts, up front, with a vaguely fruity character in the middle; perhaps a bit of nutmeg, after the swallow, but the finish is relatively sweet

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Relatively sweet and relatively forgettable; nothing negative but not really my kind of thing

Thanks, BlueOkie, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 00:08:41 | More by brentk56

palma

New York

4.01/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Wow this beer is delicious. Was not expecting this. Aroma nice typical nut brown but slighty oxidized.

Flavor is a big happy punch in the face. Did not expect this tasty sweet flavor. its sweet and mild with licorice, bourbon and scotch notes. very mild smooth sweet nutty finish, low complexity but still enough to keep things enjoyable and slightly interesting. May become somewhat cloying towards the end if sweet is not your thing.

Almost, an excellent session beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 03:33:04 | More by palma

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.33/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to my wife for picking this up in Alberquerque
Poured into a snifter

A: Cola brown with a tan half finger head that quickly dissipates into a frothy ring.

S: Malts, nuts, leather, biscuity

T: A charge of bitter hops over a nut base. Toffee. Light chocolate finish. Robust, but too hoppy to be smooth.

M: light to medium with light carbonation.

O: Would be much better without the bitterness, but that's what you get in an English Nut Brown.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 19:39:41 | More by brewskifan55

BobZ

Massachusetts

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

12oz Bottle poured into my Duvel Tulip. Thanks to GHB for the extra.

Appearance: Copper brown in color. Builds a nice 1” head with pretty nice lacing.

Smell: Predominantly light roasted malt with a hint of floral hops.

Taste: Follows the aroma, light roasted malt with decent hop balance. All-in-all a pretty well executed version of a nut-brown ale but nothing exceptional.

Mouthfeel: Well bodied and carbonated, smooth on the palate.

Overall: A nice drinking beer that’s a bit above average. Always, glad to have the chance to try a new brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 20:13:15 | More by BobZ

nrbw23

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- Pours a dark reddish brown color with a pretty thin light tan head. Not too much retention or lacing left behind.

S- Quite a bit of roasted malts, with toffee and light coffee. Nothing over powering and fairly light.

T- Fairly light overall. Pretty much no hops at all. Bready, a touch of nuts and light coffee.

M- Light in both body and carbonation.

O- Nothing special about this brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 09:51:50 | More by nrbw23

drabmuh

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a tulip pint glass. Beer is brown with a thin tan head of small bubbles, moderate to low carbonation, no lacing, moderate retention.

Aroma is a little roasty and a little leathery.

Beer is medium in body, nutty and tobacco on the palate, an interesting beer with a nice nonbitter finish. Not the best brown out there but great on the flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 01:17:28 | More by drabmuh

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark caramel brown in color with a reddish hue and hazy. Poured with a short white foam that quickly reduced to a wispy cap. Roasted malt aromas with hints of nuts and charred malt. Medium bodied with a smooth feel through the middle and a tangy, crisp, dry finish. Sweet roasted and toasted malt flavors from beginning to through the middle. Bitter hop flavors just before the crisp dry finish. A solid brown ale. Easy to drink with nice flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 01:49:28 | More by IronLover

CaptJackHarkness

New York

2.05/5  rDev -40.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Aroma is sweet and malty, unfortunately that is the best thing about this beer! Poured a brownish amber body with a thin (1/4 inch) head. The head lasted fifteen seconds and there is no lacing of the glass whatsoever. The taste is ,I think unintentionaly, sour with notes of maybe Alka-Seltzer. The mouthfeel is slick and oily. Drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 23:54:10 | More by CaptJackHarkness

BucannonXC5

California

3.68/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked it up at Trader Joe’s in Albuquerque, N.M. Poured from a bottle into a small glass (maybe eight ounces) that I had in the hotel room in Albuquerque, N.M. on 4/20. About two fingers of head. Color was a nice shade of hazy caramel brown. Tan/gray lacing on top that lasted a decent amount of time. Frosty, spongy film on the sides.

Smelled roasty and nutty malts. Some light caramel notes as well. Heavy on the malts.

Tasted pretty close to the nose. Roasty, toasty and nutty malts. Very malty. Goes down easy.

Medium body. Creamy finish. Average carbonation. Long-lasting, smooth finish.

It was a good beer overall. Just smooth and consistent. Wanted to bump it a few of the ratings up a bit, but I couldn’t pull the trigger.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 03:31:54 | More by BucannonXC5

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a lighter, very drinkable english brown. pours a see through weak coffee color, thin in appearance, with a foamy tan head that fades quick. smells quite nutty, hazelnuts and even almonds in the nose and taste. flavor is rounded out by a great roasty malt body with plenty of earthy characteristics. the finish is on the dry side, with a nice hazelnut aftertaste. im not sure ive ever loved a beer from santa fe brewing co, but this one is maybe as close as ive gotten. very light in body and so extremely drinkable. not too heavy for summer drinking. affordable and a bit different than most.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 16:06:19 | More by StonedTrippin

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nut Brown Ale pours a translucent almost transparent brown color, with a nice frothy head. There is a malty, nutty smell; not very strong. There is a nice full taste, a subtle malty flavor, but a nice hazelnut flavor. Not overpowering and rather easy to drink, and could easily go for another. Overall I found this very enjoyable, its not overpowering, it has a great blended taste, and the nut flavors fit very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 01:43:17 | More by vette2006c5r

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Definitely moderately brown in color. A bit flat, but there's nice foam.

Smell: Some roasted nuts with metallic and minerally properties.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Good smokey notes backing the roasted nuts. Decent mouthfeel, but a bit cloying.

Overall Drinkability: Not my favorite brown ale.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2012 21:44:04 | More by tjsdomer2

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.08/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass. Light brown to amber color with a half finger of head. Good lacing.

Good, if faint smell of roasted malt.

The roasted malt comes through in the taste too. It mixes a little haphazardly with a hops in the middle. The bitterness wins out.

Smooth texture turning towards bubbly. Medium body and moderate carbonation.

A fine and average brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 20:53:08 | More by Fatehunter

denver10

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A medium brown tone with slight head. A very smooth and subtle flavor profile to this one. Sweet and roasty malts are the emphasis with a touch of nuttiness to the flavor. A creamy, medium body. Overall, this is a very simple but smooth brown ale. Easily drinkable, though not bold and not very memorable.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 23:32:08 | More by denver10

deebo

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a bit of a hazy/murky ruddy brownish red color with a small but dense head that skims the pint glass a bit.

S-Typical roasted sweet malt aroma dominates. Nutty/brown notes.

T-Roasted malt-pretty 1 dimensional, but nice clean flavor, no hops detected.

M-Heavily carbonated, thin/medium bodied, quick finish.

D-Easy to drink with a nice clean flavor.

O-An easy to drink, quick finishing brown ale with some nice toasted sweet character. Not overly complex, but a nice clean beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 04:18:59 | More by deebo

DelMontiac

Oklahoma

3.23/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into an Anchor pint glass.

Medium brown clear body with some red highlights topped by a fizzy off white half inch head that simmers down to a ring leaving no lace to speak of.

Aromas are not pronounced, but I get that malty nutty sweetness browns are known for.

Flavors are downplayed. The nutty pecan flavor dominates over the faint sweet caramel malt. Very slight milk chocolate aftertaste. Not bad, just not very stimulating on the tongue.

Medium feel and a bit more carb than I'd like in a brown, yet quite drinkable.

Overall I'd say this is too mellow. I like my brown ales to be a little more robust and memorable. No a bad brew by any means, just not something to chase after.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 04:19:31 | More by DelMontiac

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.4/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. No date.

Appearance - Some yeast sediment stuck to bottom of bottle. Pours one finger offwhite head with decent stick and decent-to-good retention.

Smell - Yeasty. Bready. Some alcohol and caramel.

Taste - Acidic. Bready. Some brown sugar maltiness. Thin in the finish. Dry stale hop.

Mouthfeel - Astringent. Light bodied. Mild effervescence.

Overall Drinkability - The off characters of this beer really detract from this beers profile.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 03:18:33 | More by ZenAgnostic

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Half finger of offwhite head overa translucent red-amber body.

Nutty, malty nose with some hops. More than I expected.

Malty and faintly nutty, but not much flavor here.

Mouthfeel is quite foamy. Detracts from flavor slightly.

Very drinkable, but unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 01:55:15 | More by zaphodchak

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle purchased for $1.50. Light brown color, short wispy head. Smells very faintly like malt and caramel. Taste is equally faint, weak, malty but just not much there at all. Very easy to drink but the flavor is so lacking why bother. I've noticed the bottled Santa Fe offerings are not as good as the canned beers, I wonder why?

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 04:20:58 | More by ArrogantB

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

deep, reddish tinted brown being poured out and into the glass. Quite impressed with the nice hazelnut tone

sweet, with lots of caramel malts leading the charge on this one. Hints of nuts, and a touch of molasses as well had me going right away. As it warmed we then were able to pick up some notes of bready malts, nice rush of sweet caramel, and this was quickly coating the inside of the mouth, leaving everything with a nice sweet film to it. As it passed the aftertaste gave in to much of the nuttiness that I had been looking for. a nice vinous like bitter bite to it. Very interesting indeed. Some notes of bready malts, and grain in the back and a nice slightly hopped, and a touch dry finish to it

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 01:31:25 | More by mikesgroove

K9AleingPiss

Oklahoma

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

The appearance was good ...I think for a nut brown ale,again I'm a nube. Its funny how different the same beer can be to everyone. It difinitely tells me to always give someone or something a second chance. MY bottle poured a good head and very good lace. I could smell a malty,nutty,fruity odor that also is in the taste,but there's a bitter hoppy taste that followed. I liked the fullness and body,but a little too much hop. Overall I would try this again and again

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 01:46:22 | More by K9AleingPiss

Mora2000

Texas

3.58/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a brownish color with a tan head. The aroma is heavy on the sweet toffee with a little bit of hazelnuts or pecans mixed in. There is also a little bit of grass from the hops in the aroma. The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of toffee and caramel malt with a little bit of nuttyness in there as well. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A basic nut brown ale. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 02:02:25 | More by Mora2000

Bockrules

New Mexico

3.55/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured from the bottle into a pint glass

A - Pours a slightly amber-brown with an off white-to-tan, two finger head. Plenty of carbonation rises from multiple nucleation sites along the side of the glass. Thick head stays intact all the way down the glass. Leaves behind a substantial wall of lacing.

S - Caramel malt with hints of nutmeg and earthy hops.Good, but a little too weak.

T - A little bit of alcohol and caramel malt upfront. The body is a decent balance between earthy hops and caramel malt, however something (the yeast?) seems a little off too me and creates a bit of a sour flavor. Biscuity, caramel finish.

M - Moderate bodied with substantial carbonation to create a fairly creamy mouthfeel. Could stand to be a tad thicker.

Impressive looks and a good nose although admittedly weak, but all in all this is only a slightly better than average beer. The beer came off flat and a tad off the mark in both taste and mouthfeel. By no means a bad beer, just not something memorable enough to warrant shelling out $8.50 a six.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 05:00:31 | More by Bockrules

mactrail

California

3.63/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice warming flavors of roasted malt. Small head in the pint glass. Dark amber color. Touch of sweetness. Actually does taste like filberts, but also a touch of wood. Light hop note, more more bitterness from the grainy dark fired malt. Quite agreeable quaff for summer on the patio at Cowgirl in Santa Fe. Could use more carbonation but is quite drinkable. Better than lots of others in this style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2011 04:52:22 | More by mactrail

Treebs

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Had on draft in Taos, NM at KTAO radio station bar. Poured into pint.

A: Pours a deep brown with some purplish hues around the edges. Off-white 1 finger caramel head with great retention. Sheets of gray lace down the edge.

S: Malts with some burnt caramel and toffee.

T: Same malts with same burnt caramel. A little more pronounced, but the taste exits the palate extremely quickly. Hard to get a read on the brew when I can barely finish swallowing before it's gone

M: Kind of crisp and oily. Medium bodied with decent carbonation. No real flavors left on the tongue to dissect.

O: I wasn't really impressed with this ale. It seemed true to style, but the flavor profiles were really lacking.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 23:30:22 | More by Treebs