Humboldt Brown (Hemp Ale) - Nectar Ales

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark orange-bronze, with orange juicy highlights, beneath an orange-tinted ecru cap that has a quality look about, lasts for a good bit and leaves a smattering of lace in the bargain. Hemp looks like a Scottish ale or a (dark) red ale more than anything else.

There isn't much going on in the nose, either in terms of intensity or personality. It smells most like a garden variety pale ale with weakly fruity, citrusy hops. I can see how 'herbal' might be an appropriate descriptor, but doesn't smell like the herb that the name was obviously meant to reference. As far as hemp goes, I have no earthly idea what it smells like.

The flavor is enjoyable, and still puts me in mind of an APA, but is no great shakes. The beer is acceptably malted, with a minor caramel-crystal presence, and contains a judicious amount of hops that keep things in relative balance. Lightly fruity sweet commingles with lightly bitter, offending no one.

I don't appreciate any unusual flavors that I might be tempted to ascribe to hemp. Although without knowing what that particular plant smells or tastes like, that isn't all that surprising. The mouthfeel is somewhere between light and medium and is neutral in the sense that it doesn't really make an impression in either a positive or a negative direction.

Humboldt Hemp Ale is nothing more and nothing less than an easy drinking, harmless little quaffer that fits squarely into the pale ale style. 'Shock and Awe' it ain't, but it did manage to find its way into my good graces by the second half of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2005 16:50:12 | More by BuckeyeNation

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a fairly-dark brown color with a light tan head and a light touch of lacing. The nose is a bit of light brown malt with some brown sugar, caramel, and a touch of citrus hops. The taste is mostly malt that is slightly bready with a bit of sweetness. Pretty good feel. Not a bad brew, but nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2010 00:01:01 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.3/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Schooners Patio Grille in Santa Clarita, CA.

Pours an almost opaque super dark crimson-brown with a 1 inch foamy tan head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. A latticework of lace lines the glass on the drink down. Smell is of roasted malt, slight cocoa and coffee aromas, and a nutty quality. Taste is of roasted malt, roasted nuts, cocoa powder, and slight coffee beans. A nice roasty bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some nice roasty and earthy flavors. I tried this a while ago in the bottle and didn't care for it too much, but on tap this is most excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2011 19:14:50 | More by UCLABrewN84

oberon

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I think this the hemp infused beer I have had,poured into a standard pint glass a mix of deep brown and amber a thinner wispy white head atop.Very light aromas I pick up a little spice and brown sugar but really not much going on,flavors are malt tilted no doubt and quite mild a hint of chocolate and roasted nuts with a lingering earthy finish with a cola quality as well.Not much complexity to the beer and very faint hops glad I tried it but to me its just a standard brown ale with a touch of "herb".

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2007 22:11:48 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.

And the Leaving Falls Church uber-bender continues to proclaim its greatness. This conspirator pours a clear ruby brown topped by a finger of short-lived ecru foam. The nose comprises brown sugar, very light sugar-free maple syrup, graham crackers, and a touch of flowers. The taste is similar, though the brown sugar doesn't stick and water pervades everything else. The proceedings are too fluid to allow the 'buds to really savor anything. The body is a very light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a watery feel. Overall, an okay brown at best, too light and watery to really maintain anything.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 04:59:13 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

On tap at the Library Alehouse, Santa Monica, 12-02-04...with all their great taps, I had to concentrate on new beers, and ended up choosing this...
Dark amber color, nearly brown, very slim head, quickly departing
Aroma is herbal, grassy (heh, heh)...not much else.
Body is thinnish, hollow, malt dominates in the tastes, but nothing really sticks out...not sure where the hemp comes or goes, as a gimmick, it never really shows itself, and is an empty gesture.
Leaves dryly, and ends up feeling dull and disappointing...there were other new beers among their tap line-up, but I went with the one with the marijuana leaf on it...that'll show me.
I didn't have much enthusiasm for it, but...it's a serviceable ale, though not to hoop and holler about.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2004 08:16:09 | More by feloniousmonk

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, reddish brown color with a one-finger, tan head of foam. It left minimal lacing.

S - It smelled of hemp, malt and grasses.

T - It tasted toasty with sweet caramel and malt. Nice bitter bite and a touch of hemp-like flavors.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a nice brown ale. Easy drinking and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 02:15:45 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.45/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear dark amber in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high tan head that slowly died down, leaving a large collar of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of brown, nutty and roasted malts in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has some hints of bitterness and herbs towards the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and a bit smooth and thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink but there’s nothing overly special about the taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 23:51:06 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.48/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours with a three-finger thick, darkish, amber-tinged, tan colored head that sits atop a opaque, dark, concentrated amber colored brew that shows a brilliantly clear, ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma is lightly sweet and fruity (soft berry notes) up front, but then a spicy, herbal, hemp aroma comes through almost immediately. A touch green, with a hint of black pepper, some notes of rosemary and hints of pine needles make up the hemp aromatics. While the hemp is the most notable thing about the aroma, it is still fairly soft overall.

Lightly sweet with a definite bitter edge to it from the get go; unlike a typical beer the bitterness actually seems to lessen a bit as the beer slides past the tongue and down the throat. Fruity notes of raisins and a generic berry flavor contribute to the flavor as does some dark malt notes of well toasted malt and not quite burnt caramel. Did I forget to mention the hemp, it is definitely here, though it is definitely not overwhelming; it contributes a green, concentrated grassiness, touches of menthol, something like pine tar and a definite resinous character that is unmistakable.

This is not a bad beer, it certainly has an interesting ingredient, but I can't really see this being added to beer on its flavor merits alone.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2007 01:07:33 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap 4/3/2011 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, large off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is faint but contains maple, caramelized malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of maple and caramel. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy and the hops presence is mild creating a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, not a bad beer but there are others in the style that I would pick first.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2011 19:40:11 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured out as an average looking brown color, good clarity and a white fizzy head. The retention was minimal as well as the lacing. The smell of the beer some sweet malt with a touch of coffee and an herbal note. The taste of the beer is lightly roasted, it's got a subtle chocolate flavor as well as a bitter finish. The mouthfeel of the beer was light, decent carbonation with a soft creamy finish to it. Overall it's not a bad brown ale. It's not the best but it's still worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 23:28:38 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours an effervescent brown/crimson with 3 fingers of tan head. Pretty good lacing, near zero head retention

S: Toasty & grainy notes

T: Follows the nose, dirty brown sugar notes & dryness up front. Toasty & nutty notes as this warms, hints of nutmeg. Finihes toasty & malty, with some brown sugar/caramel sweetness

MF: Somewhat watery with creamy carbonation

Not a bad American Brown, starts slow but comes around

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 14:24:03 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.8/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours brown with a nice white head, some sticky lace. Colour reminds me of Hop Rod Rye.

S: Dark caramel malt, some burnt sugar notes, moderate hop character.

T: Crystal malt dominates, dark sweet flavour with some nice grapefruit hop. Gets really herbal/woodsy at times, probably the hemp. Nice twist on a pale ale.

M: Smooth, creamy, medium-bodied, off-dry.

D: All around nice ale. Well-priced and tasty, would be a good purchase anytime for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2009 17:37:46 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crystalline dark copper, more of a sun tea color, with a thin layer of off-white foam across the top. Wispy skim doesn't have much staying power, but there is some that fades to a ring at the edges.

Wet barley and maple syrup aroma.

Dry and husky grain, toasty and mellow. Pretty easy going with moderate carbonation and a lighter body. Residual dry roast malt, pretty smooth and not bitter. Lingering toasted malts in the aftertaste, dry but fairly pleasant. Whatever hemp seed is in here, it doesn't lend much, some woody/earthy flavors perhaps, but it would be hard to pick out and isolate from the dominant malt flavors. Overall not too bad, a fairly simple but decent brown ale. Simplicity is underrated.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 02:37:51 | More by emerge077

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a dark reddish color with brown hues and a nice tannish head

S: Nuts, perhaps coffee, roasted malt

T: Roasted malts, Earthy, some nuts, sweet, some hints at cocoa, hint at floral hops on the end

M: Medium, light booze, good carbonation

D: The look threw me off on this but the drink is good

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2010 13:16:13 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

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

Modest light-beige head that settles to nearly a single layer of bubbles. Some streaky lace. Clear, light brown color.

My first reaction is this smells like an icebox. Otherwise, there isn't much smell here.

Pleasant enough--there's light cocoa malt flavor, some balancing bitterness. Relatively mild flavored. The body is a bit thin; the carbonation average. The aftertaste is more bitter than the taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 18:53:04 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a deep reddish-brown body that is crystal clear with a strong soda-pop carbonation of fast, big bubbles. The head is a light yellowish-white mousse that turns to a thin even layer floating on top but clinging to the sides.

S- A soft note of brown malt comes through with a note of sweetness.

T- This beer has a smooth brown malt body with some chocolate notes and a dry pale malt hint. The finish has a soft noble hop bitterness but there is no hops aroma of flavor other than the bitterness. There is a slight tangy flavor in the malt that is almost cidery but it is a bit more dry . This might be from the hemp or it might be a slight off flavor.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a slight fullness in the texture that is not quite a creamy texture but has some presents.

D- The malt characteristic has some good depth and flavor but the hop component were singular in flavor. It was interesting as a novelty but with a bit more enhancing it has potential to be a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2006 02:49:56 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

3.98/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness info. Purchased as part of a sixer at DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY. Pours a familiarl brown ale brown, light khaki head, loose and frothy, leaves ample spotty lacing. Earthy, nutty nose. Pleasant brown, malty, nutty, more earthiness picked up. Musty light chocolate note also detected. I'm not exactly sure what Hemp smells like or tastes like so I cant comment on how much of a hemp character this beer exhibits. Balanced, drinkable, sessionable and quite pleasant brown.I'd like to try this one as the base for a marinade for chicken/pork tenderloin, cuz of the moderate sweetness and earthy notes. Nice new offering from Nectar Ales.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 01:01:13 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.48/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap tonight at ChurchKey in Washington, DC.

a - Pours a very dark red amber color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of nuts, caramel malts, and toasted malts. Kind of muted; nothing offensive, but pretty average.

t - Tastes of nutes, caramel malts, roasted malts, toasted malts, and caramel malts. A definite step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

o - Overall a good brown ale, slightly above average, Would have again if I were in the mood for a brown ale, yet wouldn't seek out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2011 01:15:56 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I wonder how many people like me waited until 4/20 to drink this.

A decent fizzy bubbly 1 finger head that leaves a bit of lacing, over semi clear mahogany brown with slight rosy hue colored beer.

Nose has some light ale aromas, light crystal malts, a light toasty malt, and very slight dark roasty malt, hints of bittering hops.

Taste starts with a bit of brown sugar, some medium malts, plenty of crystal malts, a bit of a reddish malt, some raisin like flavors, toasty malts, a weird additional bitter flavor that I can only attribute to the hemp, a slight darker roasty like malt, touch of a mineral earthy flavor also maybe due to hemp or malts, as well as a light earthy hop, chewy malts. Finishes a bit drier with some mineral flavors, sticky-ish, a bit of a spice and nutty flavor, weird bitter flavors again, and lingering brown sugar.

Mouth is medium to slightly lighter bodied, decent carbonation.

Overall not bad, nothing special, some weird bitter and mineral flavors I think from the hemp, could have been a bit maltier, decent, bit of briny minerality.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 23:46:32 | More by jlindros

Zorro

California

3.93/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a clear but very dark brown brew.

Smell is very heavy malts with a spicy smell; I guess that is the hemp in this.

Taste is sweet heavy malt with a strong caramel flavor. Finishes with a mild bitterness. I don't know what weed tastes like but unless it tastes like malt it isn't in there.

Mouthfeel is good.

I think this is a gimmick brew, despite that it is a good dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2004 05:12:36 | More by Zorro

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.33/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

"Made with real cannabis seeds mixed in the mash"? I figured it might be a smarter idea to drink this here in the states than try to import it back into Australia...

Pours a dark ruddy amber colour, with only a tiny little film of off-white bubbles. No lacing, and the body looks particularly thin. Can't say it's a terribly good looking beer.

Light copper bitterness on the nose, a little bit of roasted sweetness, but it's all very light on, and there's not a great deal of character to it. Not a bad nose, but it's pretty tame.

Some initial sweetness, and a slight carbonic tartness, which is washed away by a late roasted bitterness, and a coppery finish. Mouthfeel is indeed excessively thin, leaving a slight tingle of carbonation, but otherwise going down like iced water. It's not a bad palate, overall, mildly uninteresting, but a stylistically decent Amber ale.

Something tells me this beer does better than it would do otherwise because of its name and its gimmick. There's certainly no noticeable impact from its supposed adjuncts, and while it's not an unpleasant brew to drink, it's certainly quite dull.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 00:24:35 | More by lacqueredmouse

glid02

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at the Yardhouse in Long Beach, CA.

Pours an amber-brown color with a half-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of sweet caramel and pale malts with a hint of nondescript fruits and herbal hops.

Tastes alright. Sweet caramel/pale malt flavors up front are joined by herbal hop flavors midway through the sip. There's a light bitter ending with some medium fruit flavors lingering in the aftertaste. Nothing bad here but nothing really good either.

Mouthfeel is alright. It has a slightly thin thickness with above average carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and wouldn't be averse to having another.

Overall this is a middle of the road beer that certainly has nothing disagreeable about it, but I'm not sure I would order this again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2009 02:52:00 | More by glid02

DoubleJ

California

3.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

With the recent news outbreak of some beverage distributors and brewers opposing the now infamous Proposition 19 in California, perhaps it's appropriate I drink a beer infused with Mary Jane. Unfortunately, no such thing exists, so I'll settle for a hemp brown ale. On to the beer:

This is really dark in my chalice. Almost black, but closer to dark leather brown with ruby red hues. Fine head retention which does drop to a thin, long lasting sheet on top, and gives a little lacing. There's enough butterschotch and fudge in the nose to warrant a fair score, and the hemp makes me think it's a hoppy brown.

The hemp part is there, the beer part is there to a smaller extent. One thing is for sure, it's already a better tasting hemp beer than the original Hemp Ale I tasted 30 months ago. Light notes of butterscotch, taffy, and hard brittle candy sweeten the pot (no pun intended), and the hemp imparts a strong chimmarão flavor. The body is medium-light, smooth, and approachable. I wouldn't drink more than a couple at a time though, because of the added herb.

This is what I would hope for from a beer like this. A solid base beer flavor, and a smack of hemp. Worth trying if you're into trying new things.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 05:15:48 | More by DoubleJ

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A chestnut brown pour appears a deep burgundy against lighting. The head was slight, fizzy, and a bit soapy and washy, quick to dissipate, and failed to lace or impress within the first minute of pour. Visible carbonation was light. So far, ho-hum.

S: Sweet hazelnut and chocolate mixed with some applesauce and a bit of caramel nuttiness gets things off to a rather sweet and odd aromatic start. A moderate strength of rich nutty tones is followed by hints of toffee coming through on the finish.

T: Dry caramel nut toast, with some sweet hazelnut and dry chocolate notes open things up flavor wise. Almonds, some toffee come late to play before rounding out with some powdery cocoa, sweet toasted grains and some dry apple slices. Residual and malt based and overall sweet. Did the hemp contribute? hardly that I could tell, which pretty much makes this a marketing gimmick in my eyes.

M: Light mouthful, slightly oily and slick in texture without much mention of carbonation. Easily slides down leaving a malty residual coating on the tongue.

D: A decent malt based beer, residual which was a sweet desert style by example. The hemp was no doubt a marketing gimmick which truly lends little if any to the overall factor of the drink. Like mentioned earlier, a marketing gimmick that will ensure that if you brought a six-pack over to a party will no doubt gather the interest of all the pot heads willing to help you drink this who evidently dont know the difference between the two.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 23:45:05 | More by beerthulhu