Wachusett Nut Brown Ale - Wachusett Brewing Company

selecter70

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

While I love Wachusett, I've held off from the Nut Brown for awhile, since last time I had one, it was simply too sticky & sweet.
Needless, to say, this time around, it has risen to better heights.
A good spot-on English brown ale, balanced & tasty, this pours a good reddish-brown with 2 finger off-white head & holds some nice lace throughout. The aroma is your basic nutty malt smell with toffee and weird mole/fruitcake thing. The flavor brings some of this out mildly with a decent hearty bread background with anise. Dry, medium-bodied, smooth and clean this is best not served too chilled, or the flavors die on the vine.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2009 20:36:29 | More by selecter70

gwiedman1

New York

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

05-11-2013 20:46:47 | More by gwiedman1

YAndreK47

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

05-02-2013 00:36:14 | More by YAndreK47

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on April 20, 2013.

It pours brown with an off-white head that lingers and it has pretty good clarity.

Lots of sweet malts and nuts on the nose with virtually no hops. I find it to be inviting.

The body falls into the medium range and vaguely creamy. A slight acidity.

The taste is also very sweet and malty with caramel notes but overly buttery. It smelled a bit better than its tasted but it was still drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 20:45:36 | More by puboflyons

shigg85

Japan

4/5  rDev +9%

03-23-2013 19:42:40 | More by shigg85

scsurfer27

1/5  rDev -72.8%

11-16-2012 17:18:18 | More by scsurfer27

Davepoolesque

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -18.3%

08-28-2012 14:25:44 | More by Davepoolesque

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer has a nice dark brown body with a nice size tan, fizzy head tha quickly lays down to a thin lace. The smell has a nice nutty smell and brown sugar aroma to it.
The taste has a nice flavor of brown sugar, roasted malt flavor gives off a nice nuttiness to the flavor.
The mouthfeel is nice and smooth and nicely carbonated. Overall i think this a good nut brown ale and is very drinkaable and int intemdating.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 02:56:07 | More by chefhatt

milkbone_underwear

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

06-16-2012 20:44:23 | More by milkbone_underwear

potownbill

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

04-08-2012 00:15:33 | More by potownbill

gleeky99

4/5  rDev +9%

03-31-2012 01:21:48 | More by gleeky99

KenRapoza

3/5  rDev -18.3%

03-20-2012 23:55:29 | More by KenRapoza

seanh99

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +9%

03-02-2012 17:09:59 | More by seanh99

j89de

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

01-01-2012 22:47:39 | More by j89de

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

brown in color with a huge tan head that stayed on top forever! Seriously this had to have looked better then damn near anything else I have run across recently, no joke. Just perfect. Aroma is dark fruits, lots of sweet brown sugary notes, hints of clove and light earthy hops, all mixing together nearly perfectly at this point in time. Nice smooth, even carbonation and feel here now as well, really well placed I have to admit. Rich warm flavor here, nice mix of pear, light spice, hints at brown sugar and a nice even caramel flavored dry finish. Hints of plums pick up as I finish the glass

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 02:59:49 | More by mikesgroove

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +9%

11-27-2011 00:07:42 | More by Rochefort10nh

bpfrush

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

11-15-2011 22:04:41 | More by bpfrush

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Has a rich, hearty aroma, with strong notes of chocolate malt and toasted grain, as well as a hint of coffee.

On the tongue, however, the first notes to come across are far more sugary than the aroma would suggest. In fact, for a nut brown ale, there is a surprising amount of fruitiness: strong apricots dominate, with berry flavors in the background. There are heavier flavors, of course, including deeply toasted grains, caramelized dark sugars, and a nice nuttiness. Hops are present, though light, and are mostly noticeable in the tingling they create on the soft palate (along with the carbonation). But the fruity flavors are always front and center, and last well into the aftertaste, dying off slowly to reveal a slightly heavier hop/toasted malt finish.

Overall, this is a very drinkable beer, and surprisingly accessible, given some of the nut brown ales I've had in the past. A good option for someone leery about this particular style, and just a good choice for everyone else.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 16:09:48 | More by jondeelee

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 2" beige head. Nice clear walnut brown color which shows red when held to the light. Smell has a wee hint of malt and roasting but not alot there. Taste hints at roast but may be the mildest example of it I've had so far. Next to no finish. This is very easy drinking and has its finer points but to be honest this is just a slightly above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 01:34:43 | More by MoreThanWine

THECPJ

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes:

appearance: dark brown with an orangish hue and a 1 finger off white head

smell: malts, caramel, slight roast, nuttiness

taste: malts, roast, nuts

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, medium body,

overall: not a bad brown ale but just basic. nothing special about it. just your average brew.

cheers,
The CPJ

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 02:51:25 | More by THECPJ

mdaschaf

Washington

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to my brother for giving this bottle to me.

A: Poured into a Town Hall pint glass. Deep brown in color, incredibly clear, can see through it. Upon pouring, an off white 1.5 finger head formed and dissipated within a few minutes to a small layer of bubbles on the top. Very nice rings of lacing.

S: Not surprisingly, very nutty. There is also some caramel and a grainy aroma as well.

T: Little bit of hops up front, a slight citrus flavor. This is quickly overshadowed by a nutty flavor and some doughy bread. Slightly dry finish.

M/D: Heavier than expected, but not overly full bodied. Carbonation seems right as well. Overall, very nice. Easy drinking with a nice flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 02:37:03 | More by mdaschaf

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass. It's brown, but fairly light, close to an amber/red color. The beer produces a nice decent sized head and produces some better than average lacing. Good clarity.

Smell is pretty good, well malted. Grainy and a little musty. Funny smells more like pale malts to me and a little bit of citrus zest. None of the aromas are very strong.

Taste is pretty good. A little buttery, with some hints of brown sugar. Caramelized malts big time, slight chocolate tones, not very strong though. A little smokey, possibly pete, but could just be the way it's all blended. Very good for the style.

Mouthfeel is good, full bodied and well blended. Carbonation level is very good, impressive even. Drinkability is good, strong beer to have in the fridge for most occasions, regardless of season.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 01:37:36 | More by AndyAvalanche

TheElusiveAlexT

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - A red color that's so dark that it looks brown. The beer has a decent head that thins out to a little thicker than a collar. There is a little bit of lacing left on the glass after the beer is finished. The beer is a little too carbonated for my liking.

Smell - A roasted nut and sweet malty toffee smell, faint hops

Taste - The carbonation gives your mouth a little kick that skews the taste. Sweet malty taste with a flash of hops that fades before the wonderful nutty finish. Crisp and refreshing, no aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Too carbonated for my taste, its not a deal breaker but it takes away from what could be a perfect brown ale. It feel wonderful on the palate after the finish. Oddly after a few sips my mouth felt sticky.

Drinkability - This beer is great, it tastes good, its friendly, and its not strong. The nutty taste is one of the best I've had in a brown ale, it tastes authentic and not syrupy or articifical like New Castle. However, after drinking a couple the carbonation got to me and I felt full but not in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 02:27:22 | More by TheElusiveAlexT

JohnnyCage

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Stats: (according to website) 5.2% ABV / 17 IBUs

Poured into pint glass from bottle.

Appearance: Pours brownish/red, like a light brown Thanksgiving color. Not completely transparent, does have very minimal haze. The head is rather thick on top, almost looks like whipped cream with bubbles scattered but disappears relatively quick. After dissipation there is a nice gentle ring around the top. The lacing is sticky, takes a while to crawl down the edge of the glass and back into the liquid.

Smell: Very gentle scent, a slight note of soapiness. Gentle notes of biscuits and caramel. No hop scent.

Taste: The taste is very mild and sweet. Slight caramel and even smaller chocolate characteristics and teetering over the boundary of dryness. The dryness is noticeable but it isn't overbearing or particularly prominent. The nut notes are akin to a small pistachio or light cashew. Because of the style, there is no overbearing hop quality but there are very small, small bitter notes if you look for them.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth on the palate, a little lingering, some flavors seem to pop slightly as they move around. Carbonation is a medium, after a while it seems to disappear, but the overall taste does not suffer.

Drinkability: Highly drinkable, very pleasant when cold.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 02:51:57 | More by JohnnyCage

JDH2000

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A buddy of mine brought a bottle of this back from Massachusetts. Poured into a pint glass.

A- Beautiful reddish brown color with about a half finger of head that quickly dissipated to the edges of the glass. Despite the head quickly dissipating, there's some nice lacing on the glass.

S- Subtle hints of malt and some nuts (walnuts perhaps?).

T- A nice smooth balance of nuts, toasted malts, and some slight bread flavors.

M- really light and smooth on the tongue. Light carbonation.

D- Overall, a really nice nut brown. Nice balance of flavors and very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 22:31:43 | More by JDH2000