Organic Farmer Brown Ale - Great River Brewery

tvv375ia

Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured from 16oz can into pint glass

A-very dark brown with some mahogany edges, about 1 finger of head that fades to a partial ring

S-some dark fruit, molasses, brown sugar. A lot more than I was expecting

T-like the smell there is much more complexity than I had anticipated, the aromas follow through in the taste dark fruits like figs and maybe some raisins and dried plums and some sweet malt brown sugar and molasses

M-medium body and carbonation sweet but good clean finish

O-impressive brown ale, much better than I was expecting

Serving type: can

10-31-2012 05:23:01 | More by tvv375ia

EROCK75

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%

05-17-2013 17:03:42 | More by EROCK75

Kunstman

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-01-2013 03:53:43 | More by Kunstman

barnzy78

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16oz can, 7%abv, pours dark brown with a creamy, beige head, nice retention. Malt forward nose with bread crust, chocolate, biscuit, a little musty. Tastes are bready malt, biscuit malt, rich chocolate, molasses/brown sugar, earthy hop balances nicely. Super creamy mouth-feel ,hops linger a bit on the finish. Overall, good American brown ale, but I probably wouldn't seek it out in the future.

Serving type: can

04-19-2013 11:24:41 | More by barnzy78

CopperMtnPlowboy

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-10-2013 04:23:17 | More by CopperMtnPlowboy

schoon

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

03-11-2013 22:15:39 | More by schoon

jamiecoppin

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

03-10-2013 17:29:41 | More by jamiecoppin

RobertW

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

02-15-2013 04:49:40 | More by RobertW

olliegaff

5/5  rDev +24.4%

12-02-2012 21:58:37 | More by olliegaff

abuss2

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

11-19-2012 22:29:35 | More by abuss2

thebigredone

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

11-08-2012 20:27:07 | More by thebigredone

bnes09

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown, near black and opaque appearance. Light tan head calms to a serene ring around the glass. Some lacing.

Sweet, dark fruit aromas, raisins primarily, and roasted almonds. Complex and inviting.

Malt flavor is thick and dense with toasty biscuit tones. Dark fruit sweetness of raisins, plums and black cherries creeps in. Roasted coffee bitterness balanced by molasses sweetness. Crisp, herbal, leafy hop bitterness provides the perfect balance.

Delicate medium body with velvety smoothness from beginning to end. Lowish level of carbonation with small bubbles is perfect to allow the drying, grain-like textures to caress the palate.

Exceptional beer overall. Profound complexity with an excellent balance. Drinkability is second to none. More like a porter than a brown ale but I don't care what you call, it's absolutely delicious!

Serving type: can

10-22-2012 03:04:52 | More by bnes09

BDeibs

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

10-05-2012 03:22:39 | More by BDeibs

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16 oz. can, purchased at John's Grocery (Iowa City) a couple weeks ago. Poured to a pint glass.

7.0% Alc/Vol
22 IBUs

Nowhere on the label does it say "Organic" specifically, although the side write-up mentions "wholesome ingredients...from people we know and trust". Around the rim of the can are chains of words: "Smooth - Rich - Malty - Nutty" and the phrase "Chocolatey Nummiliciousness"

A: VERY dark for a brown ale, a deep chocolate that could be mistaken for a porter or stout quite easily. Terrific head, a sturdy 1.5 fingers of mocha-colored foam. Good lace, holding in sticky, draping bands.

S: Husky maltiness, not quite 'burnt' but definitely 'singed'. The nose is dark cocoa and spent grounds and a little brown sugar. Decent strength.

T: True to the label this one is quite chocolate-filled, at first a bit sweeter/fudgier then turning to a darker/drier bitterness. When the 'cocoa' begins to evolve, a little more caramel/toffee creeps in; lasting flavors are bitter coffee roast, mostly. A slight 'tinniness' in the end, too... something I often find in brown ales.

M: Mellow feel, understated carbonation (though my no means lifeless) - but a ticker and chewier body. A slight grainy/starchy film emulates a dusting of cocoa. Flavor seems to last forever.

O: Had I not had BA at my fingertips, I likely would have passed this one by; as is, I bought one and now wish I'd grabbed a couple more. Very good stuff - impressive depth of flavor and feel make for a 'memorable' brown ale... something I can't say happens very often. Good job, Great River!

Serving type: can

09-18-2012 14:17:14 | More by msubulldog25

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Great River Farmer Brown Ale, Great River Brewery, Quad Cities, USA. AKA Davenport, Iowa.

rich brown, nearly black, with a thin cocoa toned ring of foam, soon gone.

Aroma: ah, lovely stuff: cocoa, nuts, rich malt, little hints of coffee and toffee, sweet and malty.

taste: More of the same, now in the mouth. A little bit of bitterness bumps up into the sweet malt. The ballet continues, with sweet flavors of mocha and caramel in command. Full-bodied, long, malty finish. Rich and complex, satisfying all the way through.

What do they say? "These days, people are more and more concerned about the food and drink they are consuming, what's in it and what the origins might be. For our Farmer Brown Ale, we use honest, wholesome ingredients like 2-row barley and dark crystal, chocolate and biscuit malt rom people we know and trust. The result is robust, rich and nutty brown ale dominated by a complex malty flavor."

Well put. But, does anyone really say "wholesome" anymore?

Serving type: can

09-15-2012 03:08:45 | More by feloniousmonk

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

My can says nothing about being Organic... Rather than start a new beer I'm going to assume this is the same beer.

No freshness dating.

A= Pours a deep brown color with a thick two fingers of brown head on it that holds some decent retention at a half finger high and leaves some spotty lacing.

S= Smells really caramely. Lots of caramel and toffee in the nose. Almost smells like one of those sticky toffee puddings. Not much as far as hops or even roasty malt in it is noticed.

T= The taste has a more roast flavor. There is a definite roast character that I noticed first as well as the caramel and toffee sweetness in there making for a little extra complexity. The finish adds yet another layer with a little hop bitterness to finish.

M= The mouth is just about right for a brown... which in my opinion is a little too thin.

O= This is a really good beer! Brown ales are a style that bores me. I rarely find one I like. This one is nice though. It has complexity as well as being super easy drinking. I'll likely be drinking more of this, this upcoming fall.

Serving type: can

09-07-2012 04:09:47 | More by jjanega08

Beerlover

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours out of can very THICK, with a 2 inch khaki colored creamy head.Dark brown in color,almost black. Smells very heavily of roasted malts and a hint of bittersweet chocolate. Taste is delicious to say the least but very rich and complex, no simplicity here. This beer is very heavey and creamy in body almost like a stout, very unlike your average brown. Not a beer you could easily drink more than one or two of, unless you are used to thick, delicious, rich, gloriousness but the 7% alchohol volume is completly masked which makes it somewhat dangerous! This is my new favorite brown!

Serving type: can

08-22-2012 16:56:30 | More by Beerlover

Duff27

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.5%

07-28-2012 22:14:30 | More by Duff27

Thompson

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

07-26-2012 04:38:05 | More by Thompson

fuzzcherry

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%

07-23-2012 03:41:13 | More by fuzzcherry

pitch31

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

07-13-2012 01:31:57 | More by pitch31

yamar68

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I think this is the right beer? Doesn't say "organic" anywhere and the ABV listed is 7%. Poured from 16oz can to imperial pint glass:

Pours a dark inky brown with a medium, thick brown head - great lacing and low retention.

Nice, soft chocolatey malt presence. Nice and fresh.

Taste is all in order but a bit weak... tons of potential but it just seems dull. I'm doubtful that the ABV is as advertised.

I'll certainly revisit this one after they've got a better rhythm for it.

Serving type: can

07-08-2012 04:32:52 | More by yamar68

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

reviewed from notes taken 6/23/12.

tallbou can poured into glass stein.

Appearance: lite black bodied beer with a dark brown hue towards the side of the beer stein. 2 fingers of head that leave a heavy lace.

Smell: Its roasty and nutty with a hint of sweetness. You get a hint of the oats also.

Taste: nice balance of roasty and nutty malt flavors. You get the oaty flavor from the oatmeal used to brew the beer. The beer finishes with just a mellow bitter bite from the hops. This beer is all about a nice robust brown ale with really great balance as all the flavors dont overpower each other.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. This beer drinks like it 5% no alchol is sensed. Smooth, slightly creamy, and carbonation is done right.

EDIT- beer advocate lists the ABV as 6.2% when it is written as 7% ABV on the can.

Overall: havent been impressed by a brown ale in a long time, but this beer does! At 7.99 for a 4pk of tall boys; I will be revisting this beer often throughout the entire year. Not only because its a great price point, but also because its a damn tasty brown ale. It would probably pair nicely with a burger right off the grill on a hot summer day. I love Great River Brewery and I am lucky to have them as a solid local beer option!

Serving type: can

06-24-2012 16:06:45 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

JM03

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

06-19-2012 23:17:38 | More by JM03

augustgarage

California

3.88/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a pint can into a Central Waters pint glass.

Nearly opaque seal brown liquid with faint ruby highlights is topped by an active desert sand creamy cap. Soapy lacing, good retention.

Roast malt, chocolate, hazlenut, and toast in the nose - smooth and inviting.

Good depth of malt on the palate with layers of malt suggesting light roast coffee, cocoa nibs, and bread crust. Mild clean earthy bitterness adds interest. Finishes with a tangy gentle astringency and a subtle nuttiness.

Creamy, medium-bodied, very well carbonated, and roast-y but not quite puckering. Fairly warming for the ABV.

A decent American brown - balanced and tasty.

Serving type: can

06-09-2012 22:25:42 | More by augustgarage