Get Up Offa That Brown - Golden Road Brewing

mactrail

California

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a ruby brown in the St. Bernardus globe with a nice swirl of low-altitude foam. Creamy carbonation is a nice feature. The smell is a double take-- sweaty horse blankets.

Dark malt flavors enlivened with some bitterish hops is the short version. This is more charred around the edges than the usual sweet caramel sorts of Brown Ales. The smell keeps intruding, but there seems to be some peculiar nutty flavor in this. Pear skins and raisin bread toast with a bitter twang in the aftertaste. This is actually much more interesting than the run of the mill brown, especially with the moderate alcohol content.From the 16 oz can purchased at Bottleworks in San Diego.

Serving type: can

04-27-2013 05:49:36 | More by mactrail

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.01/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From the first canning ever on the 16th of Jan 2013.

A reddish brown with a dense, light brown head that falls off to a disk leaving little lacing, this looks decent. The nose has an initial whiff that is strongly reminiscent of cheerios, but once it's had time to breathe, aromas of cocoa puffs, toast, caramel and earthy hops appear.

The palate opens with a blend of sweet caramel, cocoa, toast and a grainy astringency. Honeyed whole wheat toast, a little bit of sugar, both of which are pleasant, are offset by the grainy bitterness that isn't. The mid-palate is sugary and watery, and the finish is mildly sweet, moderately bitter and a little astringent. Light in body and arguably over-carbonated, this feels decent on the palate. A decent effort.

Serving type: can

04-07-2013 05:37:46 | More by DefenCorps

kojevergas

California

3.3/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

16 fl oz aluminum can acquired at Whole Foods for $2.99 and served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average; Golden Road has yet to impress me. 5.5% ABV according to my can.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a healthy three finger light khaki colour head of nice cream and lightly frothy thickness, and good (~3 minute) retention - though the ABV is merely average. Body colour is a dark amber, not a brown. Translucent. Semitransparent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Strangely coloured for the style, but generally appealing. There's nothing unique or special here, but there are no overt flaws. Thin light lacing as the head recedes.

Sm: Cream, floral hopping, amber and biscuit malts, and toffee-esque English ale grains. Caramel. Nutty notes, but they're not particularly distinct or evocative; I certainly couldn't pick out individual nuts. Bready. It's a bit maltier than it ought to be. Aroma is pleasant and moderate in strength. I detect neither yeast nor alcohol.

T: Floral hops join nicely with biscuit, caramel, and toffee-redolent English brown ale grains. It's got a grainy breadiness to it that's nicely subdued by a dash of cream. It does feel rather malty for a brown ale, and little nutty character comes through. Some chocolate malt/cocoa powder notes emerge on the climax. It's nicely balanced, but nuts should be the focus of a good brown ale, not malts. I do like it, though it's not particularly subtle in its execution. Still, it's more complex than many beers in the style. And more approachable.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with good suitable thickness. Carbonation is just slightly overdone. Complements its flavours well, though it's not particularly to style. I'd like to see a more refined dryness and coarseness. It's also a bit chewy, which clashes with the nutty notes.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable. One of the better Golden Road offerings I've had, and even one of the best browns in recent memory. After the abomination that was Burning Bush, this is starting to restore my faith in Golden Road. I'll have to poke up for a visit one of these days.

Low B-

Serving type: can

02-15-2013 06:11:39 | More by kojevergas

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

LAX. On 5.21.13

A - Served a medium brown with a smaller light tan head.

S - weak smoked malt with some Carmel tones.

T - Carmel, subtle vanilla, roasted, smoked malt.

D - Good carbonation with a medium body.

O - Muted and weak. Some vanilla and roasted malts.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2013 01:35:09 | More by HuskyinPDX

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

(another one on tap from City Beer Store, SF - saw it a bunch of other spots in town)

This is a solid American Brown.... nice, dark chestnut color, clean, bit of spongy head w/o endurance.... the aromas suggest day-old brown bread, perhaps a touch of esters to brighten it up, but little-to-no hops (that's what I like in this style!).... A roasty, tough-crusted brown bread does come across on the palate with a slight dark, hardwood flavor as well - all malt here, enough caramel to add some complexity and, again, no hoppiness of note, perhaps a touch of its bittering.... wonderfully clean-drinking with more than a little gummy, crystal-malt roundness in the body....

Not a bad brown ale at all! Malt-dominant, as I prefer.... I still feel it needs a little more malt complexity (they took it this far...) and more of a lasting, dirty finish....I may have to sample this again when I'm out that way.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 18:37:21 | More by Bouleboubier

charlzm

California

3.13/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Served on cask at the Pub at Golden Road on March 20th, 2013.

Slightly murky mahogany colored brew with a creamy, three-finger off-white head. Lots of tiny little bubbles moving ever-so-slowly up through the beer. Lots of sticky, clinging sheeting throughout the drink-down. Beautiful.

A slight peppery aroma. Grapefruit and bready malts mingle with subtlety.

Flavor is smooth and mellow, perhaps too much so. Brown malts and lots of melanoidin. Trace bitterness (tastes charred) on finish.

Slightly chewy and thicker than medium-bodied.

The appearance was the best thing about this beer; perhaps being on cask blunted the flavors too much?

Serving type: cask

03-27-2013 21:50:56 | More by charlzm

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap 11/30 at the brewery
Served in a pint glass

A: This beer pours a copperish brown color with a two finger of khaki color head. Head recedes at a moderate pace lacing wispy lacing along the glass.

S: Nose is nutty, caramel, and toffee.

T: Taste starts with a nice caramel malt flavoring. Middle gets a touch bread, with a nutty flavoring to it as well. Finish is a light toffee flavoring, mingled with hints of chocolate notes.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, clean feel to it.

O: Goes down easy, tasty, not filling, mild kick, decent representation of style. I would definitely hit this up for several pints if I were in the area.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2012 04:38:46 | More by Jayli

Philousa

California

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Imbibed at Golden Road Brewery on 11/4/12.

Looks like a stained mahogany color, very dark ruby against the light. White creamy head doesn't stick around long (head retention could have been better). Aroma is packed with chalky chocolate, dark chestnut, very slight oak and  brushed metal. Flavor fades in slowly. Starts somewhat tart, like raspberry lemonade, fades quickly to a chestnut like flavor, then to a dark chocolate, somewhat bitter flavor. The hops come out delicately, very gradually. Probably Noble hops, since they aren't abrasive. Feel is slightly watery, finish a but sweet. Very solid brown. 3.5 is probably the most I give to most browns, so take that into consideration when looking at the rating.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 22:51:38 | More by Philousa

dannydetox

California

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

great local brown ale from the folks at golden road. pours a typically opaque brown with notes of red, and a thin white head that dissipates quickly. aromas are what i would want off an american brown ale: brown sugar, caramel malts, but with something slightly floral hanging around in the back. brown ale sweetness up front transitions to a refreshingly drier finish than most in this category. not too heavy or thick, the get up offa that has an easy drinking texture that encourages another round.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 05:24:59 | More by dannydetox

DoubleJ

California

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at The Breakaway. I was surprised to see a Golden Road beer on-tap in Orange County.

This is the best of Golden Road that I've tasted so far. A hearty brown ale despite its "low" alcohol, its leather brown color with decent head and retention prelude the goodness that comes. Lots of sweet fudge, cappuchino, and caramel notes, mixied with a big kiss of bittering hops. It drinks easy too, which is a bonus for such a tasty ale. Let's see this in cans...

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2012 01:56:35 | More by DoubleJ

womencantsail

California

3.33/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The pour is brown in color with an off-white head. Nose features roasted malt, toast, light smoke, and a hint of brown sugar. A light caramel sweetness along with a very mild banana note. The flavor has caramel malt sweetness, very sweet, in fact. Light grass and brown sugar. A bit toasty with mild roasty, mild bitterness. Really just found this to be okay.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 16:37:55 | More by womencantsail

bfellows

4.43/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A good brown for those that really love browns.

a- medium transparent brown, with an offwhite thin head

s- a little nutty, a little sweet, a little grainy

t- light roasted sweetness

m- light to medium body and quaffable

o- very nice example of the style

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2012 05:48:39 | More by bfellows

UCLABrewN84

California

4.3/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a clear copper-brown with a light beige head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots and streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of roasty malt, roasted nuts, and some slight cocoa aromas. Taste is of roasty malt, nutty flavors, and some cocoa powder. There is a very nice roasty bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation and a medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good brown ale with some great roasty and nutty flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 03:49:05 | More by UCLABrewN84

billshmeinke

California

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale clear golden brown ale.

Smokey With loads of dark bread and cereal. Hoppiness is low.

Taste follow smell. Complex malt notes with a spicy hop finish. Pretty straight forward, but quite tasty.

Medium bodied, well carbonated.

Nice brown ale. Reminds me of Avery's Eli's brown.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 20:26:49 | More by billshmeinke