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Oaktown Brown Ale
Calicraft Brewing Co.
- From:
- Calicraft Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
- ABV:
- 6.7%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.64 | pDev: 15.38%
- Reviews:
- 33
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 15, 2022
- Added:
- Jul 10, 2012
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 27
Not your traditional brown ale. This is a big, bad, bold brown. It's the intersection of a cabernet and an IPA. Or, say, 15th and Broadway. A blend of three oaks added during fermentation creates a red wine-like structure. California Cascade hops bring the local flavor that goes from roasted and bitter on first swig to a soulful, chocolate finish. Generally speaking, not for wussies. But who are we to say?
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by JayDubTrub from California
4.09/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Had this on tap - one of the best browns I’ve had. It’s def thicker, fuller, creamier and maltier than most - yet retained a real smooth flavor. This and Alesmiths nut brown are my top two.
Oct 17, 2019Reviewed by BayAreaJoe from California
3.53/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
My first Calicraft beer - I really wanted to love this since I live pretty close to the brewery. Alas, it's just a middle-of-the-road, basic brown ale. I'm not a fan of the oak used, it's more or a wet wood aroma and not some deep, profound oaky presence. Everything else was ok.
Oct 13, 2018Reviewed by lastmango from Pennsylvania
3.64/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a clear brown with a frothy 2 finger tan head that dissipated to a thin layer. Moderate lacing. Chocolate malt aroma with a bit of char and vanilla. Initial taste of sweet malt, chocolate and bit of coffee that is overwhelming followed by moderate woodiness and hop bitterness. Moderate body and carbonation and a bit of creaminess. This seems too bitter for a brown ale.
Jan 27, 2018Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York
3.65/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) bottle into a conical pint; best by 10/17/18.
A: Pours a clear brown with a one inch, fluffy, tan head, good retention and solid lacing.
S: Aromas of mocha, macademia/almond, and vanilla are evident. Definitely malty to the nose.
T: Sweet and malty. Flavors of coffee, lactose sugar, and vanilla with a little zestiness, consistent with but not exactly minty. Nutty flavors in the background. Bitterness plays a big role in tamping down the sweetness.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Sweet, tingly aftertaste/afterfeel.
O: Definitely an interesting, flavor forward brown ale. A bit sweet for my taste, but I truly appreciate the enhanced flavors provided by the oaking. Would have like to have seen more bitterness offsetting some of the sweetness, but I supposed that would have basically made it a porter.
Jan 20, 2018A: Pours a clear brown with a one inch, fluffy, tan head, good retention and solid lacing.
S: Aromas of mocha, macademia/almond, and vanilla are evident. Definitely malty to the nose.
T: Sweet and malty. Flavors of coffee, lactose sugar, and vanilla with a little zestiness, consistent with but not exactly minty. Nutty flavors in the background. Bitterness plays a big role in tamping down the sweetness.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Sweet, tingly aftertaste/afterfeel.
O: Definitely an interesting, flavor forward brown ale. A bit sweet for my taste, but I truly appreciate the enhanced flavors provided by the oaking. Would have like to have seen more bitterness offsetting some of the sweetness, but I supposed that would have basically made it a porter.
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.63/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.63/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: The beer is brown in appearance and when held up to a bright light it is clear dark brownish red in color with a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high light tan colored head that died down, eventually leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface, a narrow collar around the edge of the glass, and sone specks of bubbles clinging to the edge.
S: Light to moderate aromas of nutty and chocolate malts are present in the nose along with hints of oak.
T: The taste starts off with some initial flavors of chocolate and nutty malts but these are quickly replaced by strong flavors of oak along with hints of floral hops and a light amount of associated bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. The hops lend some dryness to the finish.
O: The oak aging completely changes the taste and mouthfeel of this brown ale, making it very unique.
Serving type: bottle
Jan 14, 2018S: Light to moderate aromas of nutty and chocolate malts are present in the nose along with hints of oak.
T: The taste starts off with some initial flavors of chocolate and nutty malts but these are quickly replaced by strong flavors of oak along with hints of floral hops and a light amount of associated bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. The hops lend some dryness to the finish.
O: The oak aging completely changes the taste and mouthfeel of this brown ale, making it very unique.
Serving type: bottle
Oaktown Brown Ale from Calicraft Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
137 ratings
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