New Holland Cabin Fever Brown Ale - New Holland Brewing Company

CortexBomb

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pour is deep brown with a light white dusting of foam on top. Nose is lightly malty, nutty, but not a lot going on.

The flavour is heavily malty as well, almost no hop presence. Some light nutty characteristics. Alcohol flavour on the swallow, unusual for a low ABV beer. Decent.

The mouth on this is good for a brown, fairly thick. The drinkability, moderate. Not hard to drink, but not amazing and not remarkable in terms of rebuy.

The bottom line: A serviceable brown by New Holland, but nothing worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2008 04:25:39 | More by CortexBomb

enfield249

Michigan

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

A - Dark brown in color, slim band of white foam.

S - Dark fruits, brown bread, some nice roasty smells.

T - Reminds me of a fruit cake, minus the sweetness. Or a spice cake maybe. Very nice.

M - Full, but not thick like a stout. Stays in one ball, doesn't spread out much.

D - Very drinkable. I could have one of these every day in the winter.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2008 23:13:09 | More by enfield249

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Brown Ales are the style of beers that I often overlook. Then when I taste one like this, I ask myself 'why?'. The beer begins with a firm, malty plop in the glass with a deep brown color and tan head formation that would prove to withstand until the end. Aromas of chocolate malt, light roasting / toasting, a milk-sugar sweetness, and pine-ey hops all promise great things in flavor. The taste takes on the same characteristics as in the aroma, with emphasis on the chocolate and malty flavors and textures. An unexpected peat-ey flavor and aroma begins to take hold as the beer warms, giving hte beer a lot of complexity and flavor. The hops are not as agressive in the flavor as in the scent, but work well to balance the sweetness. Body is a bit higher than medium, but not heavy, relying on a creamy base to cary the flavors. Finishes with a long linger of chocolate and earthy-dirty character.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 16:24:44 | More by BEERchitect

n0315

Michigan

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

nice head that had little retention with a light coco look to it.

Taste was decent for a brown ale, certinally drinkable. Nuts opf course were primary but lacked a strong nut taste which I look for in a brown ale. It tasted a little watered down to me though, but good for a little known brewer in Holland, Michigan.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2007 19:42:26 | More by n0315

ultralarry2006

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle. Leaves one finger of a biege head that quickly fades to a foam ring at the edge, and does not leave much lacing. Body is garnet.

Smell - toasty malt biscuits with slightly burned crusts, hint of chocolate, and faint hints of plums, raisins, and nuts.

Taste - not as much of the faint hints of fruit on the tongue, but it is mainly the toasty malt biscuits with burnt crusts, as well as somewhat more chocolate and nuts than the smell indicates.

Mouthfeel - medium to full bodied, smooth.

Drinkability - this is a decent beer, but it is somewhat tame and so I'd want something bolder after two or so, so to me it's not exactly sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2007 20:45:14 | More by ultralarry2006

MtnBikingandBeer

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this at a pizza joint on-tap and I was quite happy to see it back after several years. Very rich amber color tending more towards brown then red. Not much of a head, surprisingly full nose of malty coffee. Wonderful malty chocolaty coffee taste, although malty, not overly sweet, making it extremely drinkable. It was served at a great temperature and the carbonation level was perfect. I had it out of a bottle several nights later not knowing what to expect, but it was pretty close to the on-tap version. I will definitely be keeping a six pack of these around during the next month or two.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2007 22:01:57 | More by MtnBikingandBeer

calinative68

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a tall pilsner glass.

A - It has a deep brownish/reddish color with almost no head with no lacing. Very low carbonation.

S - Chocolate, nuts, coffee/toffee?.

T - Chocolate and nut tones, almost no hop presence as the malt/nutty flavor dominate the beer.

M - Again very low carbonation, which I like in brown/porters/stouts.

D- I would say you should be able to drink a couple at a time, you may feel full afterwards, but overall, very tasty!

My impression is that it's a tasty brown ale with a low alcohol stature.
Good fall beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2007 04:08:27 | More by calinative68

GRPunk

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a imperial pint glass.

A- It was a nice deep brown, but never really developed a head. There was a light tan lace that made for decent sticking. It had a light-medium carbonation.

S- Roasted chocolate malt, coffee, and nuts.

T- Rich roasted chocolate flavor with nutty tones. It sounds odd, but I almost picked up some sort of peanut flavor.

M- Nice light carbonation and a solid feel.

D- Very drinkable.

Overall- Very flavorful brown ale. Good cold weather, lower ABV option.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2007 02:20:24 | More by GRPunk

letsgopens

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured in to an imperial pint glass this selection pours a woody amber with bright ruby highlights. The creamy beige head holds fairly well and leaves some solid lace.

Much more in the nose than many beers of similar style. Malty and sweet with some yeast. Fades in to some warm roastiness, molasses and a bit of fruit. Citrus and honey. A hint of caramel in there too; very nice.

Roasty sweet malt and some caramel. Many of the flavor characteristics that the nose implies. Not quite as complex however. Just a hint of vanilla and smoke perhaps; very subtle. Pleasing and well rounded but not quite as robust as I'd hoped. Still very nice and a great session beer.

Smooth, velvety, and mostly full-bodied. Low carbonation ups the syrupy sweetness a bit. A very solid beer none-the-less. Another fine creating from New Holland.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2007 05:43:20 | More by letsgopens

GbVDave

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Pours a hazy dark brown with a creamy 1 1/2 finger head that's off-white in color.

S: Toasted malt dominates. Also with notes of vanilla and caramel.

T: Toasted caramel malt, mild dark chocolate, ant tangy raisins. Hops are there, but not enough.

M: Thick with a touch of hop bitterness at the finish.

D: Pretty good but I believe it could use a more assertive hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2007 00:52:09 | More by GbVDave

malcontent

Illinois

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, beautiful mahogany with a thick finger and a half of head.

Aromas of nuts and honey mingle with soft, roasted notes and fleeting hints of licorice root.

Lovely toffee and honey flavors are balanced by roasted bitterness on the finish. A slightly over-caramelized (read: burnt) sweetness resurfaces on the finish, somewhat diminishing the overall enjoyability of the brew.

The beers' only weakness, a touch thin and yet over-carbonated at the same time. Still, this is a winner from a rather uneven stable of beers from New Holland. I would absolutely revisit this. My only concern is how this came to be listed as a red ale; it's fucking brown!?!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2007 05:11:39 | More by malcontent

Mitchster

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

$1,80 for a 12 oz bottle. No information on New Hollands website. Pours to a slightly hazy dark mahogany, barely able to eek out a small light tan head. Minimal retention, absent lacing. Very limpid carbonation. Unfilitered fine yeast in the bottom of the bottle. Aroma of carob and artificial chocolate (like a tootsie roll)Mouthfeel is sleek and smooth with a medium body. Nice mouthfeel. taste opens up with a touch of herbal hops, followed by chocolate and lightly roasted malt. There is mild to minimal bitterness and an odd fruity sourness, which makes me think it will be plaqued by the kiwi fruit bacteria that will inevitably turn this beer into vinegar. It would appear this is a completely different beer than that reviewed here. ESB...dark red? Wow. Mine is definitely dark walnut, and definitely a brown ale.

Pretty good now, but I wouldn't recommend storing this one away. For an experiment, save a bottle and taste it in 6 months. It will taste like a bowl full of pennies soaked in vinegar, guaranteed.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2007 22:55:38 | More by Mitchster

DrainBamage

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark red with virtually no head. Smell is strong with nutty roasted malts aromas. Taste is sweet and alcohol content seems high. Bitterness and carbonation are moderate. Mouthfeel is extremely smooth with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Except for the lackluster appearance this is an exceptional beer. I defiantly have to pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2007 04:06:33 | More by DrainBamage

MABZ

Nebraska

4.33/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This growler was brought back from the brewery by my roommate. It held up wonderfully. The beer pours to a dark red color with a nice thick off-white head. Nice carbonation and lacing.

The smell is good. Mild biscuity malt flavors with some nice fruity esters. Reminds me of Fat Tire, but less biscuity and more fruity. The taste is just the same, but with a touch of the hops as well.

Nice medium body with a great bitterness. Seems to stimulate every small bit of my palate. The growler will probably go down quick.

Serving type: growler

07-27-2006 02:05:44 | More by MABZ

mcallister

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A light copper with a tan head creamy, frothy in appearance. Some lacing left behind. Very clear as well.

Sweet caramel, malt, hoppy fruit burst to follow. Hints of pine and floral aspects, rosebud comes to mind.

Sweet thick caramel and toffee malt. Big toffee in the finish. Hoppy ending that balances the sweet malt. Creamy yet tannic not cloying at all.

Delicious!

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2006 17:27:52 | More by mcallister

granger10

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First stop of the West Mich BA Gathering took place at New Holland and this beer accompanied my pizza.

Pour was a hazy copper color with an airy light yellow head that fades. Aroma is of a husky grainy sweetness with rye, floral hops are there, and there's a bit of light fruits in the background. Flavor gives me more sweet malts upfront with caramela and toffee. Rye is definitely the base of this beer and provides ample backbone. Hops are abundant but not overpowering. They begin fruity like red delicious apples then turn more floral then spicy and finally finish bitter. Body is decent, not real big but really makes this beer drinkable. Went great with the pizza. This is definitely a beer I think they should bottle. I liken it to a slightly fruitier, slightly less intense Founder's Red Rye. Almost ESBish. I'd like this on cask.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2005 13:25:40 | More by granger10

CRJMellor

Arkansas

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours slightly chill-hazed dark red and amber. hin head evaporates immediately but leaves straks of lace on the Ball glass jar.
Aroma is sweet, fruity hop juice, rye and a some underlying caramel and pale malts.
Flavor of caramel and biscuit underpinnings coupled with the lsight sourness of the rye and a strong but mostly lighter hop profile.
Mouthfeel is solid. Rye and light, sweet flavors up front combine with fruity and bitter hop notes to a produce a fairly well-balanaced beer.
Drinkability is very solid. Not outstanding but a solid seession brew that kind of grows on you.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2004 18:36:34 | More by CRJMellor

aracauna

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This really reminds me of an ESB. Very malty and and a lot of grapefruity hops in the aroma and character. Despite the dark reddish-brown color of the beer and the light reddish-tan of the head, this beer's flavor is surprisingly light Yes, it definitely malty but with the level of hops in the profile, it seems lighter that you'd expect. Not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2002 15:29:18 | More by aracauna