Samuel Adams Hazel Brown - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass

A-nice mahogany colored with about a finger of head that leaves a little lacing as it faded

S-nut much for smell a hint of carmel and nuts

T- a lot more hazelnut than the smell with just a bit of carmel thrown in

m-thicker than I was expecting, it has some nice creaminess to it

O- really good brown offering from Sam Adams

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 09:16:31 | More by tvv375ia

chinchill

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle dated best before Feb. (2013) and served in a Unibroue snifter.

Pours a clear ruby-brown, with a weak beige head that leaves a moderate amount of lacing.

S: plenty of hazelnut here, along with caramel, toffee, and a touch of hops. [4.25]

Taste: {4.25] The hazelnut component is still in the forefront, but with a nice roasted nut aspect. Enough hops to add some spiciness, but not quite enough to fully tame the sweetness. Not overly sweet, however, but instead lightly sweet at a level that seems appropriate for the other aspects of flavor.

M: Light-medium body; moderate carbonation. A bit too thin.

Overall: a surprisingly good hazelnut brown. Bettered by the world-class Rogue Hazelnut but closer in overall quality than I expected, even from this highly reliable brewery. Improves with warming.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 00:29:30 | More by chinchill

hosehead83

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Clear, dark copper in color, with a moderate head of off-white foam.
Aroma-Faint hazelnut
Taste-Spicy malt, toasted hazelnut,caramel. Hazelnut not overdone. Nice flavor, but a bit thin-bodied. Flavor fades upon warming a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 18:05:32 | More by hosehead83

NHGrafx

Massachusetts

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

Pours a nice dark amber color with 2 finger tan head which dissipates pretty quickly to a thin foamy layer with nice lacing.

Smell is of strong hazelnut, caramel, some chocolate too. Smell overall is sweet and inviting.

Taste is of hazelnut, caramel, a touch of sweetness with spice and hops in the background, not bad at all. Moutfeel is a bit creamy, with good drinkability. Overall it is pretty good. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 23:49:14 | More by NHGrafx

Chico1985

Massachusetts

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

New addition to the fall pack.

Pours into a pint translucent light brown with orange highlights. Off-white head starts huge, reduces to a solid half-finger.

Definitely hazelnut forward in the scent, some bread and chocolate notes as well, a bit faint.

Taste is very sweet and malty - lots of hazelnut coffee and nutty malts, cocoa, vanilla. Not much of a balance here but quite tasty, reminds me of coffee ice cream.

Very smooth mouthfeel, lowish carbonation, maybe a bit on the thin side if I had to be picky.

Overall quite good, the nuttiness might be a bit over the top but I thought this was a sweet and malty treat.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 15:23:10 | More by Chico1985

socon67

New York

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

A - Light brown pour with a thin white foam. Slight lacing on the glass. Some carbonation bubbles to the top.

S - Scent of english toffee is strong. There is a smell of light malt, caramel, and nuts. Smells like a good candy bar.

T - Nice flavor of toffee, and malt. There is a slight flavor of raosted almonds. Some sweetness of caramel is present. Actually a really tasty beer.

M - Great balance that has plenty of flavor but also is easy to drink. Light bodied feel. Minor cabonation.

O - One of the better brown ales that I've seen that is relatively light but has robust flavor. I'd like this as a 6'er.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 02:02:53 | More by socon67

mscudder

Georgia

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

Into a globe.

A - Pours a light chocolate brown with a one-finger light-tan head. Good retention and lacing.

S - Big roasted hazelnuts hit the nose with force followed by some caramel and toffee sweetness. A bit too sharp an aroma for me.

T - Again, giant presence of hazelnut here, perhaps the most robust I have ever had. Lots of sweet vanilla following combining with some caramel malts and toffee.

M - Body is a bit light with moderate carbonation. Wish it was closer to a full body.

O - I am not a huge ran of big nutty beers and this is not an exception. The sweet vanilla is a big change of taste that occurs to quickly. Good things inside, just not as balanced as I would like to see.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 06:20:34 | More by mscudder

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

P:  Pours a deep dark amber with a full finger of creamy cappuccino froth that settles to a velvet roof. 

S:  Loads of roasted hazelnut, toffee, caramel and spices. Hazelnut flavored cappuccino aroma. Fresh baked fruit bread, chocolate cupcakes and baking cocoa.

T/M:  Taste follows the nose and reveals the pronounced roasted hazel nut. The malts are the same as the aroma but the spices really shone more in the taste. Medium body and bubbly carbonation. Finish is semidry and lingers hazelnuts and smoldering hay. 

O:  Well Sam delivered the Hazel Brown for sure. Straight forward from what you would expect by the label. Loads of thick hazelnut aroma and flavor. Accompanied by caramel and toffee malts create a rich brew to enjoy with dessert. Not something I would regularly drink and probably won't purchase again. I do have to give it props for delivering what it advertises. If you like hazelnut you will love this. Cheers! 

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 00:48:08 | More by Hopswagger

Brubaker

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Clear, dark amber, small white head. Good lacing.

S- Holly Cow!! Nutty. Coffee. Chocolate. Sweet malts. Very rich. I don't like to give 5's but this earned it. Complex & rich.

T- Slightly bitter, chocolate, & sweet. Lingering nuttiness.

M- Medium body with velvety texture.

O- A very good & enjoyable beer that stands out.

Would drink
Would Buy
Would Make

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 02:12:20 | More by Brubaker

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Part of the Harvest collection.

Pours medium dark brown, some red tints, with full inch of white foam. Very strong hazelnut smell, hints of cocoa/coffee. Taste is a delicious blend of caramel, toffee, hazelnuts, even balanced, light bodied. Excellent take on the style. Really good.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 16:54:57 | More by KTCamm

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

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

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a dark, thin, auburn-brown coloring with no head. Aromas of hazelnut and roast, with subtle coffee and chocolate highlights. Flavors are very roasty and richly sweet, with nutty and mocha highlights. Very smooth and sweet. Light bodied, bordering on thin, with the cabronation giving an effervescent feel. Roasted aftertaste with a slightly lingering sweet, crisp finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 15:32:07 | More by GarthDanielson

yesyouam

New York

4.48/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Samuel Adams Hazel Brown is a very clear, deep reddish brown ale topped with a dense, off white foam that has outstanding retention and lacing. Caramel, toffee and hazelnut are in the first sniff. There is some roastiness and maybe some grass. Soft, dry and medium bodied, it leaves the tongue a little chalky. This is bursting with hazelnut. It's not huge or overpowering. The flavors all melt very well. There's just enough bitterness to avoid seeming sweet at all. This is so smooth and easy. It could be a session ale any time.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 18:44:01 | More by yesyouam

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

from the fall '12 mixed pack. 12oz bottle served in a pint glass.

pours a chestnut tone while yielding a finger of tan head; middling retention and lacing. sweet, nutty aroma smacks of coffee, hazelnut, and caramel with a hint of chocolate. very nice.

flavor , while not quite measuring up to the nose, delivers tasty helpings of the coffee, caramel, and a generous nutty infusion. secondary notes of brown sugar and chocolate. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall my clear favorite out of this year's fall mixer. very solid beer; probably won't blow you away but it's well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 21:40:09 | More by BostonHops

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from bottle into a shaker. Poured brown with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, nutty, milk chocolate, and slight roasted malt. The flavor was of sweet malt, milk chocolate, nutty, and earth. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. Got this one in a variety pack for fall and was kind of interested in trying it based on some of the reviews I saw on here. However, this one really didn’t fit in with my palate overly great. It was decent, so don’t get me wrong there. However, there really wasn’t a huge amount of stuff going on in this one to keep me interested. I did like the notes of milk chocolate, but that was about it. Worth trying for the curious.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 11:30:46 | More by thagr81us

MattyG85

Minnesota

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

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown with some hints of amber orange. Lots of rising bubbles and a huge five finger off white head with good retention. Leaves a lot of creamy lacing around the glass.

Smell: A sweet aroma that is fairly roasted and nutty. Toasted malts with hints of toffee, burnt caramel, hazelnuts, roast chocolate, coffee, and biscuit. Some brown sugar and hints of cream. Some earthy noble hops add some spice in the background. A pretty sweet smell with a lot of roasted and toasted elements.

Taste: Like the smell, a sweet taste of dark malts and nuts. Toasted and roasted malts with a taste of toffee, caramel, chocolate, hazelnuts, creamy lactose, coffee, oat, and bready biscuit. A fair amount of brown sugar. A little spicy bitterness in the back end from some noble hops. Tastes on the sweet side but not too syrupy. Pretty tasty.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Very creamy. Somewhat slick. Very smooth.

Overall: A pretty nice version of a brown ale. The hazelnuts add a nice kick and the sweetness is kept well in balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 06:42:15 | More by MattyG85

jsanford

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark chestnut brown with a dense ivory cap that settles to a 1-inch cap. Nice aromas of toasted hazelnuts, caramel, and a touch of brown sugar. Quite similar to the nose, nice English-style Brown Ale base with notes of brown sugar, toffee, and malt with more rich hazelnut. Very nicely balanced and drinkable. Mouthfeel is smooth and fairly crisp, with a medium body and ample carbonation. Overall a very nice addition to the Fall lineup, but I do sorta miss last years Rauchbier.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 22:18:53 | More by jsanford

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.33/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This is a decent attempt at a hazelnut brown ale, but I think it's a bit too strong on that nutty flavor. It's a big mouthful of hazelnut that's out of balance with the rest of the beer. I found it hard to finish, as much I wanted to enjoy it. The aroma is nice - like a cup of hazelnut coffee. A decent try, no harm in trying it in the seasonal pack, but I'll keep turning to Rogue for my hazelnut fix.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 05:13:50 | More by TheRealBigC

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: Dark amber, off white head that is maybe 1/8" off the body. Looks little simple.

Smell: Smells of light coffee with touch of caramel. Little light if you ask me.

Taste: Complex, very rich in a nutty feel.it is unique and quite tasty. Slight caramel feel and bit a of coffee. Has a complex taste that is slight over whelming. Little sweet but maintains it's bitter feel that is extremely likeable.

Mouth: Medium to heavy, super smooth.

Overall: Great beer, this is one of those beers that you get a lot for your money. It isn't strong or an imperial that ok...what matters is, is that it is quality. Rare you a product this good and this easy to find especially for the price. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 02:30:23 | More by BlurryVisi0n

tronester

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear reddish brown with a thin light tan head. Smell is mostly hazelnut, and maybe a little chocolate. Taste is initially very sweet, with some strong hazelnut flavor after that. Next is some toffee, and then some light espresso. The finish is slightly nutty and earthy. Mouthfeel is average. Overall a very interesting beer, I hope they keep it and have it again next year.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 00:53:57 | More by tronester

Tone

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, dark brown color. 5/4 inch head of an off-tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong sweet malt, nuts, hint of roasted malt, hint of hop, and slight pale malt. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong sweet malt, slight wheat, hint of hops, nuts, and a hint of pale malt. Overall, good appearance, feel, and aroma. The biggest flaw is that the wheat metallic flavor is slightly off-putting.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 14:05:55 | More by Tone

DavidS88

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sweet mother this is tasty. I usually don't go for sweeter tasting beers, but Samuel Adams Hazel Brown is delectable. I picked up a few of these in the Samuel Adams Harvest Collection (two Boston lagers, two Octoberfests, two Dunkelweizens, two Harvest Pumpkins, two Latitude 48s, and two Hazel Browns) and this was by far the stand out beer. It's a lovely translucent brown ale with some white to tannish-white head on it. It smells amazing, like toffee, coffee, and caramel. Taste is very much the same, pretty malty but not so overpowering that you feel like you're eating bread. It's quite sessionable; you can definitely down a few of these if you want to without feeling too full or becoming grossed out by sweet flavor. Like I said, I really don't care for sweeter tasting beers all that often (I go malty neutral or slightly bitter; too many fruit beers will do that to you) but this was good. A delicate balance of bitter from the coffee and sweet from the caramel creates a unique blend in your mouth. And at only 5.2% ABV, there is no taste of alcohol. My only regret about this beer is that I can only find it in 12 pack collections; I would love to pick up a six pack of these and chill by the fire some cold fall evening. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 15:38:26 | More by DavidS88

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a light to medium brown color with a big billowy tan head. The head has very nice retention and slowly fades over time as the big bubbles trapped within the head pop. Once the head recedes it leaves a medium level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is sweet and has an interesting mix of aromas. It is big of a sweet toffee and caramel with notes of some brown sugar sweetness and a lighter roasted smell. With this, there is an almost apple cider sweet smell. The spices and the sugary smells bring this on. Finally there is a lighter nutty aroma in the nose which, when combined with the rest, gives a very sweet and pleasant aroma.

Taste – The taste starts with a smooth roasted malt and sweet and buttery toffee flavor. A nice roasted hazelnut flavor along with some caramel soon meet the tongue and combined with the toffee and roast. These flavors take the taste to the end where they are joined by some lighter spice flavors as well as some earthy hop flavors. While these enter the taste, the hazelnut flavor gets even stronger and leave a pleasant sweeter roasted nut flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the creamier side with the carbonation level being on the lower side of the spectrum. The creamy body is fantastic to the flavor profile with the carbonation level, being on the lower side, allowing all the roasted and nutty flavors to really be sensed by the tongue.

Overall - Very easy drinking and quite tasty. A pleasant drinking brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 00:46:48 | More by Darkmagus82

daliandragon

North Carolina

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

This is the latest newbie in the rotating spot in the Sam fall mixed twelve. Brown ales are usually pedestrian but I like the addition of hazelnuts as a change of pace. Nose is sweet with sweet malt and creamy hazelnut extract. Not much head or lace on top of a transparent brown body.

Standard brown ale with a medium body and a touch too much carbonation. the hazelnuts add complexity and a touch of smoothness. There are some late breaking hops to reckon with as well. More complex than most browns for a nice change of pace. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 00:46:34 | More by daliandragon

57md

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a brownish-copper with a half finger of head that dissipates very quickly. Hazelnuts are clearly present in the nose. The modest sweetness of hazelnuts are also present upfront in the flavor. There is a subtle touch of bitterness on the finish that is a very nice accompaniment to the sweetness, indeed.

This offering is a bit thin, but there certainly has a tasty side to it in spite of the thinness.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 06:11:14 | More by 57md

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought as part of a mixed 12 pack. Brown ales can be found all over, but the hazelnut in this one gives it a nice touch. Smells a bit nutty with a roasted aroma. Taste is medium bodied, some nice roastiness and the hazelnuts really come through, along with a touch of caramel and toffee. Nice balance and finish, a nice change of pace for a usually boring style.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 00:21:28 | More by marlinsfan4