Beertown Brown - BridgePort Brewing Co. / Brewpub

Japerrault

Idaho

4.35/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Brown with red showing through when held to the light. The beer was clear with a cream colored head which held at about 1/2 inch for quite a while.

S: Rich malts, toasted bread and caramel.

T: Beautifully made beer. There is a great use of malts in this one. Mostly toasted grain, caramel, and toffey flavors, but this is not really a sweet beer. Hops are not perceived much, but lend themselves well to the balance.

M: Nice carbonation with medium body.

D: Very drinkable beer. Nothing harsh. I will be buying more of this.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2009 18:01:42 | More by Japerrault

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine March 07

Word is, brown is the new black, or maybe it's just that Brown Ales are gaining some headway and popularity among brewers and consumers. This one is going for that malty Northern English Style Brown Ale feel to be exact. It's great to see a beer from the PNW that's not on hop overkill.

A good amount of foam provides a thick, off-white head, and a brilliantly clear henna color. The head retention is quite impressive. Aroma is thick of toasted malt, mild fruitiness and faint spicy hops. Creamy smooth mouthfeel; medium-bodied with a gentle carbonation. Copious amounts of malt flavor to start; toasted and slight caramel flavors seem to be the most predominant. Hint of spicy herbal hop lays down a modest but balancing bitterness. A tad fruity with a twang from the yeast in the middle. Finishes semi-sweet with some faded toasted grain.

A phenomenal beer. It's so refreshing to see another Brown Ale on the market. Cheers to Bridgeport for this one! Try a minimalist pairing approach, like sweet Italian sausage on a plain hoagie roll.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 18:51:00 | More by BeerAdvocate

MYJELLOMISFIT

Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass this tasty brown had a wonderful light caramel head and a nice brown glow. Real clear brown in the glass with a nice alpenglow-esk appearance.Real malty nose with a slight hint of hops and coco. Mouthfeel was real light and airy. Good carbonation that faded towards the end of the glass.

Smooth, Smooth, Smooth. This one slide right down the back of your throat. Even malt throughout with very little bitters. This is a tongue carresser and I'd make her dinner.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2007 23:22:25 | More by MYJELLOMISFIT

skeetermoses

Oklahoma

4.22/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow, this is now my go to english ale brown. Loved it, sweeter than most but reasonably priced beer, very tasty indeed. Would go good with some goulauch or even rocklette. loved it definitly going to by this beer again, very tasty and reliable.
yummmy

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2009 02:45:42 | More by skeetermoses

rkuhnel

California

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 12 oz Bottle it poured a dark brown with a small, frothy, light brown, quickly diminishing head. Nose is light and mostly malt, nuts, caramel, toasted bread, with some hops. Mouthfeel was smooth and flavor an interesting combination of sweetness with a slightly bitter.finish. Easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2007 05:33:45 | More by rkuhnel

stephens101

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Haven't had a brown ale in a while, so am looking forward to this one for a change of pace. Pours a reddish-brown with a good and thick but fairly quickly fading tan head. Smells of slight caramel, tea and chocolates. Tastes a bit spicy and sugary with some roasted malts and a hint of bitterness finishing things off. A tasty, light-to-medium bodied brown that fits the style perfectly and twists your arm to enjoy a good session together.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2008 19:23:26 | More by stephens101

bilyboy65

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Kinda skeptical about picking up this beer. Thought that it would be kinda like piss because of the name and label. I am shockingly pleasantly surprised.

A: Decent carbonation, brown in color (true to it's name). Light tan head that leaves good lacing with every pull. Head went the distance for the life of the poor (which really wouldn't set any records for longevity).

S: Sweet brown sugar, then i unfortunately farted and ruined this part of the review. Sorry..

T: Creamy, sweet. Kinda like those candies with the white frosting in the center of hard caramel. Umm good. I also think this would have been better if I let it warm up a bit.

M: Smooth, tingly from the carbonation and a medium body. All the things an English should bring to the table.

D: I wish I had more.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2009 01:19:26 | More by bilyboy65

cswhitehorse

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer town brown poured a clear brown with a single finger foam head with very little head or lacing. The aroma was caramel malts with a slight hop aroma.

The taste was really unique and was malty through the drink. To me I really got a root beer taste which I enjoyed. In the mouth it was thin and lingered on the tongue. Overall a very enjoyable brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2008 20:07:00 | More by cswhitehorse

zeff80

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a rich mahogany color with hints of ruby. A small, tan foamy head left behind small traces of lace.

S - It smelled of nut, coffee and malt.

T - It tasted quite nutty, maybe even some hazelnut flavors. It had a grassy bitterness and a strong roasted malt quality.

M - It was charp and crisp. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a very nice brown ale. Yet another solid offering from Bridgeport.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2008 20:13:44 | More by zeff80

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bronzed rustic orange with a hint of red. The lightly creamy cap is two fingers after the pour and is an attractive mixture of ivory, pale gold and ecru. Soap sudsy streamers of froth are beginning to be laid down, but the lid isn't disappearing fast enough for entire lace story to have been written yet.

The nose is more robust English pale ale than English brown ale. According to the neck label, 'roasted chocolate and pale malts' have been used, but I can't appreciate the first of those no matter how many times I try. Earthy, lightly musky hops are at least as prominent.

As expected, there's very little 'brown' maltiness on the palate. The flavor profile consists of lightly buttered, lightly toasted wheat bread sprinkled with almonds and a pinch of shredded tea leaves. Fruity esters from the ale yeast contribute as well. Beertown Brown definitely tastes English, even it doesn't bring to mind the stated style. A pale version of it... maybe.

The beer is growing on me as the ounces pass. As long as I don't think about style, I'm fine. The bottom line is that Bridgeport BC, more often than not, brews well-constructed, balanced, drinkable beer. I'm not sure how anyone could have a problem with that. It occurs to me that this offering would go well with any number of foods and would be great to session as well.

I've gone back and forth on mouthfeel and have finally decided to go with the higher score. I'm impressed that such a light-bodied ale can be so creamy and so expansive; yet more evidence that these guys know what they're doing.

I've never had a bad Bridgeport beer (and I've had most of them). They've been either above average or well above average. Beertown Brown isn't a stunner by any means, but it's such a joy to drink that I decided to reward it accordingly. Solid all the way around.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2007 12:12:57 | More by BuckeyeNation

jwc215

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours medium brown with a very thin head that becomes a slowly vanishing patch.

The smell is of caramel/toffee with hints of chocolate. It has an earthy/nutty background. Fairly robust.

The taste is of caramel/toffee with hints of chocolate. The brown sugar-like sweetness is balanced by earthy, slightly fruity hops in the background that lend some depth and complexity to the rich maltiness. There is some balanced sweetness in the rather abrupt finish.

Medium-bodied, it has an astringent note, but nothing to really complain about though I would have liked the flavor to linger on the tongue a bit longer.

This is a brown ale that is enjoyable. Nice maltiness with a fair amount of balance, but would like it to have a bit more .... well, something to hold on to a bit longer. Overall - I do recommend it.

Thanks to jcwattsrugger for bringing this one back from his trip to the Pacific NW!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2007 14:02:00 | More by jwc215

Tilley4

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is one nice little brown here...

Pours much darker than most browns I've had... huge head also...

Smells of sweet malt and maybe a little chocolate.. I know that sounds crazy but that's what I'm getting....

Nice pleasant taste of sweet malt that is very smooth and drinkable...

I could easily session this brew.. I liked it a lot...

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2008 20:57:30 | More by Tilley4

walshclimb

Nevada

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear caramel brown with thin off-white head. Slightly sweet malty grain smell. The initial flavor is clean and malty with a light hop bitterness and a relatively short-lived bready malt aftertaste. It is medium bodied with a soft to active carbonation that is just about right for a brown. This is a relatively mellow full malt flavored brown in the english style. It is tasty, smooth, and very drinkable. I buy it pretty regularly.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2007 23:20:05 | More by walshclimb

Gusler

Arizona

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The beer leaves the 12 ounce bottle a brownish orange with a moderate off white head that evaporates quickly leaving a velum like covering on the glass. Nose has a black walnut like aroma, backed by sweet malt and caramel, start is malt sweet, slight tartness, with the top medium in feel. Finish has a determined acidity; the hops pleasantly spicy, dry aftertaste clings to the palate. Brown ales have been one of my favorite styles, since I sampled my first Newcastle Brown Ale, many years ago, a style I think over looked by many.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2007 18:17:07 | More by Gusler

Wasatch

Utah

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice clean/clear dark brown color, nice carbonation, little fizzy off-white head, some sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, good dose of toffee/caramel. The taste is malty, some toffee/caramel, slightly sweet. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a tasty Brown Ale, another underated brewery in my book.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2007 02:54:41 | More by Wasatch

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beertown is back in '08... 12oz from the Coop for about $1.30.. poured into my New Belgium snifter.

Nice long lasting head that drops leaving sheets of lacing... color is a clear polished chesnut.

Smells "English". Light brown and caramel malts with a touch of diacetyl ... fruity esters are present and fairly out front.

Flavor is pretty much all toasted malts.. fairly heavy on the toasted malts.. the ale fruitiness is ever present... lighter than expected caramel.. earthy hop flavor.. finish is a nice mix of earthy hops with a lite chocolate hint... light/medium mouthfeel and good carbonation.

This is a great session beer... and a very good take on an English brown from a PNW brewery.. I pick up Beertown fairly frequently when it's around.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 08:27:47 | More by JohnGalt1

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Decided to try something from Bridgeport beside their IPA.
A- A light brown, with red-orange on the edge and a small head that faded quicly.
S- The scent reminded me of walnut and brown bread. The scent was of moderate strength.
T- The taste matched the scent, sort of nutty and bready. It finished with a bit of floral hops, but the nut and bread tastes did not suffer as a result.
M- It had kind of a strange mouthfeel for me. I don't know how to describe it, but I think it was probably a result of the fairly strong carbonation.
D- A pretty solid beer, that would be good with a meal. It was a pretty solid choice with an appropriate abv. The carbonation was the only real negative. Worthy.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2008 23:31:15 | More by jsprain1

Spikester

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark brown with a tan head, good lacing.
Aroma is chocolate malt, herbal.
Taste is dark chocolate with a good amount of hops. Nice brown ale. Palate is slightly better than average.
Overall a very tasty brown ale.
Will try again when available. Well recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2008 00:57:20 | More by Spikester

Zorro

California

3.83/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A clear brown colored beer with a decent brown head that fades fairly quickly.

The smell is sweet and malty with a trace of peat and smoke to the aroma.

The taste begins sweet and a little malty with a bit of grassy flavor and a decent bitter finish. Bit of vanilla and coffee flavor this is on the mild end of the spectrum. Earthly flavor there is a lot of peat and mushroom flavor here with faint chocolate.

Mouthfeel is OK.

This scores quite highly on the drinkability scale. Nothing complex just a good brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2007 00:26:21 | More by Zorro

tbeck

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a clear, dark brown with a decent white/brown head that collared nicely. Aroma was malt and sugar. Taste was malt, slight hint of hops and coffee in the aftertaste. Very smooth but a hint of bitterness. On the thin side, but good body. Good overall, good flavor, nothing offensive. I could easily handle a number of these in a sitting and enjoy them.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2008 03:21:43 | More by tbeck

Kemmerlin

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Poured a very thick head, about 3 finger widths but quickly fell down without much lacing on the glass. A reddish brown color.

S: Had aromas of molasses, caramel, a very faint smell of dried blueberries and barley grains.

T: Had a camouflaged taste of dark semi sweet chocolate, a nutty taste, with much of the taste residing in the malts. A very slight bittering taste hits the back from the hops deinitely could've used more hops.

M/D: Quite watered down, maybe slightly grainy but to notice if you do. This is quite disappointing considering the look of the beer. The drinkability is good though and doesn't hit you hard with a strong amount of alcohol so you can have several of these in a day. Not my favorite but still was good.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2008 00:19:53 | More by Kemmerlin

brentk56

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear dark amber with a modest head that declines to a pancake while leaving a few shards of lace

Smell: Brown bread, caramel and just the mildest hint of piney hops

Taste: Opens with a brown bready and caramel flavor that moves in a fruity direction by mid-palate; after the swallow, it develops a slightly spicy but woody aspect that is quite dry, but a touch buttery on the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium, almost creamy, body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Very easy to quaff and a decent representation of a style that is straightforward and uncomplex

Thanks, younger35, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2008 02:25:18 | More by brentk56

colts9016

Idaho

3.73/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A medium brown, with reddish hues. There was a head but it vanished in thin air. There is some cloudiness, and carbonation bubbles.

Nose: Roasted malt, molasses, burnt sugar and alcohol. Hints of esters, butterscotch, citrus, and phenols.

Taste: Roasted malt, burnt sugar, molasses, and esters. There are notes of citrus, a spiciness, butterscotch, and phenols.

Overall: there is some carbonation on the tongue. The mouth feel is astringent. A finish does exist, but it seems phenol like. It is an okay beer, nothing special. I like it, except for the finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2008 02:56:36 | More by colts9016

bridgeporter

Washington

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

Pleasant dark brown with an amber tint..

Subtle smokey aroma of oats and chocolate..

Smooth..slightly malty..with a dry finish that was very enjoyable.

Thin ..non filling mouthfeel..had session written all over it.

This is a very drinkable brown..at 5.2 ABV its pretty low alc for an
American craft brew. I was pleasantly surprised by this new addition to the Bridgeport line. I'll have a pint of this anytime it's on cask..very nice pint!

Serving type: cask

02-02-2007 04:25:15 | More by bridgeporter

Magpie14

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: on the lighter side of brown, just a tinge of red and orange. A just off-white colored head with reasonable retention and lace. I always remembered brown ales being, well, browner.

S: definite roasted malts, caramel, and a waft of woody, earthy flavors. Which means a nice dose of hops for a brown ale

T: mild malty profile with a soft hop presence to make things right. Buttery taste with bread characteristics. In the long run not as husky as you would think for a brown ale, this guy has more of a hop bite than expected. Also to note, just a delicate taste of toasted nuts in the mix

M: seems pretty bubbly, rather mild in the body feel department. Borderline creamy at times, it really has that potential. Nice feel all around

D: for my part, I am not a brown ale fan. I must say that this guy has found a small spot into my beer halls. I find this very drinkable, mostly cause it has a good hop presence and seems to veer, from what I would consider, a traditional brown ale. Not all that bad!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 04:30:07 | More by Magpie14