Nut Brown Ale - Ithaca Beer Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Soda pop Sweet brown, not my type of beer. Above average carbonation. Tiny wisp of a head. Nutty aroma. They advertise, and I get only a minimum of:chocolate malt, caramel malt, and four other malts , and hints of coffee. Northdown and Fuggles hops, but I do not get much hops.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2007 22:07:46 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.35/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Lucent ruddy brown with a smidgen of orange. The dark ecru head is firmly creamy enough to persist, no doubt due to the use of torrified wheat (torrified wheat is occasionally used in English bitters and pale ales to promote good head retention). Unfortunately the brewers forgot to add an ingredient that promotes lacing 'cause there ain't any.

The nose is a curious mix of weak chocolate and toasted grain. Nut Brown doesn't smell like a dark beer per se, more like a pale lager to which has been added cocoa powder or thin, unsweetened chocolate syrup. It's hard to describe accurately, but it isn't a nose that does the brown ale style proud.

On the palate, same thing; more like a dark lager both in terms of flavor and body. Again, powdered chocolate notes are present, a flavor sense that is reinforced by the lack of even a modicum of fullness or creaminess in terms of mouthfeel. Toasted grain is another member of the flavor profile, but doesn't get a chance to sink in since the too-light body spirits it away before it can really get a toehold on the taste buds. The finish is mildly bitter and slightly mineral-like.

Finger Lakes Nut Brown is a decent dark lager, but as an English brown ale it falls short. One could give it the benefit of the doubt and say that perhaps the brewers were shooting for the light end of the style spectrum, but I'm not inclined to be that generous. While not by a large margin, it's worse than (my) average.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2004 15:51:28 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a thick dark brown, almost black with a 1 inch caramel head, quickly fades, with some residual lace. Smell right off is chocolate, spice, and caramel. Taste is almost coffee like, very nice actually, with a good hoppy after taste. This was very smoothe, somewhat thick but not overally so at all. Its seems very drinkable and I was suprised

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 00:17:58 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Ithaca Memorial Day weekend 2011.

Pours a dark brown color with a moderate off-white head and a slight bit of lacing on the way down. Thin collar throughout. The nose brings a bit of lightly-roasted malt plus chocolate and a touch of coffee. The flavor has some brown malt and mild sweetness. Some caramel and a bit of brown sugar. Light chocolate and a bit of a dry roast coming through toward the finish. Actually, a bit too dry for what the flavor had. Medium body with average carbonation. Pretty standard brown; I'd have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2011 13:06:50 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy ice tea brown with a rocky tan head that leaves a few shards of lace

Smell: Potent aroma of caramel and mocha

Taste: Opens with a bit of a German chocolate cake flavor; nutty aspect arrives at mid-palate, with a bit of bitter nut skin, too; after the swallow the chocolate flavors return and provide a long finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; creamy

Drinkability: Maybe not quite to style and tastes a bit like a really nice dunkel, but still a very tasty brew that I really enjoyed drinking

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2008 22:10:28 | More by brentk56

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.55/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An initially good Brown Ale that suffers from weakness and astringency late.

A hazy brown beer forms a creamy though light, tan head and no real lacing. An average appearance but it needs more muscle.

Chocolatey aromas dominate early and with subtle hints of nuts, roast, and toffee later as the beer warms.

The same chocolate, nuts, and toffee flavors come through in the initial sips. But soon after, a grainy and roasted character comes through with a rough edge to the taste. Light bitterness seems to be both hops and grain derived.

Expecting the malty rich textures of a Brown, the mouthfeel instead quickly falls to watery, thin, grainy, and astringent. The body suffers quite a bit to the overall beer.

This Brown has good potential in flavor but the thin body, astringent graininess, and lack of true malt base leaves the beer unnecessairly harsh, roasty, bitter, and bitey.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 02:57:08 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mammoser's here in Hamburg,poured a medium chesnut brown with a tight but thinner slight off white head.Mild aromas a touch of roastiness and hints of cocoa mainly,basic brown flavors somewhat roasted with a faint cocoa flavor that lingers nicely fo a bit and rather food friendly it went well with some bbq grilled wings.A basic but flavorful brown ale and it warmed me up a bit wich is always a plus.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2007 23:39:56 | More by oberon

WesWes

New York

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark amber/brown color with an offwhite head that laces the top of the glass. The nose is of toasted malts and nuts. The taste is good. A nice balance between pale, crystal, and victory malts. There is low hopping and a nice "brown type" aftertaste. The beer is medium bodied and is quite drinkable. I'm from this area and drink this beer often. The Nut Brown Ale is one of their best sellers and best tasting beers. It's not the best one of this style, but it's also not the worst.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2003 14:48:46 | More by WesWes

metter98

New York

3.69/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is relatively clear brownish amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high dense tan head.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of nutty malts in the nose along with some notes of chocolate malts and hints of coffee beans.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell, but isn't quite as strong. Neither sweetness nor bitterness are perceptible.
M: It feels rather medium-bodied and somewhat smooth (but a little thin) on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I wished that this beer could have been a little heaver, but it is very easy to drink and has some nice flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 02:33:32 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep brown color with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is strong with roasted nuts, caramel, dark malts, some chocolate and a little bit of hops.

T: The taste is smoky and malty, with flavors of nuts, caramel and chocolate. There’s a little bit of hops in there. The after-taste is bready and slightly sweet. This one certainly put the “nut” in “nut brown”.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not very filling, excellent representation of style, this is easily the second best beer in Ithaca’s mix 12-pack behind Cascazilla and one of the better beers that I’ve had in the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2007 05:45:10 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours out as a nice looking brown color with a light tan colored head on top. The smell of the beer is slightly sweet and a little nutty. The taste of the beer is a little sweet up front that fades into a subtle toasted dry flavor in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel of the beer is nicely carbonated and has a good drinkability to it. Overall this beer is well balanced and is easy enough to drink several in a sitting if you choose too.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 00:24:35 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a reddish brown color with a 1" head. The head lingers a bit. Some spotty lacing develops.

Smell: the nose can picks up soft caramel and nut tones.

Taste: the caramel is up front, while there is a soft nuttiness and a bit of black plum lingering in the background. Light bitterness rounds out this basic brown ale.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp at the start, smooth at the finish. Relatively clean finish for the style. Light-medium in body.

Drinkability: overall an above average beer, but not one I thought I could quaff all day.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2006 11:13:05 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Best by January notched on label -

Pours brown - murky, but mostly covered by darkness, with a head that is short-lived. It becomes a vanishing island. Not much in way of lacing.

The smell is of roasted, slightly burnt chestnuts with some caramel and sweet graininess.

The taste is of sweetened coffee - slightly burnt, with chestnuts - also slightly burnr and hazelnut and walnuts. Nutty, but reminds me of the nuts that, when cracked, you look at and think... "It's just a bit too burnt looking" but eat anyway...and want to open another hoping it's not as flawed. There is some graininess - caramelish, with a touch of earthy bitterness. The main characteristic is overroasted nuts.

It is medium-bodied with ample, though not aggressive, carbonation.

Too burnt for my tastes - though it does have a "nut" character. Mediocre.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 18:43:52 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is an easy drinking beer with tasty toasted and cocoa flavors. Amora of light chocolate malts and grain. Just a good, quality English brown. Nothing amazing, but a great session beer. Sure beats the pants off of Newcastle. If you're really into the syle, give it a try, otherwise dont worry.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2006 06:40:30 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From a variety case purchased at Breski's.

A: The ale is a solid nut brown color, dark with red highlights at the narrower points of the glass. The head exceeded 4 fingers on the first attempt to pour and a full three attempts were required. Despite the big head, there is little lacing.

S: The nose lives up to type as well, offering a caramel and nutty aroma that is strong on chocolate notes.

T: The first sip is heavy on the caramel, giving the taste a distinct sweetness. That sweetness is fairly shortlived though, quickly evaporating into a thin grainy malt flavor. The trick, as I soon discovered, is to take a sip and swallow immediately, rather than let it sit on the tongue.

M: The mouthfeel is decent, nothing groundbreaking just an enjoyable drink.

T: If the caramel and nut flavors were stronger in the middle, I'd be ecstatic.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2007 01:36:34 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appears a dark cola brown large tan head retention is decent leaves behind light sparse lacing unevenly around my glass.

Aroma herbal earthy hops start things off here creamy nutty edge with toasted caramelized malt and some oatmeal character great stuff, hops really stand out the more you smell that green zesty freshness really makes the beer appealing.

Flavor is a refreshing roasty creaminess incredibly smooth flow going on caramel nuttiness touch of milk chocolate herbal and earthy hop components provide moderate bitterness with great flavor, somebody figured out how to make this style really drinkable.

Mouthfeel is creamy carbonation is ample definitely not overdone flavors really stick around on the palate the roasted nut edge stays with you as well as the hop bitterness on the back of the tongue.

Drinkability possibly one of the most drinkable American brewed Nut Brown ales I've come across the secret of course is hops in my eyes takes the rough edges of these colored malts and blends them perfectly together a delicate hard to pull off style Ithaca has done a great job here go try one and compare it with some of the classic versions ie Brooklyn, Sam Smith's, and for me Wildgoose.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2007 18:04:27 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear but very dark ruby with no head. Nose is subdued. Just barely a touch of nut, but not much else really going on. Flavor is nutty, but oddly sweet at the same time. There isn’t much going on with that either. Unfortunately. Feel is kind of thick with a slight syrupy feel. When it first hit my mouth, my genera; reaction was - ick. Drinkable I guess. Could be sessionable. But overall it is pretty boring and leaves a bit to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 23:28:32 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice beige head that dies too quickly for my tastes. Light slippery lace. Nice reddish brown color, quite clear.

Excellent chocolate aromas. No hop smells, but smells great regardless.

Pleasant dark malt tastes, although the chocolate is far more muted here. The body is very good for the style. Hop bitterness shows up on the swallow.

This is an easily consumed ale. Very flavorful and aromatic--a beautiful brown.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2007 22:57:08 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to TheManiacalOne for this brew.

Pours a nice clean/clear brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, not much sticky lacing at all. The nose is malty, with some toffee/caramel. The taste is malty, nice touch of toffee/caramel, slight bitterness/dryness in the finish. Medium body. Drinkable, a nice little brown ale, glad to have had a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2007 00:27:35 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a two finger light tan head that fades slowly, leaving some lace. Almost clear amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Slight nutty nose. Flavor starts malty, nutty and just on the sweet side, brief hops at finish. $1.85 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2008 22:16:30 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

(Served in an American pint glass)
best before April (it was)
A- This beer has a hazy glowing brown body with a sticky light beige head that last a good bit and a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles gliding to the surface.

S- The nutty toasted malt aroma has just the slightest hint of coffee roasted malt and a nice dry caramel malt nose in the finish.

T- This beer has a rich nutty dark toasted malt flavor with a touch of roasted malt blended in with some dark biscuit toasted notes also in there. The finish is a dry crisp finish with just a touch of grainy tartness which does not linger.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a fizz that is just a bit to strong and scrubs away the finish.

O- This is a wonderful beer that really captures the nut brown malts and has so much depth that it makes me want to drink more and more. Great session beer and I can't imagine this on cask but I would love to try it. It seems like the bottle was gone before I even realized it.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 13:21:20 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

3.83/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle, best before dating notched onto the label, but come on, if you only have notches for months and nothing about the friggin' year, what good is that ?!? Pours pretty typical brownish amber, typical dark tan head/ring/minor lace. Mostly some bread and also chocolate in the nose. Pleasant enough, chocolaty brown. Easy going sessioner, worked pretty well in a marinade of some chicken. Enjoyable, balanced brown. I like. Decent beer to turn on some newbies with.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2009 02:11:29 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle obtained via trade with Shippos. Thanks for the opportunity...

First imperial pint glass pours with a 1/2" beige head, which laces well. Deeply reddish brown brew, with a slightly nutty caramel malt aroma. Taste is similar to the aroma, caramel malts with a slightly nutty aspect, but there is also a slightly sour fruity flavor. Mouthfeel is average, I would want a bit more heartiness of grain in a nut brown. Drinkability is a bit better, with some interesting flavors to catch your fancy, and smooth yet somewhat thin body that lets you enjoy one after another.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2004 17:24:44 | More by ppoitras

plaid75

New York

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a solid brown hue with a one finger foamy head. There was decent retention, but poor lacing.

The smell was a subtle sweet malt chocolate aroma. Mild biscuity aroma with some hints of hazelnut.

The taste was a very dry roasted grain experience. A bit of sweetness upfront, which was quickly overpowered by the extremely dry finish.

The mouthfeel was on the thin side. Not bad though. The thiness may be attributable to the super dry finish.

Very drinkable. Because this brew is so dry, you are forced to quickly take your next sip. It's going down fast and furious.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2006 04:30:36 | More by plaid75

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glowing chestnut maroon color with a tall light tan capping of frothy smoothed foam. Fades slowly to keep a great quarter inch skim the entire time and laces in thinnly placed inky patches.

Aroma is nutty/toasty, crisply dry; pale, breadish malts, and has a light dry wild grassyness.

Flavors are about what one would find out of a brown ale. Pale and toasted malts make up the main portions of the front and middle, slenderly sweet sided and well rounded nuttyness unsues into the finishing areas as does a light surge of drying grassy herbs and cocoa. Clean and respectfully subtle but a little understated.

Feel is smoothly set within a light/medium body with a easy carbonation thats not boastful for a brown. Toastyness is light and paled, nuttyness is touched on with grace and finishes better then it starts. A welcomeing little brown ale. Drinkable and sessionable with an open margin to boredom due to its lack of depth and light flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2005 18:54:18 | More by tavernjef