As stated by others; Samuel Smith is the template beer...the classic. Some may be better but this one is still world class. Newcastle? Yeah...the first for many here but BMCish in comparison and hindsight. For American versions; Smutty Brown Dog & Avery Ellie's would be my favorites. Fat Squirrel is good but no longer year-around. I am hesitant to mention it for fear it gets too popular (I think it is their best seller now), but Tyranena's Rocky's Revenge is a great BA Brown.
It is interesting to see that there is really not that many browns out there compared to pale ales or IPAs which is probably how Moose Drool does so well . I always compare any brown to Sam Smiths and any NA brown ale to DFH Indian.
True, but I was under the impression that was mostly in regards to their cask bitters, and didn't extend to their Taddy Porter, Oatmeal Stout, Nut Brown Ale and whatnot.
Although no ones mentioning Belgium for Brown Ales, Leffe Brun is my favorite brown, hands down. Factor in the low cost, and it's even better.
Moose drool. Its the only one I can actually get through a bottle of... I can't think of a less favorite style than brown ales, id rather drink pbr since at least I don't have to taste it. To me brown ales are a confused mix between a pale and stout that decided to go dark and turned back halfway through but got roasted but not tasty in the process.
Browns don't get a lot of love from craft beer drinkers, it seems like. Kind of like ambers. And I agree they are somewhat boring. But I appreciate a good brown. A good brown is an easy beer, subtle, and mellow. I like to drink a brown on an early Fall day. I haven't had a lot of the beers mentioned in this thread, but I do agree with Moose Drool and Ellie's Brown. Both are good solid beers with no detracting extra qualities. I personally love Rogue's Hazelnut Nectar, it's like dessert, but I wouldn't say it's a classic brown. It's very...well...nectary (hazelnutty honey and molasses is what I think of) which isn't necessarily common in browns.
to a lot of UK beer folks, bottled beer is a distant second choice to begin with, other than for a few specific styles like barleywine.
The now defunct Pete's Wicked Ale was the most notable of americanized brown ales and Newcastle has to be the most popular brown ale in the US. I'm not sure either were truly benchmarks of the style.
I think a lot of people are misinterpreting this thread. He isn't asking for your favorite Brown Ale, he's asking for Brown Ales that have become archetypal and/or set the standard for the style. In my opinion, four come to mind: Sam Smith's Nut Brown Ale - It's been around forever and set the tone for the English Brown Ale style. Brooklyn Brown Ale - It's been around longer than the craft beer industry, or even the term, "craft beer" and basically set the stage for the American Brown Ale category. Avery Ellie's Brown Ale / Smuttynose Old Brown Dog - I think of these as quintessential modern-day Brown Ales that are incredibly delicious, and hit the style guidelines to a T. Ironically, they both involve dogs.
How long is forever? I don't believe it's any older than the 1970's. Taddy Brown Ale, on the other hand, which I don't think is brewed any longer, was around in the 1930's. That looks a much more typical English Brown Ale, just 3% ABV.
I love Shed Mountain Ale, Anchor Brekles Brown, CCB Maduro, but most of all, Bear Republic Pete Browns Tribute. I thought Tumbler got better over last year, but I heard no mention of a recipe change.
One that I love is Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan. May not be the end all be all but it is mighty fine.
Hindy's book, Beer School, says that Brooklyn Brown Ale was introduced in 1989, by which time what has come to be known as the "craft beer industry" was nearly a decade and half old. The term "craft beer" itself was already being used by then, as well, but was not as common as "microbrew". Yeah, I've seen it listed as one of the beers Charles Finkel requested that Samuel Smith brew for the US market for his Merchant du Vin company, along with some others like their Porter and Oatmeal Stout. Smith did brew a brown ale they marketed in the UK (in the '80's, at least) as Old Brewery Strong Brown Ale - with a label/color identical to the US Nut Brown Ale of the same era.
Definatly not DFH (which both the Palo and IBA are some of my favorite beers, ever) Smutty old brown dog (I have a really old brown dog im waiting to try) Rogue Brown Nut Once upon a time I really liked Brooklyn Brown SN Tumbler
I was being hyperbolic. But even so, I stand by the fact that Brooklyn Brown is one of the earlier American-Style Brown Ales in the way that we know the style today. Same as above, I'm being hyperbolic. Though through the lens of the modern American brewing industry, 1970's is ancient history. I'm aware that Brown Ales existed long before that, but the OP wasn't asking about historical origins of the style, he was asking about archetypes. I think Sam Smith's Nut Brown is one of the older Brown Ales in reference to the style as we know it today, and certainly the oldest that is still readily available on shelves in the US.
It doesn't fit the criteria for the thread, but I feel like every discussion about brown ales needs to include a mention to Upslope Brown. Just an amazing beer. As for the thread, I agree with Samuel Smith overall and Avery Ellie's on the US side.
How could I have forgotten that? I must be getting old. Old Brewery Strong Brown Ale was an obvious Newky Brown ripoff/rival. I can remember it being around in the 1970's.Based on the analyses I have of Sam Smith's beers from the 1930's to the 1950's, I don't think it's any older than that.
A little local brewery here in STL makes the best brown Ive ever had. Civil Life Brown. If you get a chance to have it, try it. Just a super solid, to style, balanced, great brown... My second pick would be Bells Best Brown...
Maybe, but Indian Brown is an amazing brown ale. I also absolutely LOVE Maduro from Cigar City. As for the standard- probably Samuel Smiths Nut Brown. for $3 a pint it doesn't better
i think dann's only offered it on cask once or twice (i had it at deep ellum), but my experience was AWESOME. totally different from the bottle, which is just ok for me.
the "retired beers you'd like to see come back" thread has reminded me of: Goose Island Nut Brown i'm still holding out hope that AB-inbev will resume bottling this stuff again...
