Diffidently indifferent ‘English-styled’ brown ale starts poorly, following up unassuming acrid waft with astringent hop toasting, suspect sourdough tier, and phenol hazelnut smear. Gets worse when metallic underside ruins meager chestnut roast.

Dreary amber-hued ale receives little support from roasted barley sweetness, sour grape esters, and simple buttery smoothness, dousing spicy chocolate nut undercurrents through anemic spritzy fizz only soft-hearted pilsner fans would condone.

Astringent copper body – less chocolate nutty than similarly styled, richer English ales – burrows citric souring and coarse hazelnut acridity through sweet barley-oats. Dirty earthen wood ebb conceals strong-brewed unsweetened ice tea illusion, distant herbal notion, and fluctuant burgundy respite.

Strong, efficient, frothy-headed, burgundy-hued brown ale with dried fruit theme, silken carbonation, and peppery hop bite creates early barleywine illusion. Black chocolate-raisin midst leads to delicately complex port-burgundy core that’s pure joy. Impressively contoured prune souring and sun-drenched fig sugaring fill out detailed finish.

From the plains of Iowa comes this truly enjoyable brown ale (brewed by New York’s Middle Ages after 2004). Aromatic mocha frisk and dark chocolate richness combine with honeyed caramel overtones to bittersweet nut finish. Resplendent barleywine illusions tucked deep inside.

Dark brownish appearance, rich cream head, and chocolate liqueur aroma welcome hop-fizzed mocha dusting, nutty caramel malting, and maple-molasses conflux of medium-bodied autumnal ale. Finish may be thin but lingered aftertaste retains smoked chocolate ambiance. Arguably Long Trail’s finest brew (excepting their newer ‘big brews’).

Meek ruby amber re-interpretation of original Brown Ale disappoints as perky hop fizz registers above disintegrative barleymalt plainness and meandering cherry-pear-quince disillusions. Skittish astringent finish blunts red-fruited nature bereft of proper grain modulation.

Way too unassuming and non-specific to compete with genuine brown ales. Pleasant hop toasting ensues before giving way to wobbly nutty caramel urge and watered down dirty grain finish.

Excellent coffee-wafted brown ale closer to mild dry porter with its bitter espresso, chocolate, and nut overtones. Creamy mocha malt assertiveness envelops highly effective coffee-stained finish. As strong as most moderate bocks.

Fine dark ale aged in oak cask never lets peculiar fungi yeast element disturb deeply penetrating dry cherry pucker, parched fig-date tartness, and orange-bruised white peach scamper of frothy sienna-bodied tan-laced bitter. At midst, tannic white-green grape pucker receives tart orange-peeled lemon rind bittering juxtaposed by ascending dried raisin piquancy. Smoothly satisfying and perfect as an approachable crossover for light-bodied sour ale drinkers.

Creamy vanilla penetrates ashy tobacco linger, cocoa butter sway, and soured mocha-chocolate roast of clouded tawny medium body. Semi-dry peat-maple-hazelnut confluence indulges well-rounded burnt coffee finish effectively.

Chewy 11% alcohol-soaked dark ale layers honeyed vanilla creaminess atop bittersweet raisin-prune-fig cluster, candied apple stickiness, and bruised banana recess. Peppery-hopped cinnamon-clove spicing embeds ancillary brandy-soaked cherry ethers, earthen grape tannins, and vinous bourbon-port warmth.