Great Dane Barristers Brown Ale

Brewed by Great Dane Pub & Brewery
Style: Brown Ale
Madison, Wisconsin USA

Lightly hazed light chestnut color with a modest off white head. They seem to keep trying to make this one and each time it is a little differant. Mild floor malt aromas with just a hint of hupsack. Flavors of nuts and just a touch of malt sweetness. Somewhat a mix betwwen a mild and brown.

Sample at the Madison location. Maple-mahogany, not even close to brown, with a touch of lace & head...nice nutty-sweet nose, almonds and hazelnut and a whisper of vanilla...watery, thin, rather bland body, somewhat oily and acrid in its nuttiness, not quite rancid but really not very fresh tasting...ehh.

"American Brown" pour at the Madison brewpub. Clear medium-brown pour with copper hues... good-looking persistent beige head with some teary lacing as it went down. Frest coffee, nuttiness, caramel, and citrusy hoppage hit the nose. Cola/tea-like feel on the palate, with Cascade bitterness on the finish. Flavor was surprisingly hoppy up front (Cascade and some bittering hops), backed by sweet caramel malts and nuttiness. Very well balanced... and I’m fairly certain that the older ratings are for a different recipe or bad batch(es).

Copper/brownish color with no head. Nutty aroma, primarily hazelnut. Lots of nutty goodness in the taste, but there’s a strong musty quality that throws it a little off.

Draft at the brewpub (downtown). Poured a clear light brown color. Head was off white and thin. Not much to the nose other than some light chocolate and a whiff of salted peanuts. Slightly sweet on the tongue with a very light body. On the watery side, actually. Moderately carbonated. The flavor was similar to the aroma. Bland, is the best one-word description. I tasted watered down cola and hints of chocolate and nuts. I didn’t get any significant hop flavor. Non-offensive, yes. As the commercial description says, it’s a session beer, but I wouldn’t want to have more than a half pint of this.

Was listed on the chalkboard as American Brown, but there wasn’t much room to write what it really was called. I suspect it is this beer given the information available and the recent ratings. It pours to a clear light chestnut brown body with a dense white head and very dense sheet-like lacing. The aroma has cascade hops, light nuttiness, iced tea. The flavor is nutty bars and cascade hops. The hops are light but apparent. For a "brown", I’m liking this. The palate is light bodied and has lingering hoppiness. Overall, this is a nice changeup. Hops + a brown! I’d like to see more attempts at that... P.S., I think the recipe has changed, given the early ratings...

Sample at pub. Had a nutty aroma. Amber body. Nut and wood and moderatly sweet flavor. Decent beer.

Medium Dark Brown Coloring with Sandy Skin. Sweet Dark Brown Sugar and Malty Aroma. Sweet Caramel Malt Flavor...a Bit Nutty. Light Dry Hops with a Crisp and Clean Finish.