John Harvards American Brown Ale

Draft at the Wayne location. Clear brown body with thin head. Aroma is of sweet malt and some hops. Bitter nutty flavor that had a funky balance to it and odd mouthfeel. Tasted too bitter and the nutty esence was not going well for it.

On tap at the Springfield PA location, both cask and regular version. Pours a translucent brownish red with a medium light tan head. Obviously the cask versions head was creamy, lacing and sustaining. Aroma was nutty, caremel and light roast. Flavors of the same.

On tap in DC. Not a lot of aroma going on here for some reason. Nutty sweetness with a bit of chocolate and a good citrusy hop that combined somehow like the wondertwins to give it a sourness on the edges of my tongue. At least it got hoppy and dry at the end.

(DC) Clear dark red-brown body with beige head. Aroma is mild, medium sweet, chocolate -- truly it is essentially non-existent until it approaches room temperature. Taste is medium sweet, floral, chocolate, nutty, light grapefruit. Dry hops evident in the finish. Light-medium body, lightly sticky.

Draft at the DC location on 11-12-05. Borwn bodied, obviously, with a small tanned head. Nose is nutty and sweet with light hops. Hints of raw nuts (peanuts, mainly) as well. Taste is suitably nutty and malty with sweet notes and hints of pecans and peanuts. Mild hoppiness throughout. Body is light-medium with a mild carbonation feel. Finishes with light sweetness, mild hop profile and hints of spice and maybe brown sugar. Almost a touch of pecan pie at times throughout this. Better than expected.

Starts out very fizzy but develops nicely with mild roasted notes, but too faint to get excited. Reminded me a little of a light dry stout.

Tasted in DC at John Harvards. Dark red / brown colour. Nice tobacco coloured head. Hoppy scent, very little sweet malt scent. Taste, however is balanced hoppy bitterness with sweet malt taste. Hints of caramel in the taste.

Very nice brown ale, very brown in color with a light white bubbly head, lots of sweet maltiness in the nose, very well balanced body, a hint of some nuts in the flavors, slight hint of coffee as well, slight bitterness & dryness in the finish, overall a pretty great brown ale