Sierra Nevada Brown Ale

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: Brown Ale
Chico, California USA

Pours a clear brownish/mahoganey color. Mild nutty malt aroma. Medium bodied and gently carbonated, with notes of nuts, malt, toast and a touch of hops coming through in the flavors.

Light malt aroma. Clear light brown with little carbonation, but lots of lacing. Taste is pretty basic. The malts aren’t all that strong, but there are a bit of hops in there to give it a little character. To be honest, I’m not really sure why I still bother with brown ales...

Rated 1/9/07: Modest brown, but decent all around. Tame aroma a bit of sweet malt and some mild bitterness. Nice rich amber/light brown color, good sizeable head that eventually dwindles down, solid lacing. Mouthfeel is fairly light and easy going, there is a bit of fizziness that comes and goes. Mild malt flavor some caramel and a drop of honey taste. Good hop balance slightly bitter minus the hop flavor. Good average brown here, it’s enjoyable having a couple at a time.

Dark copper color. Nice malty aroma, hints of citrus. Initial flavor is pretty weak, but the hoppy notes get stronger toward the finish.

Bottled. A mahogony brown coloured beer with a whitish head. The aroma is hoppy but there are sweet malty and nutty notes also. The taste also has a high level of hops, certainly more than there would be in a UK brown ale. Some dry roasty, toasty notes also. Not sure the sum of its parts actually works. Disappointing.

Bottle. Clear amber colour with a little white head. Lightaroma of roastedness. Flavour of dry roastedness, I think im missing some caramel, this one is quite hoppy and too dry for me.

My Bottom Line:
Dry leafy hoppiness walks around mild chestnut sweetness in an overall clean flavor profile which closes on a rather bitter earthy hop affair. A decent Brown Ale from Sierra Nevada, but one which I won’t be looking for anytime soon.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sumptuous head paints fine lacing atop the blood-laced burgundy.
-Stale wooden hoppiness bumps into disappointed roastiness.
-Body is healthy and provides enough sustenance.
-The brown ale maltiness was not developed enough for my tastes. I would have liked more nuttiness and caramel to accompany the roastiness.

Bottle; 2006 vintage.

Very solid brown ale. Sweet without being too sweet, almost porter-esque. Surprising hop bite after the chocolaty malt flavors finish.