Sweetwater Tavern Boot Hill Brown Ale

Growler from the Merrifield, VA location. Pours a deep chocolate brown with an aggressive head of beige. Aromas presented an ample nut air along with dustings of cocoa powder. A leafy green hop element was observed as well. Mildly roasted malts and chocolate greet the palate; more chocolate notes evident. Sublte hop bitterness lingers. Solid mouthfeel and a pleasant creamy texture. I’m not a big brown ale fan, but this one I liked.

draft, middle of the road brown. Nutty but fairly unremarkable. A fairly generic brown beer.

Draft... Sterling, VA location... Clear, copper ale with a mid-sized, creamy, khaki-colored head. Good retention with very thick lacing. Nutty, malty nose with subtle milk chocolate and piñons (pine nuts). Malty, chocolatey flavor, but perfectly-balanced. Medium-bodied and creamy with medium carbonation. Based on previous ratings, I’m thinking there have been improvements to the recipe... maybe more malt. Same frozen glass, though. Very nice brown ale.

Had this on tap at the Sweetwater in Sterling VA. This came out looking a dark brown with a slight tan head with a bit of lace left about as it was drank. Aroma was of semi-sweet chocolate and nuttiness that mixed together over roasted malt. The taste was very similar to the nose with chocolate, nutty flavors and a roasted malt combine for a great flavor that is balanced out with a slight hop bitterness and coffee flavor at the end. One of the most flavorful Brown Ale’s I have had ever. Mouthfeel was good with a creamy medium body and good carbonation. With the great taste this never really got old and the only thing that might slow you down drinking these is the 6.4% alcohol.

Red-brown body topped by healthy beige head. Aroma is medium sweet, nutty, chocolate, caramel, light roasty. Taste is mild sweet, nutty, chocolate, some roasty, light caramel, coffee, light cola, earthy, finishing with some anise. Watery light medium body. Iced glass may have contributed to the wateriness.