The Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale

Brewed by The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery
Style: Brown Ale
Farmville, North Carolina USA

Multiple samples, GABF 2007. Body is medium brown. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (toasted bread, caramel, nuts), lightly hoppy (herbs). Flavor is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Light to medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation, metallic. Aroma is light but fairly attractive. Flavor on these samples was pretty tart, which just isn’t right for a plain old brown ale. Fairly metallic too. Not a good example.

The body is a transparent, dark copper-amber color that glows red when held to a light source. A large, frothy, khaki colored head settles to a dense blanket, leaving thick clumps of lacing on the glass. Like the Duck Rabbit Amber I had, this one smells a little off, like its mildly infected. I managed to pick up some roasty coffee, scorched caramel, and nuts, but that’s about all I could decipher. The flavor shows burnt malts, sour, spent coffee, and not much else. Mouthfeel is on the thin side, overly carbonated, and dry. Not very good. I think I’ll pass next time around.

Bottle thanks to BigMilly8. Pours dark brown with a picturesque airy tan head that forms huge dimples and lasts for a few minutes in perfect form, towering over the edges of the pint glass. Aroma is of piney hops, toasted grain malts, cereal, and a touch of caramel nuttiness. Taste is nutty, more toasted whole grains, a hint of caramel sweetness that is quickly overtaken by a very "green" hop bitterness. Piney hops become more noticeable as you make your way through this brew becoming progressively spicier. Light bodied but not watery, and certainly not lacking personality. A great session beer.

12-oz bottle received via trade with elmatador00. Pours clear brown with an average, rocky, light brown head, somewhat lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (bread, grain, nutty), light hops (herbs, grass), average yeast (dough, meat) with notes of cardboard. Light bodied, thin texture, lively carbonation, and a metallic finish. Average duration, light sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

Pours a transparent dark copper mahogany with a large, clingy-lacing airy light tan head. Earthy toasted nutty nose has some light fruity tart notes. Body starts effervescent, mostly dry and lightly tart with a lingering drier nutty finish. Seems mildly infected and over-attenuated. Might otherwise be a decent brown ale.

Bottle. Lots of carbonation, dark brown color with a thick brown head that lasted a good while. Nice, roasted malty aromas. Body was nice for the style, flavor was malty, some roasted nuts and a hint of chocolate. A nice, finish with a bit of warmth.

Pours brown (as it should) with a nice little tan head that shows a little staying power. The nose is slightly malty with a touch of caramel. You also get that sense of floral letting you know there is a hoppiness in this beer. Now the flavor loses me personally as I expect more malt and less hop characteristics in my brown ales. It is nicely balanced and is a hop head’s perfect brown ale.

excessive head. i poured maybe 2.5 oz in a mug, and it quickly filled with sparkly brown head. i like head, but this is too much. i never thought i would ever say, "too much head," haha, but seriously. caramel malt aroma, fighting thru the 4 inch head. slight hazlenut taste, with a robust after taste. not a bad brown, would be better without excessive head. i don’t know if it was the six pack i picked up or if everyone is this excessive?? am willing to give this another chance if it’s not always this foamy?