A taste of… Brooklyn Brown Ale

Brooklyn Brewery
79 North 11th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211-1913
(718) 486-7422

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Brooklyn Brown Ale was purchased for $1.88(USD) at Key Food in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a note stamped on the label: “Best before July 2010 0110”

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This deep garnet red colored brew is crystal clear and is carbonated with a fine carbonation that raises a rather hearty mocha-brown head of small bumbles.

Aroma: The first sensation is a chocolate aroma that ebbs into a more grainy sensation. The second “nosing” reveals sharper aromas and some prune. The third nose-dive reinforced the previous observations.

Mouth feel: This is a lean brew no flab here.

Flavor: After the first refreshing sensation there arrives a series of dried fruit flavors… prune, rasin, dried cherries. The second sip brought out a under-flavor of sharp metallic sensations. The third swig introduced more of the tart flavor spikes but began to knit the flavors together.

Finish: The tang of the last swig stays for long enough to make an impression but not long enough to be obnoxious.

Comments: As brown ale it seems to need a bit more grain and sweet malt. For real smoked barbeque fans who want more flavor in their beer than just yellow-fizz this brew would be ideal. It has the flavor to meet the smoke and the tartness to cut the sweet meat flavors.

The Brewery: http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/146

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brooklyn-brown-ale/529/