Rail Ale Nut Brown

This was kind of a weird experience.  Weird, but pleasant.  I was sitting at home, minding my own business, watching a ball game, when I got a phone call from my dad.  Mum and dad were in Vancouver, British Columbia, enjoying some well deserved R&R. He'd decided to call me, because their hosts, being excellent hosts indeed, had provided an array of local craft beers for them to sample. My pops doesn't drink much or often, but he knows a thing or two about beer (he is my dad, after all) and he knows what he likes.

Dad was wondering whether he might dictate a telephone review. Since there was a lull in the baseball action, I said "why not?".

Remember, I'm trying to describe a beer that I have never actually sampled. My father is a good talker and a regular reader of the Bitter World, but he doesn't always have a beery vocabulary, so I've had to take some liberties with the review.

Of the beers he was offered, dad opted for Howe Sound Brewing Co.'s Rail Ale Nut Brown. Howe brews out of Squamish, British Columbia. Sold in 1L swing top bottles, Rail contains the classic 5% alcohol and has 19 IBUs. Apparently, the label declares that there are "three glasses of glory in every bottle". It was described to me as a hearty dark brown ale. It poured with a thick, light brown head that thinned quickly but refused to quit.

As for the nose, the adjective that Dad kept throwing around was chocolatey. Pushed for more detail, he revealed that it smelled like dark chocolate, with cocoa leanings. He described a full-bodied brew with a flavour that doesn't stick around too long. When asked for final impressions, the simple but poignant reply was that it was "a good beer to sit and sip".

Sounded to me like pretty good stuff.  I'll have to try it when I'm out in B.C. and see how my impressions contrast with my ol' man's.

Photo credit to the incomparable J.A., who I remember as a plucky seven-year-old, but who is now apparently in his 20s and has clearly developed pretty rad taste in beer.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Amsterdam Nut Brown Ale

Amsterdam Nut Brown Ale is sold in 473mL cans and contains 5% alcohol. This tasty brew comes from Toronto, Ontario, where it's brewed by the Amsterdam Brewing Co.  It pours a deep brown colour, streaked with ruby highlights. It's clear with a thick, cream-coloured head.

A.N.B.A.'s malty aroma has notes of molasses and brown sugar. The flavour is malt-focused, with some dark sweetness like toasted brown sugar. There is some bitterness toward the back end, but not tonnes.

I'd like a touch more hop presence, but Amsterdam's Nut Brown is a fine ale. It's toasty and fairly complex. I'd definitely recommend ordering up a pint of you see it on offer.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Downtown Brown

Downtown Brown is a brown ale brewed by the Lost Coast Brewery and hails from Eureka, California. It comes in a 355mL bottle that features a pretty awesome stylized label.  It pours a nice, slightly hazy dark brown colour streaked with reddish highlights.  It's topped with a creamy tan head and it's lightly carbonated.  Downtown Brown leaves behind all kinds of lace.

There's a considerable amount of brown sugar sweetness in the aroma, as well as a touch of nuttiness.  The flavour is considerably sweet, with a nutty tang. It's a little bit bitter on the back end, balanced against some molasses notes.

With a label like this, how could I say no to Downtown Brown? The actual beer isn't quite as flavourful as I might have liked, but it's pretty good nonetheless.  Probably worth a try, if you can find it.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Southern Pecan

My favourite Tennessean recently gave me a couple of brown ales to review. So, the next two posts are dedicated to a badass lady and a true friend of Stout Man in a Bitter World.

Billed as "The Original Pecan Nut Brown Ale", Southern Pecan is brewed by "Mississippi's Brewery", aka the Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company out of Kiln, Mississippi. Apparently, this little gem is brewed with whole roasted pecans. Bring it on!

Southern Pecan is a bit deceptive.  It's not really much of a brown ale at all--more of a red colour. It's topped with a thin layer of off-white head and is lightly carbonated. The aroma walks a nice line between bitter and malty. Toasty and slightly nutty flavours pervade the front end, while moderate bitterness closes the door.

S.P. comes in a 355mL bottle.  According to their website, it contains 4.39% alcohol by volume.  It's a very interesting beer.  It's a pretty mild brew, but one that's composed with a flock of cool flavours.  Be sure to try some if you come across it.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.