Firestone Walker 'Bravo' Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Brown Ale 2017 Vintage. 13.2% abv. 28 IBU. Red-brown in color with thin tan head that quickly recedes to a five-minute collar before losing nearly all carb. Moderate retention, excellent lacing. Nose of roasted malt, chocolate, bourbon, dark fruit. Intense wood notes and a tall aroma of toffee rise with the temperature.

Front taste of caramel, vanilla, bourbon, oak. Rich dark chocolate emerges as the temp approaches room. Aftertaste is boozy, warm brown sugar, strong bourbon, some bitter fruity hops on the back of the tongue, sweet finish. Full body. Mouthfeel is thick, sticky, round, astringent.

This is an extraordinary beer, a perfect example of what I look for in a BBA. Fans of brown ales may be put off by this big beer which crosses category past the point of recognition. Few will feel this is a brown ale at all. 

That being said, judging it strictly as a BBA, the promised bourbon is up front, beginning in the aroma and continuing in every sip. The wood expression is ever present once the temperature rises. The overall flavor profile includes dark chocolate, plum, vanilla, all of which mingles with the bourbon and oak in a perfect balance. 

The aroma is superb from the start, only to get better as the beer warms. I found myself smelling this beer almost as much as I was sipping it. And make no mistake, this is a sipping beer. Frat boys looking to chug-a-lug need look elsewhere. At 13.2%, this big bold brew is meant for casual enjoyment over the course of a conversation. Alas, I was alone on my patio when I popped this bottle, but I normally share such treats with others, not only to spread the wealth but to prevent myself from getting too drunk.

I first had Bravo at the Firestone Walker brewery two years ago. At the time, it was not available in bottles with no plans as such. It was brewed exclusively to be blended in their annual Anniversary Ale. Enjoying it on its own was reserved for visitors to the brewery. I remember my friends and I marveling at how  amazing it was, and how it was easily the biggest and best brown ale we'd ever had. We wished they would bottle it. Finally, our wish has been granted. Seek out this limited release beer, especially if you love browns and BBA's. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"February 4, 2017 Release. We proudly present the 2017 Vintage of Bravo, our Imperial Brown Ale aged in retired American oak bourbon barrels. Although Bravo was the first strong ale brewed for our Anniversary Ale blending program over ten years ago, it has yet to see its own bottled release, until now. Balancing rich toasty and chocolate malt flavors with a gentle balance of noble hops, Bravo is brewed to showcase barrel flavors with massive bourbon barrel notes that morph as the beer warms in the glass."

[source: firestonebeer.com]

“Since founding our brewery in 1996, we have specialized in the rare art of fermenting beer in oak barrels. In the Fall of 2006, we embarked on a program to barrel age a series of vintage strong ales that would later be used as components of a blended beer. That blend would become our first Anniversary Ale, ’10’. After the release of ’10’, we released limited amounts of the components beers on draft only. Many of these beers gained a cult following that craft beer fans raved about and begged for us to put in bottle. Bravo was one of these beers.We proudly present the 2017 vintage of Bravo, our Imperial Brown Ale aged in retired American oak bourbon barrels. Although Bravo was the first strong ale brewed for our Anniversary Ale blending program over ten years ago, it has yet to see its own bottled release, until now. Balancing rich toasty and chocolate malt flavors with a gentle balance of noble hops, Bravo is brewed to showcase barrel flavors with massive bourbon barrel notes that morph as the beer warms in the glass."

[source: box]

Lagunitas Brewing 'Wilco Tango Foxtrot' Imperial Brown Ale. 7.85% abv. 64 IBU. Ruby color, clear, with a finger of ivory foamy head. Excellent retention and lacing. Nose of mild cocoa, white bread, dark dried fruit. The fruity aroma focuses somewhat as wine grapes as the temperature rises.

Front taste of bittersweet dark chocolate, tangy berry, bitter herbal hops. Aftertaste of cocoa, red wine, sweet bread, herbal hops all underneath with a dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, slightly astringent, thick on the back of the tongue.

This is an excellent ale that is hard to pin down for category. The label says it's an ale, with the notes further teasing that it's perhaps a brown, perhaps an imperial brown. Lagunitas loves to toy with us by defying categories and brewing whatever the hell they want.

The latter description, imperial brown, is the closest in my opinion, with the prerequisite nutty flavor replaced by a taller malt expression complemented by a brighter hop bitter bite. Whatever this officially is, I enjoyed it and will surely have another. Another solid brew from one of my favorite breweries. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"WTF Ale. A malty, robust, jobless Recovery Ale! We’re not quite in the Red, or in the Black... Does that mean we’re in the Brown? Rich, smooth, dangerous, and chocolatey. It's a big ol’ Imperial Brown Ale to help you with your slippery slide on into springtime. Rich, smooth, dangerous & chocolatey. "
[source: lagunitas.com]

Bird Street Brewing 'Grizzly Paw' Brown Ale. 5.5% abv. Dark ruby-brown color. Hazy, unfiltered. Two fingers of ivory foamy head. Outstanding retention and excellent lace. Nose is roasty, nutty, bready, some chocolate. Aromas of wheaty grain and caramel emerge as the temp rises.

Front taste is roasted medium-dark malt, cookie, walnut, warm brown sugar, earthy throughout. Aftertaste is wheat bread, treacle, faint fruit notes on the back end. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, carby.

This is an excellent beer, a brown that exemplifies its category. The flavors of biscuit, nuts, and roasty malt are supported by distant fruit, chocolate, and slightly sweet notes. Despite its thin body, it comes across as rich and deep. Brown ales are among my favorite basic beers, and this one is a well-crafted, quite enjoyable addition. Hard to find, but worth seeking out, especially if you love brown ales. Well recommended.

I recently had the pleasure of joining the folks from Bird Street, sharing beer and conversation at Spokeasy Pub (photo below). Brewmaster Phil shared his thoughts in this beer and his vision for the near future of Bird Street. They're a nano brewery at the moment, but based on the quality of his beer and the scope of his plans, they won't be nano much longer.

From the brewery:

"Brewed with a heavy amount of Biscuit malt, our Brown ale is a smooth-drinking ale with a slight nutty flavor."

[source: brewstreetbrewing.com]

I hung out with the folks from Bird Street Brewing at Spokeasy Pub. Great folks, great beer!

Evil Twin Brewing 'Wet Dream' Brown Ale  Brewed with Coffee. 6% abv. Ruby-brown color. Two fingers of foamy tan head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of ground coffee beans, bright spice, cracked allspice, hot pepper. 

Front taste of black coffee, bitter herb, citrus peel, woody-nutty botanical notes. Aftertaste is bitter citrus rind, earthy hops, dank herbal resin, baking chocolate sustain. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, carby, dry finish.

This is a very good beer with a couple of nitpicks that hold it back from greatness. The promised coffee is delivered well in the wonderful aroma and initial taste, but soon drops off transitioning into the aftertaste. The spice profile is bright in the nose but greatly subdued in the taste. The complexity of the nose is not reflected by the overall taste. I kept wanting to smell the beer, more so than actually drink it. That's a balance issue. The body is a little thin for my taste within the category.

All that being said, it's still a very good beer with a unique smell and taste, one that's more ambitious than its final product. Mildly recommended

From the brewery:

"A beautiful brown ale boosted with gourmet espresso beans provide a delightful blend of citrus and spice aroma - the result is amazing, lusty, and incoherent- yes, it's your wildest desires in a can."

[source: can]

Rogue Ales 'Hazelnut Brown Nectar'. 5.6% abv. 33 IBU. Dark brown in color. Finger of bubbly tan head. Moderate retention and lace, quickly receding to a thin collar and scattered pin point lacing. Minutes later it was completely flat. Nose of hazelnuts, peanut butter, sweet bread. Front taste of hazelnuts, caramel, earthy, dank herbal. Aftertaste is herbal hoppy, sweet cream, nutty end. Medium body. Mouthfeel is creamy, thick.

This is a flawed but good brown ale, one of the first to offer a signature flavor that surely delivers on its promise of hazelnuts. The aroma is rich and nutty, and the finish is sweet, thick, with a creamy feel over the tongue. As with many craft beers, this one became more flavorful and aromatic as the temp rose, much more so than most.

However, all is not gold with this classic, as the carb was questionable. The brew was flat alarmingly fast. All traces of carb and lace vanished. I'm hoping was a fluke. Whatever the case, I enjoyed this beer and will revisit it again, hoping for a better overall experience. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"A nutty twist to a traditional European Brown Ale. Dark brown in color with a hazelnut aroma, a rich nutty flavor, and a smooth malty finish."

[source: bottle]

"A nutty twist to a traditional European Brown Ale. Dark brown in color with a hazelnut aroma, a rich nutty flavor and a smooth malty finish... Dedicated to the homebrewer in each of us! The homebrewer who inspired this creation is Chris Studach, a friend of Rogue’s resident wizard John Maier, who added a Northwest twist to the classic style by adding hazelnuts for the host homebrew at the 1993 American Homebrewers Association convention. Chris put the nut in nut brown!"

[source: rogue.com]

Sadly, this flavorful brown ale was completely flat within minutes. I'm hoping it was a fluke.

The Bruery 'Autumn Maple' Belgian-Style Brown Ale. 10% abv. 15 IBU. Hazy copper-brown color. Finger of foamy tan head. Fair retention and almost no lace. Head was completely gone in three minutes. Nose of bright spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, maple. The spice bouquet blooms with the rise in temp. Front taste is malty, nutty, caramel, orange zest, cloves, allspice on the back end. Aftertaste is pumpkin, strong nutmeg, wood notes, herbal hop sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, astringent.

This is an excellent brown ale that feels like it could have been extraordinary. It tasted "young" as if racked from its fermenter a couple of weeks too soon. It tastes like a delicious wort rather than a finished brew. The lack of carbonation would support this notion.

Nevertheless, this beer was yummy indeed. The spice and pumpkin (yam) come across well, starting with a complex inviting aroma, ending with a tall hot aftertaste. I was looking forward to this beer for a long time and while I am not giving this a perfect review I was certainly not disappointed. Grab a bottle. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal is a different take on the 'pumpkin' beer style. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, maple syrup, and fermentation with our traditional Belgian yeast strain, make this bold and spicy beer perfect for a cold autumn evening. We have also created bourbon barrel aged, 100% brettanomyces and soured versions of Autumn Maple."

[source: thebruery.com]

"We don't need pumpkin in our beer! Big, bold, spicy, and oh so yummy, our delicious Brown Ale is perfect for those cold autumn nights... Our spiced Brown Ale is a unique take on a Fall seasonal, brewed with delicious yams and seasonal spices. Best enjoyed fresh, but may pleasantly evolve over time if cellared properly."

[source: bottle]

All traces of head and lace were gone within minutes.

Black Ops 'Bayonet Brown' Ale. 6.5% abv. 36 IBU. Dark brown in color. Finger of tan head. Good retention and excellent lace. Nose is sweet, dark malt, roasty, nutty, distant herbal. Front taste is caramel, dark brown sugar, bittersweet cocoa on the back. Aftertaste is earthy, nutty, sweet malt with slight bitter sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, rich, sweet finish.

This is a solid brown ale. Rich, sweet, nutty, roasty. Minimal hop presence, which is to category but it may or may not be to your liking. I personally like some hop profile to my browns, but this brew is still quite pleasing. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Chocolate based American Brown Ale using a dark roasted barley."

[source: blackopsbrewing.com]

Abita Brewing 'Turbodog' Brown Ale. 5.6% abv. 28 IBU. Dark brown color. Thick foamy tan head. Good retention, moderate lace. Aroma of sweet roasty malt, warm caramel. Front taste of caramel malt, mild bittersweet chocolate, earthy, dank. Aftertaste is cocoa powder, coffee, vanilla notes, bitter earthy sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, a touch creamy, carby, sweet finish.

This is a good brown ale, one that chooses more of the chocolate aspects commonly found in this category. Caramel and cocoa are promised in the nose, and the taste delivers them along with touches of coffee. It's roasty and flavorful but not rich. Abita's other, more premium offerings build upon this beer for more decadent tastes. Based on this brew, I intend to seek those other bolder beers out. Until then, I'm somewhat satisfied with this solid brown. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with pale, caramel, and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. This combination gives Turbodog its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate, toffee-like flavor. Turbodog began as a specialty ale, but has gained a huge, loyal following and has become one of our flagship brews. This ale pairs well with most meats and is great served with hamburgers or sausages. It is a good match with smoked fish and can even stand up to wild-game dishes. Turbodog is also great for marinating and braising meats and cooking such things as cabbage and greens. Colby, Gloucester, Cheddar and blue cheeses go nicely with Turbodog. It’s perfect with spicy Louisiana jambalaya or Spanish paella. Some even like it paired with chocolate!"

[source: abita.com]

Sandude Brewing 'Woody Brown' American Brown Ale. 5.5% abv. Dark brown color. Finger of white small-bead head. Good retention, nice lace. Nose of caramel, chocolate, vanilla notes. Front taste of roasted malt, chocolate, notes of espresso. Aftertaste is earthy, mild herbal hops, cocoa powder. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, carby.

This is an excellent brown ale. With plenty of caramelly malty taste, chocolate and coffee notes, this American Brown delivers more flavor than most in its category. Wonderful. Highly recommended.

Sandude Brewing is a relatively new brewery based in the little town of Turlock, CA, also home to Dust Bowl, another excellent brewery. The town leaders are reportedly looking to turn their old small town into a craft beer mecca. With Sandude creating beers like this, I think they're well on their way.

From the brewery:

"Since 2009, Sandude Brewing Co. has been dedicated to the great taste of fine ales and lagers. We're a family owned business with a passion to brew. Using the traditions of beermasters in the past, John Freitas has poured his way into the hearts and mouths of everyone that's tasted a cold Sandude. Our brewing consists of the four basic ingredients in a well crafted beer: malted grain, hops, yeast, and water. We spend extra amounts of attention on time and temperature in order to craft our signature flavors. From the small batches brewed at home with friends to now producing bottled versions of our popular run's, Sandude Brewing Co. is being seen in bars, restaurants, and stores all over. Be sure to ask your local bartender or retailer to start carrying us if they don't yet, we wouldn't want you to go thirsty!"

[source: sandudebrewing.com]

"Sandude Brewing Co. was created from the passion of brewing fine ales and lagers and for the love of California's coastal beaches. Decades enjoying craft beer and views of the sand and surf are reflected in each of our brews and labels. Combining life's simple pleasures together is our mission. Woody Brown - caramel and chocolate notes, with a smooth center and a malty finish."
[source: bottle]

Mammoth Brewing 'Double Nut Brown' Porter. 5.5% abv. 25 IBU. Dark brown, nearly black. Finger of tan head. Fair retention, nice lace. Nose of roasted malt, ground coffee, cocoa, wood, herbal. Front taste of coffee, bittersweet chocolate, earthy hops on the back end. Aftertaste of dark chocolate, toffee, earthy hop sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, carby, slightly thick.

This is an excellent brown ale. The aromas and flavors of coffee, chocolate, and herbal notes mix well and are present throughout. The hop profile stands tall without overtaking the malt flavors. A solid beer and an excellent example of its category. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Reminiscent of coffee and dark chocolate, this dark ale exhibits a mild sweetness and finishing roast dryness. This big ol’ Brown Porter is a Mammoth legend. And what’s nice to know is that no nuts were harmed or used during the brewing of this beer."

[source: mammothbrewingco.com]

"Mammoth Brewing Company has been brewing award-winning, handcrafted beers in the Eastern Sierra since 1995. The most important ingredient in our beer is our water, and the High Sierra has some of the best water in the world, fresh out of the mountains and lakes that surround us. A locals' favorite, this dark ale is reminiscent of coffee and dark chocolate and is our version of a brown porter. Double Nut Brown exhibits a mild sweetness and a finishing roasty dryness."
[source: bottle]

James E. Pepper 1776 'American Brown Ale' Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. 10.4% abv. Half-inch of rich tan head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of caramel, sweet roasted malt, whiskey, molasses. Front taste of sweet dark malt, raisins, dark fruit, bourbon on the back. Aftertaste of raisins, rich roasted malt, rye grain, whiskey. Full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, creamy, sticky, thick.

This is an extraordinary beer. The roasted malt profile is rich and sweet. The whiskey and rye tastes are there as promised, poured over sweet dark fruit and roasted grain. This is the only beer offered by this old distillery, but one is enough when the quality is the high. I look forward to having it again. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Like most whiskey aficionados, we also love a great beer. And in particular, we became very fond of barrel-aged beers, which from time to time had been aged in our whiskey barrels! So we decided to have some fun and make our own beer. We partnered with a great craft brewery (the Beltway Brewing Co. in Sterling, VA) and began working with their master brewer to create a flavor profile that would develop best in barrels that previously held our award winning James E. Pepper '1776' Rye Whiskey. The goal was to create a rich and flavorful barrel-aged beer, but also one that was a bit more drinkable than some of the heavier barrel-aged porters and stouts in the market - a barrel-aged beer that could be enjoyed year round and that pairs well with a glass of rye whiskey. No more than 30 days after our whiskey barrels are dumped in Kentucky, they are at the brewery being filled with beer. This ensures that every batch gets a rich Rye whiskey finish and notes of toffee, chocolate, oak and vanilla. Barrels are not filled with water for 24-48 hours to seal them, as many brewers are forced to do with barrels that have been left to dry out for too long (an unfortunate process that also removes some of the great whiskey flavor left in barrels). Because we buy barrels from the cooper to age our whiskey, and then we monitor that maturation process over the years until we bottle our whiskey, we have complete control over the age and type of barrels we use. We think that is a big reason why this beer has come out with such uniquely rich flavor and taste. Cheers!"
[source: jamesepepper.com]

Lagunitas Brewing 'Sucks'. 8% abv. 63.21 IBU. Brown Shugga' Substitute Ale. Yellow-orange color. Thin white head that gradually falls to a sustaining collar. Moderate retention, excellent lace. Nose of sweet roasted malt. Front taste of light roasted grain, light caramel, sweet bread. Aftertaste of bitter fruity hops, toffee, toasted grain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, slightly sticky, some carb.

This is an excellent beer, roasty and sweet without being syrupy sugary sweet. Nice balance of bitter and malt in the aftertaste, with the fruity hops coming through and sustaining well. This beer was created to help tide us over until the legendary seasonal Brown Shugga' is made available each year's end.

Some beer enthusiasts love one and detest the other, if only because tribalism demands such extremes (think Ford vs. Chevy, PC vs. Mac, Star Wars vs Star Trek, etc.). However, the more reasonable among us love both beers while still preferring one over the other. I love Brown Shugga' for being such a unique, big, bold beer with an amazing somewhat aggressive taste, and I love Sucks slightly less only because its similar flavors are not quite as tall as its predecessor. You may like that the hops in Sucks are not as forward, and the brown sugar taste is not as present. I urge you to try both. You will likely be adding two more beers to your personal Top-20. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Originally brewed in 2011 as a Brown Shugga’ substitute, due to construction-induced capacity issues. But we liked it so much it had to make a return trip."

[source: lagunitas.com]

"E.K. Ross would have enjoyed our suffering in 2010 when we saw we couldn't brew our Brown Shugga. But in that time of deepest despair, as is common to artists everywhere... broke, hungover, abandoned by the muse and prepared to take a job at Arby's, we found in that darkness the spark of inspiration that would yield up this nearly sanctified recipe!"

[source: bottle]