Beer of the Weekend #279: Brooklyn Brown Ale

The beer of the weekend is Brooklyn Brown Ale, brewed by the Brooklyn Brewery of Brooklyn, New York.


Is Brooklyn really a city? I guess it is.

Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles. The best before (“BB”) date printed on the shoulder is “DEC 2011.”

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The bottle’s neck label says it is “[r]ichly mahogany in color,” and I have to agree. One finger of a light tan head dissipated to leave a thin lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: Outstanding. Candy caramel, toasted caramel, brown sugar, hazelnut, fig, plum, cocoa, vanilla, toffee, and perhaps a hint of coffee.

Taste: Lots of body and flavor. The darker, toasted malts dominate, but the complexity from the aroma emerges flavor by flavor with each sip. At first the toasted caramel, hazelnut, and cocoa are prominent. Then the fig, plum, and toffee emerge. After that the candy caramel, though outshone by its toasted brother, becomes evident.

Drinkability: Wow. Really tasty and complex. Too bad I cannot get this locally.

Fun facts about BBA:

-Style: Brooklyn Brewery and BA classify it as American Brown Ale. Here are the goodies:

Spawned from the English Brown Ale, the American version can simply use American ingredients. Many other versions may have additions of coffee or nuts. This style also encompasses "Dark Ales". The bitterness and hop flavor has a wide range and the alcohol is not limited to the average either.

-Price: $8.99/sixer at the Binny’s Beverage Depot on Illinois State Route 83 in Willowbrook, Illinois.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 5.6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: The beer’s Brooklyn Brewery webpage suggests “BBQ, Burgers, Steaks, Stews.” The cheese pairing suggestions are “Well Aged Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere.”

-Like many excellent beers, BBA started as a seasonal offering. It is now brewed year round and is one of Brooklyn Brewery’s most popular beers.


The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

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