Beer of the Weekend #444: Best Brown Ale
The one time I want Wisconsin to win, they don’t. I hate them even more now.
The beer of the weekend is Best Brown Ale, brewed by the Bell’s Brewery of Comstock, Michigan.
I am using my becker glass (one of them, anyway) for the hell of it. It never gets any love.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “PKGD” date printed on the back label is “01/07/13.”
Appearance: Poured into a becker glass. The color is medium caramel. One finger of lightly tanned head left a skim and thin ring around the edge.
Smell: Toasted malts, caramel, milk chocolate, cherry syrup, brown sugar, maybe a little toffee and molasses. It reminds me of a Cadbury Creme Egg.
Taste: Very thick mouthfeel. The toasted malts from the smell are much more prominent in the flavor. Earthy hops add a nice bitterness to accompany minor flavors of caramel, chocolate, toffee, and cherry syrup.
Drinkability: This is a very good, heavy winter ale. It is flavorful but not overpowering.
Fun facts about BBA:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “English Brown Ale.”
-Price: $8.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City. (The renovated beer room looks pretty snazzy, by the way.)
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.8 percent ABV.
-BBA is a fall/winter seasonal and, according to the Bell’s website, has a six-month shelf life.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+
The beer of the weekend is Best Brown Ale, brewed by the Bell’s Brewery of Comstock, Michigan.
I am using my becker glass (one of them, anyway) for the hell of it. It never gets any love.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “PKGD” date printed on the back label is “01/07/13.”
Appearance: Poured into a becker glass. The color is medium caramel. One finger of lightly tanned head left a skim and thin ring around the edge.
Smell: Toasted malts, caramel, milk chocolate, cherry syrup, brown sugar, maybe a little toffee and molasses. It reminds me of a Cadbury Creme Egg.
Taste: Very thick mouthfeel. The toasted malts from the smell are much more prominent in the flavor. Earthy hops add a nice bitterness to accompany minor flavors of caramel, chocolate, toffee, and cherry syrup.
Drinkability: This is a very good, heavy winter ale. It is flavorful but not overpowering.
Fun facts about BBA:
-Style: It is classified on BA as “English Brown Ale.”
-Price: $8.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City. (The renovated beer room looks pretty snazzy, by the way.)
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.8 percent ABV.
-BBA is a fall/winter seasonal and, according to the Bell’s website, has a six-month shelf life.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+
