Notes added 3/22/07: (bottle)

This is certainly a much hoppier version of the original (English) style and I think the beer suffers as a result. In Brown Ales I am looking for a sweet, malty smooth beer but the hop presence here gives it an edge that is not very welcome in the (original) style for me.

Original notes 1/22/06: (bottle)

Nice looking beer with good clarity and nice deep brown color – classic brown ale look. A small head and a little bit of lacing.

The classic looks are followed by a nice sweet aroma and then the usual sweet caramel characteristics of a quality brown ale. The finish is where things start to turn a little odd. A much shorter and drier finish than normally exected from a brown ale, and a much larger hop and alcohol profile than expected.

The hops give the beer a distinct American feel rather than a classic English feel. Most definitely a different beer from the original style.