Good afternoon once more! This is the dramatic conclusion (insert your favorite climatic music) to the Spiteful reviews. Again, thanks to Caitlin Malone for her help in getting these bottles. On to the review!
The brown ale style is a seriously ambiguous beer that can be so many different things. American versions are bigger in most aspects than the original source of England, but both are very good and share similarities. The malts and hops will vary from mild to aggressive depending on who is making it, but overall, you expect to have a balanced beer with bit more of a nod to the malt overall and maybe a glimpse of the hops at the end. The new trend, however, is to make this into the India Brown Ale, or a hoppy brown ale, which does make things a bit harder to narrow down. Ultimately, if it is brownish-reddish in color, with anywhere from 3% - 8% ABV, and low to high hops, you may very well have a brown ale in your glass (brewers do get to "decide" if that is what they intended to make, so be respectful if this isn't what you end up with each time).
Color: Brown through and through, but you cannot help be notice the tinge of heavy color, almost black in the right light. The head has a very fluffy, creamy, white appearance, which offers a nice contrast to the beer itself.
Head: Wow! This is some serious head retention, begging the question about hop selection, protein use, and mashing methods. Very impressive.
Taste: The balance of a true brown ale is in the heart of this beer. A touch of malty sweetness is married to a hint of bitterness from the hops. The mouthfeel of the slightly chewy character, a nod to the presence of proteins and unfermented starches, helps to give the weight to this beer you really want to see. The aftertaste also was a welcome offering, as it started with the sweetness but cleaned up with the bitterness. Yum!
Overall: I am a big fan of brown ales, because they can be anything you want them to be. Small/big, malty/hoppy, thick/thin, etc. This was one of the best I have had in a long damn time. The delicate balance of these flavors with 7.5% ABV (oh yeah baby!) and the excellent head not only heighten the appearance, but it makes the entire beer a great offering. This is one I would gladly take again...and again...and again. I would consider whether or not this beer has something to offer year round by toying with adding some candi sugar or lactose to make it a milk brown ale (sounds so tasty), but this is one hell of an ale.
Score: 8.5/10
As always, drink well and be merry. Slainte!
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