Beer Advent: Brooklyn Brown Ale

Ugh! I've got some problems with my posting app, so this comes a bit late…




Brooklyn Brewery makes a wide variety of beers, many of which are not my bag (they do a lot of lager variations). As I've mentioned, I'm a big brown ale fan, and while I enjoy this version, I find there is a sharpness that overpowers the mellow malts. In comparison to a Sam Smith, this American ale is brash and bold, to England's mellow, more mature brew. Unlike many brown ales, this doesn't seem at all nutty, so if you prefer your brown ales to be more astringent, this one is for you.

Also note that this particular batch tastes differently than other batches of BBA I've had in the past. It's possible that my local Whole Foods in Greenwich wasn't keeping them at a proper temperature, or maybe the BB folks decided to switch up the recipe.

Beer Advent: Brooklyn Brown Ale

Ugh! I've got some problems with my posting app, so this comes a bit late…




Brooklyn Brewery makes a wide variety of beers, many of which are not my bag (they do a lot of lager variations). As I've mentioned, I'm a big brown ale fan, and while I enjoy this version, I find there is a sharpness that overpowers the mellow malts. In comparison to a Sam Smith, this American ale is brash and bold, to England's mellow, more mature brew. Unlike many brown ales, this doesn't seem at all nutty, so if you prefer your brown ales to be more astringent, this one is for you.

Also note that this particular batch tastes differently than other batches of BBA I've had in the past. It's possible that my local Whole Foods in Greenwich wasn't keeping them at a proper temperature, or maybe the BB folks decided to switch up the recipe.

Beer Advent: Bear Republic's Racer 5 IPA

I forgot I had a bomber of Racer 5 in the fridge. Nice!

Racer 5 is prettymuch an A#1 American IPA. It's got a great hazy copper colour, a crisp smell of hops, and a flavour that's nice enough on its own, but also pairs well with heartier proteins. I rather enjoy this with a burger, or sushi (blue fin, salmon, and eel mostly… some of the lighter fish get overpowered). For those who don't eat meat, it's also *amazing* when paired with either my lentil stew, or my yellow split-pea soup.

There is a really good balance of a hoppy/citrus (although NOT like Ruby)/floral quality with a hint of peat. It's also got a good alcohol content at 7%, so you can have a few without getting totally hammered. Just be sure to take your time.

Like most IPAs, I prefer this on the warmer side, so I set this out after removing it from my fridge. If you're lucky enough to find this on draught, wrap your hands around the glass awhile after getting served (I've found most US bars serve their beer a bit too cold).

If you like beers like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, this is *vastly* superior in every conceivable way. Try it, if you haven't. I was able to find it at the Whole Foods near my office in NYC.

Beer Advent: Bear Republic's Racer 5 IPA

I forgot I had a bomber of Racer 5 in the fridge. Nice!

Racer 5 is prettymuch an A#1 American IPA. It's got a great hazy copper colour, a crisp smell of hops, and a flavour that's nice enough on its own, but also pairs well with heartier proteins. I rather enjoy this with a burger, or sushi (blue fin, salmon, and eel mostly… some of the lighter fish get overpowered). For those who don't eat meat, it's also *amazing* when paired with either my lentil stew, or my yellow split-pea soup.

There is a really good balance of a hoppy/citrus (although NOT like Ruby)/floral quality with a hint of peat. It's also got a good alcohol content at 7%, so you can have a few without getting totally hammered. Just be sure to take your time.

Like most IPAs, I prefer this on the warmer side, so I set this out after removing it from my fridge. If you're lucky enough to find this on draught, wrap your hands around the glass awhile after getting served (I've found most US bars serve their beer a bit too cold).

If you like beers like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, this is *vastly* superior in every conceivable way. Try it, if you haven't. I was able to find it at the Whole Foods near my office in NYC.