Sierra Nevada Tumbler

Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot

The bottle of Wilco Tango Foxtrot that I tasted for this review sat in my temperature controlled wine fridge for about three months. While I have not tasted it fresh, there were certain parts of the beer that I could tell were vastly different then what a fresh "WTF' would taste like.

Wilco Tango Foxtrot poured a clear, reddish brown color with a two fingered width, off white head. There were tons of small sediment floating around in the body of the beer.

The aroma has a hoppy edge to it, with some malt in there. There is a slight offness to it which might be the only negative thing that came from aging the beer.

The body was smooth, malt based with a little sweetness. There is a little chocolate on the backend before a flood of hops hit the palate. The finish is dry and lingers for a bit, working perfectly with the malty body. The beer left plenty of ringed, hanging lace on the glass.

Overall, this was a beer that I absolutely loved. It is layered, balanced, and very drinkable at the same time. While not aged for a long time, I can tell that the malt base had rounded out and it tasted more like a rich brown ale rather than an imperial brown ale. The chocolate was still there and was a wonderful touch. It is flat out just a fantastic beer from start to finish.

Abita Turbodog

Turbodog poured a chocolate brown color with a thumb width, light tan head. The aroma is mild for a brown ale, and is dominated mostly by roasted malts. The body is smooth and velvety, with little carbonation. There is more roasted malt before some coffee notes on the backend that lead to a lightly bitter finish.

Overall, this is an above average brown ale. Abita's beers are usually easy drinking and fit nicely within style guidelines. At a fairly mild 5.6% ABV this would make for a nice session beer.

Avery Ellie's Brown Ale

  We swung by Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville, NY to taste Avery's Ellie's Brown Ale on tap.  The beer poured a quarter inch, light tan head with a dark red, brownish color.  The nose gives off a strong, yet pleasant malt smell.  The first sip is sweet and malty.  The malt continues into the middle along with a creamy mouthfeel that reminds me slightly of a Guinness or Boddington's draft.  The finish is a nice, slightly dry and long.  This is a beer that all brown ale fans should try.