Bell’s Best Brown Ale
My venture into craft beer started with stouts. My favorite beer was Guinness, so a friend handed me Bell’s Expedition and Bell’s Java Stout. These opened my eyes to a world beyond “big box beer” and quick usurped Guinness.
Ever since I’ve been making my way through Bell’s brews. TheBest Brown Aleis cited in the description as being perfect for autumn, but on this cloudy rain-threatening day, it’s perfect for spring.
I’m still learning the differences between Brown Ales, Porters, and Stouts.Best Brown Aletastes very similar to Founder’sPorter, only smoother and less carbonated.
There’s not much to smell, but when you get your nose in it, you get maltiness highlighted by alcohol. It’s nondescript and forgettable.
Brown is an apt word to have in its name as this is brown, plain and simple. The head is even a light brown color. Brown, brown, brown.
The head disappeared slowly, but now that it’s gone, it seems to be gone for good. For high hopped bears, this makes me sad, but for this Brown Ale, it’s OK. The malts in this guy help it go down smooth - more like an apple juice feel in your mouth and throat.
Unlike a stout, I did not set this out to warm up ahead of my first sip. I’m not sure if it matters as much - it seems malty beers like to be closer to room temp to deliver their fullest flavor. With that in mind, I’m letting it warm up.
There’s not a lot happening here in terms of flavor. It’s not as memorable as theExpeditionor theJava, and there’s not a particular flavor that I can pull out and highlight with a catchy metaphor or simile. Which is depressing.
Swirling the glass causes some legs on the glass, but still no added head. Being a head lover, this is growing increasingly disappointing.
Warming theBest Brown Alehad little effect.
This beer was disappointing - it definitely falls into the average category. It’s not a bad beer, and I could easily have three or four more if I didn’t have other options.
But I do, so I won’t.
Final Grade: C+
Parting thought: there’s no aftertaste. seriously, you can drink it and move on with life. This isn’t a negative or a positive, just an observation I forgot to mention. I’m fascinated, actually, by the lack of aftertaste.
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