VooDoo Dounut Chocolate,Peanut Butter, And Banana Ale (2013)

The Beer Stats:

• Beer Name: Voodoo 2013

• Brewery: Rogue Brewing Company (Oregon)

• Style: Fruit/Nutbrown

• ABV: 5.3

• IBU: 25

• Pour Color: A brown that lets a little light thru. 

     The pour came out good. People say the head has no retention and no lacing. That wasn't the case for me. It held it's own and was still round half the glass! The scent off the top is mostly that chocolate banana mix that you would expect. I found more of a peanut not a peanut butter aroma too. The color was a dark brown and makes me think of a nut brown instead of a fruit beer. The taste though was strong. You get the mix of peanut and banana when it's in your mouth. You swallow and get that nice chocolate echo that mixes well with the peanut flavor. I think this beer has what's advertised and delivers it pretty cleanly. NOT BAD AT ALL!
      People seem to be complaining about this ones extract flavors. I don't find the flavors to be that low of quality. Yeah they could of mellowed the banana flavor like a dream weaver but is that the profile of a doughnut? NO! I think as a dedication to a doughnut, and a novelty beer, they knocked it out of the park! It's over the top, it's wild and crazy, and it comes in single large bottles to enjoy with friends! This isn't a session beer, it's a special experience and I enjoyed dipping every follicle in it! My one complaint is that I think it could have been creamier. Still an amazing beer with an amazing flavor profile!

Rating: *****

Pecan Harvest Ale

The Beer Stats:

• Beer Name: Pecan Harvest Ale

• Brewery: Abita Brewing Company (Louisiana)

• Style: Nut Brown Ale

• ABV: 5.2%

• IBU: 20

• Pour Color: A nice see thru orange color

      A decent head came up to about two fingers high. The scent off the glass nutty malty scent. A nice caramel scent too. The color is that of autumn leaves. The taste is a nice roasted nutty mix, amazing really. I find such a light full flavored beer is really refreshing. The roasty nut flavors echos after a swallow to delicious.
      This is my favorite harvest ale, from Abita, so far. Infact the amount of nut flavor you get from the pecans makes this one of my favorite beers. Slightly thinner body to this one then most. Really a lighter beer that delivers the kinds of nut and roasted flavor you expect from a dark beer.

Rating: ****1/2

Hebrew Nut Brown Ale

The Beer Stats:

• Beer Name: Nut Brown Ale

• Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Company

• Style: Nut Brown Ale

• ABV:5.5%

• IBU:

• Pour Color: Brown color that looks like a light red as light passes.

      This one poured and very little of a head came up. A light scent of malts came off the top of the glass. A brown color that easily allowed light through.Very thin light body to this one. The sweet malts come through initially on taste. You taste a light nut flavor and the hop flavor come through very earthy. All and all not a memorable beer. 
      Although I enjoy nut browns for the most part, this one wasn't that great. Very thin and light bodied and not much flavor. The hop character is the best part and even that can't really brighten this one enough. I'd grab a Ithaca or a Goose Island nut brown before this one everyday!

Rating: **

Goose Island Nut Brown Ale

The Beer Stats:

• Beer Name: Nut Brown Ale

• Brewery: Goose Island (Illinois)  

• Style: Nut Brown

• ABV:5.3%

• IBU:25

• Pour Color: Brown color letting light through easy.

      This one the face poured and the head fluffed up quickly. That would stick around for a good while as a film at the top of the beer. The scent off the glass is a nice mix of caramel and roasted malts. Slight nuttiness to the scent to. As you sip this one takes you on a journey. The body is fuller then most ales. The caramel malts come through and you get notes of roasted chocolate malt too. The nuttiness is a nice accent to the flavor too. The hops are a light note in this one. A really really good nut brown.
      First from the goose island guys for me. Really Really good though. Not bitter at all and so full of flavors. This one would be good paired with just about anything. We got this one on tap now at the station and the Face better get a growler for us!

Rating: ****1/2

Ithaca Nut Brown

The Beer Stats:

• Beer Name: Ithaca Nut Brown

• Brewery: Ithaca Brewing Company (New York)
  

• Style: English Brown Ale

• ABV: 5.4%

• IBU: 

• Pour Color: Dark brown but lets a little light through.

      A brown ale always goes well with a brown mustache. The Face poured this one and you couldn't quite see through it. A nice fluffy head came up quick and left just as quickly. The scent off the top is a nice roasted caramel or toffee. The flavor is a nice raisin at first. Then you notice a nice roasted walnut taste. Finally a nice roasted flavor at the finish. All and all a really good beer that drinks much darker then most brown ales. 
      This is a sweet bitter beer that rounds out your average meals. Pair it with grilled meats, or a nice pizza, and it don't get better. Got a day planned round the grill? Bring some nut brown and everyone will thank you.

Rating: ****