Flossmoor Station Pullman Brown

Brewed by Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
Style: Brown Ale
Flossmoor, Illinois USA

On tap at Flossmoor Station, and served in a shaker. This brown ale poured a super dark brown color with a small tan head that slowly dissolved. Some light lacing was left behind. The aroma consisted of excellent, rich chocolate notes, roasted malts, light nuts, and a bit of coffee. The flavor had a huge chocolate taste, some nice roastiness, and a bit of hops at the finish. The mouthfeel was medium to full-bodied with very faint carbonation. This was a really big brown ale. The taste was huge, and the palate is super thick for this style. This was an excellent brew!!!

On tap @ the brew pub: Dark brown with a tan head. Aroma, nutty caramel, toasted notes. Flavor, nutty, toffee, toasted malts, some earthy notes. Medium carbonation, roasted bitterness.

Draught. At the brewpub. Off the top, have to say FeloniusCaper is spot-on - to me this is a porter, and a pretty solid one. Poured opaque ruby/walnut brown with an average creamy tan head. Aroma of nutshell, chocolate and light coffee, deep roast malt and dry floral hops - I was even detecting Nestle’s Quik in there, although there’s detectable bitterness for all the roast. The taste is like the aroma, a melange of fairly deep roast elements, lett nutshell and more lactic character - and still enough dry floral hops to remind you they’re there. The body is pretty thick - for either a nutbrown OR a porter - and it’s mildly (and appropriately) carbonated, has just a hint of acidity, and finishes very quickly. Very nice - perhaps a tad syrupy, but smooth and balanced.

Growler $10.00 Pullman Brown isn’t much of a brown. It’s comletely in the porter gallery. Pours with a 1 finger head of brown frothiness that fades to a solid cap.Very little lacing but the khaki lacing that is left after each drink falls slowly back to the body. The body I’m talking about is a deep dark chestnut. When held directly to the light there’s faint mahogany highlights. The smell is along the lines with the looks. Mmmm...Starts with, I know this sounds wrong, but mild black coffee. The coffee dominates but theres some roasted malt in there too. They go together perfectly. Pulling up the rear are some soft floral hops that brings everything together nicely. The flavor is much the same as the smell. Mild roasted malts and perfectly roasted coffee beans. Along the way there is the exact amount of floral hops showing up at the perfect time to make it all flow together. The malts are so deep and flavorful. Mouthfeel is almost perfect for the porter that it is. Medium bodied and so smooth. Mild carbonation lets everything work through but it’s enough to let you know it’s there. Finishes with the smallest amount of hop and coffee ground bitterness. Drinkability is outstanding. For me that’s saying a lot. I’ve been in the hophead mode the last few months but this is starting to push me in the other direction. I buy at least a pint of this everytime I’m at Flossmoor. In my opinion it’s not a brown, but if you read through my review you already know how I feel about that. It is an exceptionally made beer. One that I will never hesitate to buy. This beer defines attention to excellence. Especially for a small brewpub. 1/12/07

Pours a deep brown with ruby red amber highlights and a medium tan lightly lacing head. Aroma was fruity, citrus, toasted malts, toffee, some oatmeal and various fruity esters. Flavor of toasted malts, nuts, toffee, some chocolate, molasses and some oatmeal.

On tap at Flossmoor

A third of the way through the flight, this came around the same time as dinner. It also marked the halfway point of the lower gravity beers. With only a few more remaining I tried to pace them. That would give me plenty of time afterwards to process the potent lineup awaiting me. I don’t usually go for brown ales but this one is an exception. Now that I see it is towards the top of its style I know why.

Aroma / Appearance - The body was a deep brown walnut with a sandy colored head. The nose reminded me of musty old house, specifically the dusty attic full of antiques. Stale velvet cake hides in the background. It is pretty complex for a brown ale.

Flavor / Palate - Peaut butter silk pie creates a rich introduction. Dusty whipped cream comes next. It takes me a dusty backwater antique shop. The mouthfeel is creamy and velvety. The maltiness is offset quite well by a roasty background presence. The finish has a trace of molasses. This is yet another lightweight (middleweight?) session beer.

Pours a dark brown color with a thin light brown head. Aroma and flavor of nuts and molasses. The body is light with a watery texture and soft carbonation. Not bad for a brown ale.

Sampler flight at Flossmoor Station. Thick nose with malty and coffee/espresso scent. Mildly salty flavor, hints of soy sauce (?!?!). Pours a pale, opaque and thick brown. Different. Maybe too different.