Free State John Brown Ale

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Brown Ale
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Serve in Dimpled mug

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UPDATED: JUN 19, 2003 This beer seems like it's trying too hard. Would be good for what it is, but it seems like it's trying to 'transcend' or something. There was a 'play-doh-ey' aftertaste. Yuck. Overly bitter for the style, and the bitterness did not seem to accomplish anything tastewise.

Pours a dark brown with a very malty aroma. Taste is slightly bland with not much going on flavor wise. It’s ok. It’s sessionable but nothing in this beer stands out to me. Not bad but I probably wouldn’t buy it again.

On draft @ the Brewpub .. . Pours a deep brown, low head, light but sticky lacing .. . very light roast, light molasses, shaved bark, and brown sauce .. . Duffman can’t breathe! OH NO!

Deep copper brown with a fizzy white head. Sweet molasses and malt aroma. Molasses and nutty taste with a malty finish.

dark brown, small tan head, somewhat lacy. nose of sweet malt, chocolate. flavor is chocolate and caramel. i don’t detect any hop bitterness. medium bodied, sweet finish. a touch too chocolatey for me. sampled from a growler provided by flossmoor station head brewer bryan shimkos.

Thanks to Bryan Shimkos of Flossmoor Station for the sample. It poured a darkish brown with ruby highlights and was capped by a light tan head. The aroma was dark malt with molasses, fairly light. The flavor added some caramel and a dash of earthy bitterness, but all seemed a bit thin. Not bad.

Shared via growler from Mr. Bryan Shimkos. Thanks! Pours a nice ruby brown, dar’n bright red edges, a small light brown head laces lightly. Aromas are a light sweetness, brown malts and caramel, a faint vanilla and syrup, a touch of brown sugar, small though. Initial is lighter bodied, a decent bitterness that gets a bit chalky, brown malts and a touch of syrup, vanilla, caramel malts, light earthy bitterness. A bit minimal, a more easy drinker, a bit thin for it’s namesake. Finish lightly bitter, mellow sweetness. A bit simple.

Sampled via growler during Darkness Day 2009 in Brooklyn Center, MN. Pours a semi-clear dark brown colored brew with a thin beige head that quickly dissipates. Aroma of roasted dark malt, a hint of chocolate, roasted nuts and toffee. Taste is medium bodied, with some flavors of roasted dark malt, light floral hops, and a hint of toffee. Finish is semi-dry with a quick disappearing roasted malt aftertaste. Pretty solid brown ale overall with a dry finish is the best to describe this.

Draft at Free State. Pours a dark brune body with a tan head. Roast y, toffee notes, chewy and nutty. Coco with a bitter earth roast note. Good brew.

Draft at the brewery. OG 1052 IBU 24. Pours a thinnish head, with nice lacing over a clear light brown (SRM 15) body......nose is chocolate and cocoa.....taste is roasted malts, dry throughout.....mouth feel is light.

Pint pour @ brewpub. Color is clear dark brown. Aroma is light earthiness, with lightly bitter bark. Some earthy, green hops just scratching their way into the aroma. Just sticking its head out though the lightest smell of prune. Taste is less complex with more earthiness than anything else. Easy drinking yet has substance.