Glenwood Canyon No Name Nut Brown Ale

The mountains of Colorado harbor many niches, nooks and crannies, within which lie a bounty of hidden mines, towns and even the occasional bakery (Silver Plume). Glenwood Springs is not what you’d call a quaint mountain town, exactly, but it’s not a global tourism destination either. Home to a therapeutic hot springs, it sees its fair share of visitors, and those who do go get a chance to visit the local brewpub: Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company. It is by no means an infamous brewery, or a landmark in craft beer, but it provides better beer to a town with one foot still in the past, and that makes it all the more charming. My family and I ordered a sampler to get a well rounded taste of the offerings, and I came away reasonably impressed, considering my expectations. Much like their ESB, the No Name struck me as an elegantly simple brew that matched the atmosphere and feel of Glenwood Springs with its casual approach and simple but pleasurable flavors. It is a nice, deep woody brown color, like heavy-set syrup, clear, with a wood shaving head. The brew’s musk is deep and sweet, leading a strong, aromatic charge with slightly roasted caramel, malts, wood chips used in grilling, cocoa powder and a little hint of Scotland with peat moss. Already the No Name is more compelling and impelling than the average brown ale. This enticing bouquet stirs itself into a bubbly frenzy in the mouth, like an agitated sea vent, slightly smoothed over by a plain milk chocolate taste and texture, more of the same Highland peat, and a generic coffee sensation. Again, it’s a fine example of easy, relaxed, care-free drinking, like a gentle float down a river with nothing else to do but watch a parade of clouds. It is a weekend beer, to be imbibed and digested after a long bout of work and labor; for refreshment and relaxation. And that, while not exactly an august pursuit, is still admirable in my book.

on tap-pours a light tan head and dark red color. Aroma is caramel malt. Taste is sweet caramel malt, nice secondary hops and finished with hops. OK carbonation.

Draught. Pours mahagony with a small tan frothy head that mostly diminishes, spotty lacing. Aroma is light chocolate and caramel malt (meal, cereal) and a nutty nose. Medium bitterness and acidity, caramel and chocolate malt, mildly sweet finish. Medium bodied, smooth and dry palate.

Not a style I’m usually fond of, this beer certainly exceeds expectations. For some reason it makes me think of that artificial cherry flavoring they put in old fountain sodas, but it works. Great for the style.

Draft at brewery: Deep brown; frothy, lasting beige head; nice lace. Lively carbonation. Thinnish up front, but it seemed to thicken a little toward the finish and as it warmed. Chewy chocolate and toasty caramel. Big nuttiness in the finish and aftertaste. Balancing amount of bitterness. Good brown.