Hook and Ladder Backdraft Brown Ale

(12oz bottle acquired from Union Station, Washington, DC on October 23, 2008) Although it had a full and frothy head, it didn’t keep long at all. Heavy fizz on the sides of the glass, much like a soda. Pretty clear and syrupy amber-brown color. Aroma is light, but definitely of the brown persuasion. Flavor is very... light and fizzy on the tongue. Definite caramel sugars with very light hops. Not hefty at all. A bit sour. But no aftertaste... nothing to remind you after you take a sip that you’re drinking a beer. Altogether, alright for an ’’I need a beer...’’ reach.

Bottle at The Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA...I opted not to pour it into a plastic cup so I can’t provide an accurate visual...aroma was somewhat roasty, malts, hint of chocolate...flavor included the same with some caramel, brown sugar...pretty thin though...not a bad having-a-few bar beer, but not a good sit-at-home-slow-drink-and-enjoy beer.

Dark Brown-Red with frothy tan head. Head quickly disappeard, but lacing. Malt dominated aroma with notes of mild caramel, mild nuts, and earth. Sweet malt and mild caramel start, but sour, bitterness overtakes. The appearance, aroma, and intial flavour started this beer in the right direction, but the weak flavour qualities, and off-balanced bitterness dissapoints.

pours deep brown with copper hue, it is topped with foamy beige head. the aroma is caramel and chocolate with hint of prune, unfortunately the balance is a bit off and the flavor is an uneven mix of nut and bitterness.

Pours a dark brown with a frothy tan/off white head. The aroma is mostly malty. Aromas of caramal, nut, touch of spice and a touch of hops. Flavors of roasty nut, hops, little caramel and ends on a bitter but slighy metallic note. The flavors here are not that big and it comes off as a little watery. Its not bad but would not buy again.

Bottle from Three Cellars Milwaukee. Nice smooth well balanced Brown. Nutty with slight malts,caramel, brown sugar.

bottle. Aroma of caramel malt. Palate is quite light, and flavor takes its time to build into a mildly sweet blend. I tasted a hint of roastiness, caramel, brown sugar and malt. Finish is quite flavorless. Overall, this beer is too weak to be something I would go back to.

Bottle. Pours murky brown with a thin tan head. Chocolate, malty, caramel and roast on the nose, though all are faint. Malt with a little roast, a touch sweet, some bitterness on the finish. Nothing remarkable about the palate. Overall, nothing to excite me. Not offensive, just a little underwhelming.