Nodding Head Grog

Brewed by Nodding Head Brewery
Style: Brown Ale
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Dimpled mug

Draught pint at Nodding Head on 1/19/07
Small mocha colored head tops a mostly clear, maroon-chestnut body with dark auburn tints on the edges. Head recedes slowly to partial cover, providing little/no lacing.
Very dry nose suggests light brown sugar, cola and toasted malts. A bit of phenolic activity on the finish is noted, providing light notes of anise. A dull, almost pretzel or soda bread-like note overlays the aroma, while heavy wateriness, it seems, cuts things short on the finish. Bare specks of chocolate and cinnamon, with more brown bread dough are about the extent of what’s going on here. Medium aroma strength, lots of carbonic/seltzer like dryness and cola notes. No alcohol noted.
Either Nodding Head is greatly skimping on malt or they are mashing at much too low temperatures because their beers have little malt presence, certainly little/no body and seem extremely dry and washed out. This one tastes of barren toasted malts that prove nearly astringent as the glass empties. Cola and very light chocolate notes add some flavor, but there’s just an awful grainy/dry/very hard breadiness that sits on the end. Very little body, no softness to the beer whatsoever. Acidity builds up to some extent as well. Moderate carbonation, light/watery texture.

on tap-pours a tan head that laces with dark brown color with red tint. Aroma is dark malt-roasty/chocolate. Taste is dark malt-roasty/chocolate, sweet. Minimum carbonation/mild effervescence.

typical dark brown color. tan head. there was nice lacing on the glass. slightly malty with an undistinguishable aftertaste that was mildly unpleasant. i didn’t get any of the chocolate though

Pours dark brown with a tan head. Aroma of medium roasted malt and milk chocolate. Soft carbonation and smooth pleasant mouthfeel. Nice brown ale flavor that is not too sweet, but with a touch of cocoa. A wisp of hop bitterness on the finish, that is slightly watery. Interesting twist on a rather simple style.

Medium-dark in color; syrupy, full in the mouth. Flat, dull wood flavor lacked enough roast and suffered from a lack of any hoppy bite whatsover. Not a favorite.

Bronze body with a small, silky off-white head. Aroma of chocolate and toffee plus some cooked squash notes. Very chocolatey, under-attenuated flavor with medium-high sweetness and low hop character. Apparent roast produces some moderate bitterness. Somewhat cloying flavor and mouthfeel. Seems poorly refined, but maybe that’s the idea.

One of the better beers I had at the brewery. Aroma of caramel, brown sugar, toasted malts. Poured brown. Sweet flavor, caramel, roasted malts, mocha. Good beer.

Draught at Brewery: Smelled of alcohol, caramel malt, and Marsalla wine. No hop aroma. Poured dark brown. Medium light brown head diminished. Clear. Slight lacing. Flavors of coffee, alcohol, toffee, and nuts. No hop flavor. Heavily sweet, not bitter. Short sweet finish. Light body. Average carbonation. Overall, a slightly above average Brown Ale.