Brown Ale

What is Brown Ale?

Brown ale is a brown-coloured ale that derives its characteristic colour from brown malts. To obtain brown malts, malts need to be lightly roasted.

The amount of hops and bitterness in brown ale is low to moderate. Typically, the taste reveals notes of chocolate and caramel.

Origin Story

Brown ale as a beer style originated in Britain in the late 17th century and initially meant beer brewed solely from brown malts. 

As malt production technology advanced, lighter or darker malts began to be used more frequently, and the production of brown ale decreased but did not disappear entirely. 

Today, the main carriers of this beer tradition are the British as well as small-scale producers in the USA. Modern brown ale is usually not made from brown malts; instead, a mixture of malts of varying shades is blended to achieve the desired brown colour. 

The most well-known representative of this beer type is undoubtedly Newcastle Brown Ale. Brown ales can also occasionally be found among the selections of craft breweries, but these tend to come and go.