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Bonanza Brown

Tenaya Creek Brewery
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🌍 United States · American Brown Ale · One of 17 American Brown Ales in hopIQ

One of Tenaya Creek's GABF medal winners — a classic American brown ale with chocolate malt sweetness, nutty character and a balanced hop finish. Super drinkable, the kind of beer you order a second without thinking.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark24
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Brown Ale.
Hop character
hoppy
Malt character
chocolate
caramel
malty
nutty
roasted
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
dark fruit

FEATURED IN

#4 of 50The Best American Dark Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bonanza Brown

Appearance

Deep chestnut brown with excellent clarity and a full tan head that clings persistently to the glass. The color suggests substantial caramel and chocolate malt presence, while fine carbonation delivers consistent bead formation and moderate lacing.

chestnut brownclearpersistent headwell-carbonated

Aroma

Chocolate and roasted grain dominate the nose, supported by nutty undertones that suggest toasted hazelnuts or almonds. A gentle hop presence adds herbal definition without overpowering the malt-forward character. The overall impression is clean and inviting.

chocolatetoasted nutsroasted grainsubtle herbal hops

Taste

The palate opens with chocolate sweetness and caramel depth that unfolds across the tongue. Mid-palate develops nutty, malty character with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Moderate bittering from noble-style hops emerges in the mid-to-late palate, balancing the malt sweetness without asserting dominance.

chocolate maltnuttybalanced bitternesssmooth mouthfeel

Finish

Medium-length finish with lingering chocolate and nut notes. The aftertaste remains clean and slightly dry, leaving no cloying residue.

chocolate aftertastedry finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
83
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Bonanza Brown

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Bonanza Brown

About American Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Brown Ale?

American Brown Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar American Brown Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, nutty, hoppy character as Bonanza Brown will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American Brown Ales in hopIQ

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