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John Brown Ale

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Rich malts with hints of chocolate, cold-brew coffee, smooth caramel and toasty bread, balanced by a soft hop character and a clean, satisfying finish. The name honors John Brown, the fiery abolitionist of the Civil War era and a well-known figure in Kansas history, who is also the brewery’s mascot.

ABV
5.7%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter17 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
maltytoastychocolate
malty
toasty
chocolate
coffee
caramel
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted grain and caramel sweetness, supported by distinct cold-brew coffee and dark chocolate notes that build complexity without harshness.
also:nutty,bready
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for John Brown Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to brown in color, with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves distinct lacing on the glass. The beer presents a warm, inviting hue characteristic of the style, with good carbonation evident in steady bead formation.

deep amberclearpersistent head lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted grain and caramel sweetness, supported by distinct cold-brew coffee and dark chocolate notes that build complexity without harshness. A subtle nuttiness and soft hop presence round out the profile, creating a well-integrated aromatic foundation that feels neither aggressive nor muted.

coffee, chocolatetoasted grainsoft noble hops

◐ Taste

Entry is rich and full-bodied with pronounced malz character delivering caramel, toast, and bread crust flavors in harmony. The mid-palate sustains chocolate and coffee notes while maintaining excellent balance—low bitterness (17 IBU) allows malt complexity to shine without becoming cloying, while a whisper of nutty depth adds dimension.

rich malzcaramel, coffee, chocolatebalanced, low bitterness

◑ Finish

Clean and satisfying, with a medium-length finish that fades smoothly into a dry, toasted aftertaste. Residual sweetness and bread notes linger briefly before giving way to a crisp, refreshing close.

clean finishtoasted aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
75
Serve at 10–13°C

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

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with John Brown Ale

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About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

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 Brown Ale

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

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