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Simple Things US Brown

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A smooth, chocolatey brown ale with strong citrus notes from four American hop varieties. Very dark brown with a cappuccino-coloured head. Subtle cold-brew coffee shows in the aroma, but there is none of the roast or astringency of a porter or stout. Zesty grapefruit, orange and pine resin cut across deep, rich malt flavour. Full bodied with a creamy texture and restrained bitterness. Oats, Munich and several caramel malts build the base. The idea is a hop-forward beer of the American West Coast with chocolate added.

ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter26 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatehoppycitrusy
chocolate
hoppy
citrusy
malty
piney
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with subtle cold-brew coffee and chocolate undertones, grounded by the four American hop varieties that bring forward zesty citrus—grapefruit and orange—alongside hints of pine resin.
also:orange,coffee
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Simple Things US Brown

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany brown with excellent clarity and a dense, cappuccino-coloured head that clings to the glass with fine lacing. The colour sits at the darker end of the brown ale spectrum, showing the influence of caramel and Munich malts without crossing into porter territory. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated.

deep mahoganydense cappuccino headexcellent clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with subtle cold-brew coffee and chocolate undertones, grounded by the four American hop varieties that bring forward zesty citrus—grapefruit and orange—alongside hints of pine resin. The malt bill (oats, Munich, caramel malts) supports the composition without adding roast or harsh astringency. Hop aromatics dominate without becoming aggressive.

citrus and pinecold-brew coffeechocolate undertonesWest Coast hop character

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. The palate balances rich, deep malt flavour—chocolate, caramel, and subtle oat notes—with a persistent grapefruit and orange citrus bite from the American hops. Bitterness remains restrained (26 IBU) and integrated, cutting across the sweetness without dominating, while pine resin provides a dry, herbal counterpoint.

chocolate and citruscreamy full bodyrestrained bitternesspine resin dryness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and medium in length, with lingering citrus and a gentle hop-driven dryness that prevents the residual malt sweetness from cloying. A dry, slightly resinous aftertaste persists.

dry citrus fadelingering hop character
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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 Simple Things US Brown

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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 chocolate, full-bodied, hoppy character as Simple Things US Brown will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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