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Bootlegger Brown

Smithers Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · English Brown Ale · One of 6 English Brown Ales in hopIQ

An English-style brown ale, semi-sweet and fuller in body than the modest strength suggests. Toffee and milk chocolate come through first, with brown bread and a light nuttiness behind them and only a trace of roast at the edge. The hops stay in the background, present just enough to keep the malt from turning cloying, and the finish is soft and rounded.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20

AWARDS

Gold · 2025
Canadian Brewing Awards
English Mild & Brown Ale
Gold — Canadian Brewing Awards (English Mild & Brown Ale)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another English Brown Ale.
Malt character
caramel
chocolate
bready
nutty
malty
roasted
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bootlegger Brown

Appearance

Deep chestnut brown with a warm amber glow at the edges when held to light. The head is modest but persistent, leaving delicate lacing down the glass. Clarity is good, with gentle carbonation evident in a steady stream of fine bubbles.

chestnut brownpersistent headclear

Aroma

The nose opens with rich toffee and milk chocolate, followed by a subtle bread crust character. Soft nutty notes emerge in the background, with only a whisper of roasted grain at the periphery. Noble hops remain restrained, providing gentle herbal balance without dominating.

toffee, chocolatebread crustsubtle nuttiness

Taste

Entry is smooth and malty, with toffee and milk chocolate flavors establishing themselves immediately across the palate. The body is fuller than the modest 4.8% ABV suggests, with brown bread and hazelnut notes developing mid-palate. Bitterness is restrained, arriving just enough to prevent the sweetness from becoming cloying, while a light roast character adds depth without harshness.

chocolate, caramelfull-bodiedmalty sweetness

Finish

The finish is soft and rounded, with toffee and bread lingering gently on the palate. No harsh edges remain—only a warm, malty aftertaste that fades evenly.

soft, warmmalty fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
85
Appearance
78
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Bootlegger 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 Bootlegger Brown

About English Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Brown Ale?

English 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 English Brown Ale

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

Other English Brown Ales in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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