hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Bootlegger Brown

Tap to rate

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
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2025
Canadian Brewing Awards
English Mild & Brown Ale
★Gold — Canadian Brewing Awards (English Mild & Brown Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecaramelbready
chocolate
caramel
bready
nutty
malty
roasted
Aroma
The nose opens with rich toffee and milk chocolate, followed by a subtle bread crust character.
not found:hoppy,fruity,smoky

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
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Bootlegger Brown

More from Smithers Brewing Company

Boyd's
Boyd's
Dark Lager
5.2%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Cloudwaters Witbier
Di Moda
Di Moda
Italian Pilsner
5.3%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Feck Off
Feck Off
Irish Dry Stout
4.2%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Great Craic
Great Craic
Irish Red
5.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Halfling
Halfling
Micro IPA
3.3%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Hipster Fuel
Hipster Fuel
American IPA
6.8%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
House of Commons
House of Commons
California Common
4.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

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.

Compare with another beer →