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Rugged Trail

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Toffee, chocolate and roasted nuts shape this nut brown ale, a traditional English style given an American hop spin with an earthy hop profile. Nugget, Simcoe and Warrior are the hops, on Chocolate, Crystal and Pilsner malts, fermented with house ale yeast. Deep bronze, 5.0% ABV and 38 IBU, a Brewery Only release from Hershey, Pennsylvania.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter38 IBU
Roasted 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
chocolatenuttyroasted
chocolate
nutty
roasted
earthy
malty
hoppy
Aroma
Chocolate and roasted nut aromatics dominate the nose, backed by earthy hop character from Nugget and Warrior.
also:caramel,toasty,bready
not found:juicy,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Rugged Trail

◎ Appearance

Deep bronze hue with good clarity and a tight, persistent head that leaves fine lacing down the glass. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, lending a composed visual presence without excessive effervescence.

deep bronzeclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

Chocolate and roasted nut aromatics dominate the nose, backed by earthy hop character from Nugget and Warrior. A subtle toffee sweetness emerges beneath, with light toasted grain notes that suggest the Crystal and Chocolate malts at work.

dark chocolateroasted nutsearthy hopstoffee

◐ Taste

Chocolate and nutty flavors form the palate's core, complemented by gentle caramel sweetness and a roasted grain foundation. The earthy, herbal hop bitterness (38 IBU) arrives mid-palate without aggression, balancing the malt-forward character with restraint. Toasted and bready notes add complexity without overwhelming.

chocolate-forwardnuttyearthy bitternessmalt-balanced

◑ Finish

Clean, dry finish with lingering roasted and nutty notes. The bitterness fades gracefully, leaving a smooth, slightly toasty aftertaste.

drysmoothroasted grain aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
76
Finish
76
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 Rugged Trail

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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, nutty, roasted character as Rugged Trail will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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