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County Brown Ale

Canada·English Brown Ale
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Mahogany with red highlights, brewed without adjuncts or added flavours. Roasted malt leads: nutty toffee, biscuit, a thread of chocolate and coffee, over a medium body that finishes on the dry side, so the malt layers stay clear of any cloying sweetness. Hops sit back and hold the balance. First brewed in 1985 for the cask, and still poured that way in parts of Ontario.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter24 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2025
Canada Beer Cup
Brown British Ale
Gold · 2024
U.S. Open Beer Championship
English Brown Ale
Gold · 2023
Ontario Brewing Awards
Brown British Beer
Bronze · 2022
Ontario Brewing Awards
Brown British Beer
Bronze · 2022
U.S. Open Beer Championship
Brown Ale
Gold · 2021
U.S. Open Beer Championship
Brown Ale
Gold · 2020
U.S. Open Beer Championship
Brown Ale
★Gold — Canada Beer Cup (Brown British Ale)
★Gold — U.S. Open Beer Championship (English Brown Ale)
★Gold — Ontario Brewing Awards (Brown British Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastednuttycoffee
roasted
nutty
coffee
malty
chocolate
toasty
Aroma
The nose opens with roasted grain and nutty character, supported by gentle waves of toffee and biscuit malt.
also:caramel
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for County Brown Ale

◎ Appearance

Mahogany brown with distinct red highlights, clear and well-defined in the glass. The head builds to moderate density and holds with good retention, leaving fine lacing down the sides. Carbonation appears moderate and composed, appropriate for a cask-conditioned ale.

mahogany, red highlightsclearmoderate head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with roasted grain and nutty character, supported by gentle waves of toffee and biscuit malt. Subtle threads of coffee and dark chocolate emerge beneath, while hop presence remains restrained, allowing the malt-driven profile to lead without competition.

roasted maltnutty, toffee, biscuitcoffee, chocolate notes

◐ Taste

The palate enters with layered roasted and toasty malt, delivering hazelnut and toffee warmth across the mid-palate. A dry undercurrent prevents any sweetness from becoming cloying, keeping the biscuit and chocolate elements clean and distinct. Bitterness is low and integrated, simply holding the balance rather than asserting itself.

roasted malt layersnutty, toffee, biscuitdry, clean finish

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and comparatively short, with malt notes receding smoothly. Lingering hazelnut and a faint coffee whisper sustain the aftertaste without heaviness.

dryshort to medium length
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
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 County Brown Ale

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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 roasted, dry, nutty character as County Brown Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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