Avery Ellie's Brown Ale vs Bonanza Brown: Which Should You Drink?

HOPIQ FACEOFF

Avery Ellie's Brown Ale

Avery Brewing Company

United States · American Brown Ale

hopIQ rank #318

76%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Bonanza Brown

Tenaya Creek Brewery

United States · American Brown Ale

HOPIQ TAKE

Avery Ellie's Brown Ale if you want chocolate and caramel smoothness, Bonanza Brown if you want a brighter, more assertive hop presence. Both nail the 5.5% ABV sweet spot—sessionable but with real character—and share that 30 IBU balance, but they're working different angles. Ellie's leans into the malt's soft side; Bonanza punches a bit harder with its bittering backbone.

See what fits your taste

Build your Beer DNA

hopIQ scores every beer against your palate, not the average drinker's.

WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Avery Ellie's Brown Ale when…

→When you want to drink multiple rounds without fatigue setting in
→If you're craving comfort—the beer equivalent of a flannel shirt
→You just want something honest and well-made without complexity theater

Pick Bonanza Brown when…

→When you want a brown ale that commands attention in your glass
→You're in the mood for a beer with more textural interest and finish length
→Tenaya Creek's brewing style appeals to you (they tend toward character-forward beers)

SIDE BY SIDE

	Avery Ellie's Brown Ale	Bonanza Brown
ABV	5.5%	5.5%
Bitterness	Noticeably bitter	Noticeably bitter
Colour	Deep amber	Dark
Style	American Brown Ale	American Brown Ale
Origin	United States	United States

WHAT IT TASTES OF

8 shared · 5 distinct

Both beers

maltysmoothchocolatenuttycaramelcleanroasteddark fruit

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Avery Ellie's Brown AleBonanza Brown

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Avery Ellie's Brown Ale

MaltySmoothChocolate

Ellie's hits you with genuine cocoa and toasted nut notes right away—there's a richness that feels almost creamy without being heavy. The finish is clean and slightly sweet, like the brown ale isn't trying to prove anything. It's got restraint, which honestly makes you want another one immediately. Really well-executed restraint.

Bonanza Brown

ChocolateNuttyHoppy

Bonanza's got more texture and grip. You taste the roasted malts more distinctly, and there's this subtle herbal thing happening underneath that keeps it from being just soft and approachable. It's still smooth at 5.5%, but it's got personality that lingers. Feels more like a beer that wants to be noticed.

Find beers like Avery Ellie's Brown Ale

View alternatives →

Find beers like Bonanza Brown

View alternatives →

← All comparisons