This week’s Tuesday Tasting takes us back to Grand Teton Brewing whose Trout Hop Black IPA was our first featured beer.  We were all very excited to crack open another bottle from this brewery as our first experience was a very good one.

Tuesday Tastings are a way for us to share our experiences with beer and with that in mind we try to sample a wide variety of styles.  The craft beer movement has tended to focus on big beers with huge hops and through-the-roof ABVs.  Recently sour ales and barrel aged beers have also become very popular.  We have reviewed several of these craft beer specials, but this week we chose a style that casual beer drinkers and hardcore enthusiasts can both enjoy: American Brown Ale.

The American Brown Ale is characterized by ample amounts of malt flavor that are generally balanced with a medium bitterness.  The usage of roasted malt tends to result in toasty, caramel, and chocolate notes.  Big Sky Brewing in Missoula, MT is famous for its Moose Drool Brown Ale which has helped popularize the style.

Appearance
Bitch Creek is an amber colored beer with tints of dark copper.  The tan head settles at two fingers and leaves lacing the lingers until the last sip (please excuse the alliteration).

Smell
As expected, big malt aromas take center stage with notes of brown sugar and roasted nuts.  A second and third waft from the glass reveal the complexity of this beer.  Floral and piney with hop aromas, the layers of smell announce themselves in turn and finish with a hint of alcohol for good measure.

Taste
With mouth watering the first sip is packed with rich malt flavors.  The complexities in the nose mirror those in the mouth.  Roasted almonds and pecans come to mind as does caramel and burnt toast.  The beer finishes with a nice bitterness that lasts until the next sip.

Mouthfeel
A medium bodied and nicely carbonated beer.  Smooth as silk in the mouth.

Drinkability
Bitch Creek certainly lived up to the hype.  A wonderfully complex beer both in the nose and in the mouth.  The drinker finds him or herself unable to stop enjoying the pleasant aromas and flavors.  The beer uses all 54 IBUs to balance the malt sweetness without drowning out the style’s characteristic caramel and toasty notes.  Overall grade for Bitch Creek Extra Special Brown: B+


Bitch Creek Extra Special Brown

Up next on Tuesday Tastings: Goose Island Pepe Nero