This is not a brown ale. Watch the video to find out what it really is.

Raveen and I had another indoor soccer game tonight. I love the footy and in outdoor soccer I love playing goalkeeper. I find it exhilarating. The indoor game is a different story. The field is small. The action is more like pinball than the beautiful game and people LOVE to get really close and tee-up. One of the good things about taking a serious beating is that I can come home, throw my clothes in the laundry, crack open a cold one and count my bruises.

Tonight’s beer is Woodstock Inn Brewery’s Pig’s Ear. It pours deep brown and has a smoky, peanutty flavor. The body of the brew is medium. It has a very light finish. The flavor in the one that I tried was inconsistent, with the initial sip nearly smacking me in the mouth with smoked peanuts. I thought it had quite a unique flavor, but it did not maintain for the life of the glass. This is a good beer. It is very sessionable if that’s a word. It not not too light or too heavy. You can appreciate the fact that you are, in fact, drinking a brown ale. There is no question about the identity of this beer. It is not going to light your night on fire with its creativity. I think this is what Newcastle Brown Ale wants to be or perhaps used to be.

While Smuttynose Ales tend to blend together a little for me, I do not mind. Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale is a year-round beer that starts off with an earthy, almost offensive aroma. I called the aroma “stinky”, but Jason did not call it stinky. The color is a light maroonish-brown. It pours a nice, light brownish-red.

Compared to English Brown Ales, this is stronger, more carbonated and hoppier.  There is a mellow nuttiness that gives was to the hoppy bite.  If you like India Pale Ale and you are looking for a little change of pace, this is one for you.

This is a nice and drinkable and we recommend you try one if you are over 21.