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Brown British Beer / 13B

British Brown Ale

Certified Beer Server Candidate Style Profile

Official BJCP guideline sections attached for full style exploration.

Cicerone® exam alignment
Certified Beer Server Certified Cicerone® Advanced Cicerone®
Source
BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines

Overall Impression

A malty, caramelly, brown British ale without the roasted flavors of a Porter. Balanced and flavorful, but usually a little stronger than most average UK beers.

Aroma

Light, sweet malt aroma with toffee, nutty, or light chocolate notes, and a light to heavy caramel quality. A light but appealing floral or earthy hop aroma may also be noticed. A light fruity aroma may be evident, but should not dominate.

Appearance

Dark amber to dark reddish-brown color. Clear. Low to moderate off-white to light tan head.

Flavor

Gentle to moderate malt sweetness, with a light to heavy caramel character, and a medium to dry finish. Malt may also have a nutty, toasted, biscuity, toffee, or light chocolate character. Medium to medium-low bitterness. Malt-hop balance ranges from even to malt-focused. Low floral or earthy hop flavor optional. Low to moderate fruity esters optional.

Mouthfeel

Medium-light to medium body. Medium to medium-high carbonation.

Vital Statistics

IBU
20 - 30
SRM
12 - 22
ABV
4.2% - 5.9%

Commercial Examples

  • AleSmith Nut Brown Ale
  • Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale
Open official BJCP source