Nutella Brown Ale


On my recent trip to the liquor store where I was tasked with bringing home winter seasonals, I picked up a sixer of Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown Ale. I had never seen the beer before but I'm not an expert on Leinenkugel's or anything.

I popped one open and noticed a chocolaty scent. I wasn't expecting that. On my first taste, I noticed chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. It was overpowering. I have that complaint about Schlafly that they hit one taste note and it overpowers everything else, well this beer was like that. But, it wasn't just the one note of chocolate, it had some hazelnut in it as well. Drinking the Fireside Nut Brown Ale is a bit like eating a bagel with Nutella, except, you know, you're not really eating a bagel. It doesn't even really taste like beer.

Don't get me wrong here, it's not a bad drink, it's not even a bad beer, there's nothing wrong with the flavors, it's just not what I'm looking for in a beer. It's what I'm looking for in a bagel topping. It would make a fine syrup if I were to reduce it down. It's sweet, chocolaty and smoky (roast hazelnut). If you like those flavors in a beer, Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown Ale is for you.

This is a new beer for Leinenkugels this year and I don't think it has any staying power. I hope they try again next year and brew something that tastes like beer.

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