BJCP 13B · Brown British Beer
British Brown Ale
A malty English brown ale with caramel, nut and toffee, moderate bitterness and a dry to sweet finish. More body than a mild, without the roast of a porter.
British Brown Ale by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.2 – 5.4%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 20 – 30 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 12 – 22 SRM24–43 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.040 – 1.052on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.008 – 1.013on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What British Brown Ale is like
A malty brown ale with caramel, toffee, nut and some soft chocolate. The bitterness is there but stays in the background, and the whole thing is easy to drink.
Appearance
Dark amber to reddish brown, with good clarity. Off-white to cream head with moderate retention.
Aroma
Malt with caramel, toffee, light toast, nut or soft chocolate, plus some fruit from the yeast. Earthy or floral hops very restrained or absent.
Flavor
Caramel, toffee and toasted bread, with nutty or chocolate notes. Low to moderate bitterness and a dry to slightly sweet finish. A faint English hop flavor may come through.
Mouthfeel
Medium or medium-light body and moderate to moderately low carbonation. No alcohol warmth.
Where British Brown Ale comes from
Modern British brown ales emerged in the early 20th century, with sweeter versions in the south of England and drier, paler ones in the north, such as Newcastle's. The 2021 guidelines combine them into a single style.
Ingredients
English pale ale malt with crystal or caramel malt and a little chocolate malt, sometimes brown malt or sugar. English hops such as Fuggle or Goldings and English yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew British Brown Ale at home
Mash at 66-68 °C (151-154 °F) and ferment at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) with English yeast. Go light on the chocolate malt, around 3-5%, so it gives nut and cocoa without harshness. Carbonate to around 1.8-2.2 volumes; if you make it very dark or roasty, you're drifting toward a porter.
Food pairing
Goes well with roast pork, burgers or aged hard cheeses.
Glassware: nonic pint glass, the classic pub glass, made for long drinks.
Classic examples
- Newcastle Brown Ale
- Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale
Frequently asked questions
How strong is British Brown Ale?
Between 4.2% and 5.4% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is British Brown Ale?
It has 20 to 30 IBUs, a moderate bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is British Brown Ale?
Copper to dark brown: 12 to 22 SRM (24 to 43 EBC).
What food pairs well with British Brown Ale?
Goes well with roast pork, burgers or aged hard cheeses.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Dark Mild, English Porter and American Brown Ale.
If you like British Brown Ale, try these
Classification and statistics: official British Brown Ale guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.