Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale (Ben & Jerry's Collaboration)
New Belgium Brewing Company

Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale (Ben & Jerry's Collaboration)Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale (Ben & Jerry's Collaboration)
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American Brown Ale
3.61 | pDev: 11.91%
New Belgium Brewing Company
Colorado, United States
Retired (no longer brewed)
Notes: New Belgium Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale, a new collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s is on the horizon in Fort Collins, Colorado. The chocolate-y brown ale initially looks to benefit, or at least create awareness for Protect Our Winters, an organization founded by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones. The organization seeks to lessen the impact of climate change on America’s snow laden mountains.

When two B Corps come together, delicious ideas are created. Our mutual dedication to using business as a force for good means you get to enjoy this brown ale laden with the chocolatey, salted-caramel, vanilla goodness while helping Protect Our Winters combat climate change. Dig in!
Reviews: 159 | Ratings: 689
Photo of GuyFawkes
3.5/5  rDev -3%

"Enjoy by 3/13/16"; drank 12/8/15 @ the Yarchives.

Semi-opaque brown/purple appearance.

A rough pour yielded a big khaki head; a decent amount of frothy lace.

Fresh earth & sweet fudge notes in the nose.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Fresh earth flavor up front; sweet fudge & dry sea salt notes on the finish.

An odd brew; it's drinkable, but the sweet & salty notes clash rather than meld. Worth trying once, certainly.

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Photo of Stooven
2.85/5  rDev -21.1%

My experience with this beer -- given that it's since retired -- is probably not repeatable and thus has little bearing. Nevertheless, I was given it as a birthday gift in December 2016 and it had a best-by date of March 2016. Still, I opened it and the carbonation was surprisingly strong. But instead of smoothing and deepening (or souring), my assumption is that the taste just faded away. If anything, a brown ale should have some bulk, but I've had Newcastles that could outmuscle this. Aftertaste is a cola-esque mash of syrupy sugar, which further degrades the experience.

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Photo of bbtkd
3.65/5  rDev +1.1%

While the look and nose was decent, the taste was a disappointment. Based on the name I would expect it to be a sweet chocolate and caramel beer, but it was only vaguely chocolate/caramel tasting. I guess I always expect that beers named after deserts will taste like their namesake, though if they did they would likely be a disgusting sugar bomb rather than a beer. I have resigned myself to the fact that a beer is a beer and a dessert is a dessert.

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Photo of KYGunner
3.6/5  rDev -0.3%

I feel bad for rating this relatively low because it delivers exactly as it claims. This is a salted caramel brownie in a brown ale. It's all there! It's just not my favorite Flavors in a beer....even for dessert. Don't get me wrong this is well done and better than most ;it just doesn't meld the way I thought it would.

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Photo of rlee1390
3.5/5  rDev -3%

Rather watery and thin; a major detraction. No idea why this needed salt added. There is some overly sweet caramel. The brown ale base is there but does not add much.

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Photo of ordybill
4.5/5  rDev +24.7%

Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass. The appearance is a clear amber brown with a large white head. The aroma is salty caramel malt. The flavor matches the aroma and is very smooth. An excellent beer.

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Photo of WesMantooth
3.52/5  rDev -2.5%

Some good qualities. Brown ale malts are there. Nose has a lot more noticeable carmel then the taste. A little bit of sweetness, but it mainly turns to bitter cocoa and fudge like chocolate that lingers strong and long. Definitely tastes like a brownie. I am not a fan of brownies at all, but I decided to try it anyway. Objectively speaking, it is pretty good, and I can't see where brownie fans would be disappointed.

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Photo of Franziskaner
3.61/5  rDev 0%

Dark brown to amber in color with a fingernail of beige resting on top. Light lacing. Aroma is spot on. Initially I smell sea salt, caramel and fudge. The taste is a blend of caramel and chocolate. The mouth is lightly oily and silky. I think the highlight of this beer is the aroma.

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Photo of Treyliff
3.42/5  rDev -5.3%

On tap

Pours brown in color with a small creamy off white head that has short retention. Smells of brown malts, hint of caramel & chocolate. Tastes of brown malts and dark fruit, some light caramel notes kick in mid-palate, not really getting any brownie notes. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation, leading to a foamy finish. Meh, a gimmick beer that doesn't really live up to it's label

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Photo of HattedClassic
3.75/5  rDev +3.9%

The beer pours a nice head that is light brown and dissipates quickly. However, the head leaves a nice film on the surface. The beer itself is a nice dark brown color that strongly resembles a brownie. The appearance seems to have a nice heavy texture to it.

The smell is nice and interesting. It strongly resembles an ice cream smell with chocolate and caramel with a bit of lactose (which gives it its ice cream note). Overall, very nice and inviting.

The taste is pretty nice and surprising for a brown ale. The beer has a strong brownie flavor from the cocoa with a hint of lactose running through. Additionally, there is also a light caramel note with a tiny bit of saltiness to it. Overall, the beer has a very nice and ice cream like flavor.

The feel has a very nice smooth feel to it with a bit of thickness. The beer is heavy bodied but on the lighter side of heavy. The carbonation is light and gives it a bit more varied texture to it.

Overall, a pretty good beer and one that I regret not getting sooner. It's a nice beer that is definitely worth getting. Go for it if you can find one.

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Photo of zac16125
3.31/5  rDev -8.3%

12oz bottle into a pint glass
Best before: 10 April 16

A: Light brown, amber hues when head to light, translucent, 2+ fingers width of light tan head that has good rendition before dissipating down and leaves a decent amount of lacing. 3.75

S: Semi sweet cocoa, roasty, lactose like cream. Pretty average. 3.25

T: Roasted malt, semi sweet cocoa, does have a brownie-esque flavor, lactose. 3.25

M/D: Lighter side of medium body, carbonation on the higher end, its pretty think, drinkability is average. 3.5

O: Decent, but I likely wouldn't have again. 3.25

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Photo of Zythophile
3.6/5  rDev -0.3%

Bottle Date: by 3/13/16
Palate Contaminants: other beer and scotch

Appearance is nice and dark brown, but it does allow some light.

Smell is toasty. It's Cinnamon Toast Crunch without the cinnamon.

Taste about matches the smell, and there's not much more variety. There is a bit more depth to what is there, and it's definitely something I'd chow down on, but it might not be what everybody's looking for in a brew. Aftertaste has some substance.

Feel is mildly carbonated, but it might be a little thin for this style.

It's by no means bad...

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Photo of KTCamm
3.55/5  rDev -1.7%

12/30....pours brown cola colored with light white foam ring. Salty caramel nose, candy infused. Tastes like a dessert. A blend of chocolate, cookies, caramel, and salt. Mostly sweet though, and a very slight hop bitter to round it out. Somewhat of a gimmick, a one and done for me.

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Photo of Caveworm
4.15/5  rDev +15%

Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale (Ben & Jerry's Collaboration) - New Belgium Brewing. Poured from the bottle into a snifter, this brew's head is one finger thick and eggshell brown, with web-like lacing, and a clear reddish brown body.

I smell toasted, mild malts. That's really about it. No chocolate aroma or anything that really stands out in that regard.

Tastes like a brown ale for the most part, with a faint tinge of chocolate flavor. I can't pick up on any caramel or certainly not salt. Now, don't take this as a way of saying this tastes "bad". Its actually quite a well-made brown ale.

Moutheel I'm getting is medium-light with mild carbonation. Smooth finish without any aftertaste.

Overall, I'm giving Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale (Ben & Jerry's Collaboration) - New Belgium Brewing a solid 4.25. This is, to my relief, much less "gimmicky-tasting" of a beer. Like I said, it really is a well-executed brown ale. Don't let the labeling fool you or throw you off; go and try this one out.

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Photo of leaddog
3.58/5  rDev -0.8%

Appearance - Pours a chestnut/mahogany brown with three fingers of creamy tan head.

Smell - Chocolate brownies, toasted chocolate malts, vanilla, caramel, hint of earthy hops.

Taste - Milk and semi sweet chocolate, cocoa, toasted chocolate malts, along with hints of vanilla and caramel. Slight hint of sea salt, but not to the level I expected.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Touch of silkiness as it goes down.

Overall - A tasty brown ale that delivers on the brownie, though lacking on the salted caramel. Maybe my recent string of sour/tart beers has left me wanting more saltiness, but it would have been nice to get more of that flavour.

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Photo of creepinjeeper
4.06/5  rDev +12.5%

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic pint.

Look - Translucent brown in color, frothy cola head that settled fingernail thin.
Smell - Caramel, cocoa, malty sweet.
Taste - Caramel , sweet malts. Not much cocoa to speak of.
Feel - Abundant carbonation, slick beginnings withba creamy finish.
Overall - A tasty take on brown ales. Glad it was in the the Winter Folly box .

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Photo of Boca-X
4.02/5  rDev +11.4%

OK...this beer really isn't a brown ale. If I was tasting this blind I'd guess a milk stout...maybe a chocolate milk stout.

Creamy, smooth, milky, rich with plenty of chocolate. Salt? uh no. Caramel? uh no. Sure you could say there is a slight brownie flavor...duh, the chocolate.

If you are rating this on the name then you will be disappointed...however...if you are rating this strictly by it's flavor profile then I'd say it is a winner.

Nice chocolate milk stout, creamy and satisfying.

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Photo of Deerin
2.38/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 1.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

12oz from a sixer into a glass.

Picked this one up along with Hairy Eyeball as I was in the mood for something sweet (which doesn't happen all too often, I should add).

Well, despite the name, this is not sweet. Nor is it much of a brown ale, really. It's damn near black and almost completely opaque. And it tastes like a chocolate stout - and not a good one at that. Vanilla and caramel? Where?
I say pass.

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Photo of Tripel_Threat
3.53/5  rDev -2.2%

Perfectly clear ruddy brown, two fingers khaki head, quick dissipation, spotty lacing. Smooth, roasted flavor, wheat pancakes, chocolate notes, nutty (almonds and pecans) dry finish, medium to thin feel.
Not really a caramel brownie flavor, but a solid brown ale.

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Photo of RJLarse
3.78/5  rDev +4.7%

I bought a six-pack of Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale in a grocery store. Poured in to a pint glass.

Pours a black walnut color, garnet and red an translucent when held up to the light.

Smell is faint, a sweet charcoal aroma.

Taste is very good. Roasted grain flavor up front, sweet bread flavor, with a mild bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, slightly cloying, with a dry sweet aftertaste.

Overall a decent brew, a nice brown ale and better than I thought it would be.

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Photo of marieli
3.31/5  rDev -8.3%

Poured from 12oz bottle. Starting temp around 48 degrees. Bought a single out of curiosity. After trying, I have more questions than answers. Actually poured a little lighter than I was expecting. Smelled fine, but the taste was sweet without much balance. Mouth feel was on thinner side. To be fair, I don't typically drink brown ales, and when I do, I stick to English style, such as Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale.

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Photo of Dragginballs76
3.96/5  rDev +9.7%

Pours deep dark mahogany decent tan head that quickly dissipates no lacing no head remains after a few seconds.

Smell - deep roasted nut smell some vanilla and caramel I can almost smell some pecans.

Taste - kind of tastes like ice cream sweet roasted malts vanilla chocolate and caramel.

Feel - light and watered down would have liked a little more heft to the feel.

Overall an ok brown ale I would drink it again.

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Photo of arizcards
3.71/5  rDev +2.8%

Picked up a single at the Craft Beer Hop Stop in North Phoenix on Veteran's Day for $1.79. Enjoy By 3-13-2016.

Beer poured brown with a nice white head that is leaving some lacing behind.

Nose is malty with some hints of chocolate.

Taste is your typical brown ale with some chocolate in the mix. Nice malt backbone, milk chocolate, hints of caramel that accentuate the beer nicely without making it overly sweet.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly smooth.

Overall a nice twist on the brown ale style. If i were to have it again hopefully i would be pairing this with some Ben&Jerry's for dessert!

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3.63/5  rDev +0.6%

honestly, if I didn't know it was supposed to taste like salted caramel brownie ice cream, I would have thought it was just a standard brown ale. maybe a little sweet, but pretty standard fare. its highly inoffensive and very drinkable. just not what id regularly reach for.

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Photo of Sirwootalot
3.61/5  rDev 0%

Received as part of a Christmas bundle from a friend in Los Angeles.

Pours a dark, syrupy brown, with a barely-there whiff of metal and vague creaminess. The taste has more going for it - heavy notes of homemade vanilla vodka, macadamia nut, and cocoa butter dominate on a surprisingly drinkable body. This is one of the most "chuggable" brown ales I've ever had, but that's largely due to its flavor profile being much more restrained and subtle than my super-heavyweight favorites. It's not fantastic, but it's a solid brew and perfect for warming me up.

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Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale (Ben & Jerry's Collaboration) from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 689 ratings