Low Road Brown Ale by Low Road Brewing was judged as BJCP category 19C, American Brown Ale. The aroma opens with an impression of dark toffee, a light cocoa with a rich walnut-like nuttiness and light dark fruit, fig-like esters. Very low levels of woody, earthy hops are joined by a touch of molasses. There is an impression of sweetness in the aroma and a little hop resin as it warms up. The beer is brown with deep ruby tones and a slight haze. A big creamy light brown head drops to a creamy cap. The flavor starts with nutty malts and some dry cocoa. This beer is moderately bitter from the hops and aided by the dark malts. The dark malts also assist in drying the beer out nicely. The resinous hops come up mid-palate along with the dark fruits and vanilla. The balance is toward the bitterness, but there is a nice malt presence. Some woodiness makes an appearance in the aftertaste that comes across like what you find in wood-aged beer. The beer is medium-bodied with moderately high carbonation. There is a palate-drying sensation via the dark malts and the woody character that's not distracting or harshly astringent.

I enjoyed the deep rich malts with the nice cocoa and nutty presence. I would have loved to have found some of the toffee in the flavor that the aroma promised or perhaps some caramel to round things out a little. There is a good balance between the bitterness and malt with complementary hop flavors appropriate for the style. A very nice brown ale.