Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown Ale
28. Jan, 2010 
17 Comments
The Fireside Nut Brown Ale is the closest thing we have had to a dark beer so far on this site. As you can tell dark beers aren’t something I drink to often, but I need to continuously expand my palate and get into them. So let’s kick it off with an easy one.
About Leinenkugel
I am sure you have all heard the story by now about Jacob Leinenkugel on TV and radio so lets just get some facts in here. Leinenkugel’s brewery was founded in 1867 and is the 7th oldest brewery in the United States. Leini’s resides in Chippewa Falls, WI and is known for making some outrageously flavor full beers. I am sure you have spent a day or to in the North woods.
About Fireside Nut Brown Ale
The Fireside Nut Brown Ale is a popular seasonal brew from Leinenkuglel. The beer is English malted amber ale and is supposed to give off flavors maple, chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel. Fireside has 4.9% ABV and nearly no bitterness with only 13 IBUs.
My Review
From the picture you can see that this beer pours a really nice dark red / brown color with about a pinky’s width of head on the top of it. I expected a little more head from this beer. The nose didn’t offer to much flavor, but this beer doesn’t have the fruit like flavors of most the IPAs and lagers I have tasted on the site.
As I drank the beer I found really big coffee flavors coming through, which I found to be extremely pleasing, it reminded me of drinking a cup of coffee by the fire. Exactly what you want this beer to do. What baffled me was that I got no roasted or burnt nut flavors. Not sure how you can have the word nut in your beer and not have a strong presence of any nuts. Fireside has a medium body and it finished well leaving my mouth a little dry malty flavor that I liked.
The small head didn’t survive the drinking process and didn’t leave any lacing down the glass. Something that I am starting to care a little more about. I don’t know why, it doesn’t change the taste, but I like the foam to sit on the sides up my glass to make it look like a beer.
All in all this beer is worth trying if you are a light colored beer drinker that would want something dark. The medium body and coffee flavors could be a decent segway into the world of full bodied dark beers. Not the best beer I have had, but if it is around drink it up.
If you have had the Fireside Nut Brown Ale beer sure to tell me what you thought of it in the comments below.
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I will have to give this one a try. I’ve been trying to expand my horizons little more into darker beers, but I’m not big on really malty flavor and I’m not sure how I feel about coffee flavors in my beer. I like coffee and I like beer, but I’ve always felt those are things that should be kept separate. But you’re the expert and I’ll try any beer once so I’ll have to get my hands on 6 pack.
I kind of have the same opinion as Ryan here. I do not like the lingering malty flavor. I don’t know what it is I just can never seem to enjoy the beer to much when that is normally overpowering at the end. The coffee part is a definite plus though.
I’m waiting on some Sam Adams reviews? I know I put like 6 in that box….I recently drank the Imperial Stout and for any dark chocolate lovers out there, that is your beer. I however DESPISE dark chocolate and it was disgusting. I have only poured out 3 types of beer. The imperial stout, miller lite, and some beer called Nut hugger.
I am drinking the Sam Adams Oktoberfest tonight. It too is very malty. I will review it next week sometime probably.
As for the rest of the Sam Adams, I think I drank them without writing down tasting notes because well I can’t review them all or drinking would become to much of a chore and I don’t want that to happen.
I actually drank the Sam Adam’s Winter Lager that you put in Adam’s case. I didn’t review it because I’m not up to speed on the lingo and flavors to look for and all that crap, but it did taste pretty damn good. First time I’ve had it and it won’t be the last. Its right up there with the Summer Ale as my favorite Sam varieties.
I love the dark beers. Try some of the German ones. I truely love the Leinenkugel beers alot. The dark or honey ones are my favs. Thanks for the review
Jay,
I really can’t call this a dark beer. Like I said it could be a good segway into dark beers for the light beer drinking crowd.
Adam either way I would love this one. Your review of it makes me want to enjoy it. Thank you
*sigh* You picked one of the bottom 3 Sam Adams to review! You should like it since you like the malty flavor.
I’m not a Leinenkugel fan. My staple pale ale is that brewed by Sierra Nevada. This ale has a drinkability like none other. It’s one that doesn’t easily grow old. Try it if you’ve not. Another brewery I’m sure you’ve tried is Bell’s. While I love many of the Bell’s brews, my favorite at the moment is their Two Hearted Ale. Try it, but in moderation. It packs a punch!
If you’ve not, check out some of Chicago’s own Goose Island brews. Honker’s Ale, their staple, is another brew that is a daily drinker, however I’m more drawn to the Matilda and the Pere Jacques. Both are Belgian style ales and are nice treats.
Ryan, great site! Keep up the informative reviews.
Hey Scott,
Thanks for checking out the site. I am glad you liked the review. I love Sierra Nevada’s pale ale, and like their Torpedo even more.
I am familiar with Bells and have had the Two Hearted Ale and it is good. I am not a big fan of Oberon though.
I love Goose too. 312 is my go to Wheat beer.
Adam
I haven’t tried this brand of their beer, but must admit that your description of drinking a beer by the fire has caught my interest. I don’t like coffee, but may give this one a try.
Your beer review is cool and I can tell you are definitely improving on your craft. Keep it up and get that pallet open, you are on to something here.
Cheers!
I tried this beer this weekend and found it very good thank you for the suggestion and the review of this beer.
This is a pretty good beer, but it’s secret lies in cooking with it. It is a great addition to my chili recipe.
Rahsaan,
Thanks for dropping by the site man. I appreciate it. I haven’t be one for cooking with beer yet, but I know there are a lot of great recipes that include brown ales.
You should send me your chili recipe with fireside and I will brew up a batch of it and give it a critique on the site.
Adam
This year’s Sam Adams Oktoberfest was the best of their offerings I tried yet. Last year’s O-Fest was like eating a Pumpkin pie…I LOVE Pumpkin pie but I can’t take drinking it. I nearly didn’t buy this year because of last.
I really like the dark beers and had a Sierra Nevada Nut Brown this past weekend that really impressed me. Now I’m looking for a local retailer so I can bring some home.
Jerry,
I agree it is hard to drink beers that have to much of a similar flavor to your favorite foods. Something about it just doesn’t feel right.
I tried New Holland’s Smoked Lager yesterday and it tasted like I was eating burnt cherry wood. A little over powering to say the least. I think I will leave smoked wood for grilling and not drinking.
Adam
Thanks for that heads up Adam. I know I can leave that one alone…