Light to dark brown in color with tan heads, brown ales were originally derived in England as adapatations of the mild ale. These original English brown ales were maltier and sweeter than mild ales. Flavors often included caramel, nutty, toasty, toffee, and light roasted aromas and flavors (sometimes dark fruits in the Southern English versions). Hop presence within this style remained relatively low until the develoment of the American brown ale, which featured not only American malts and hops, but interpretations that were more highly hopped and which sometimes included more roasted and chocolate (even coffee) aromas and flavors. Brown ales feature higher alcohol levels than mild ales, but they generally fall short of the porter or stout in their degree of roastedness and body.
