“So, didn’t we just do English brown? You’re getting lazy, Weikert.”
Well, we did, and we didn’t. What we did a few weeks back was northern English brown (sometimes called British brown). This week is southern English brown (sometimes called London brown). And while they have some overlapping qualities, they’re significantly different once you get past their names! It’s a bit like the difference between a BLT and a bacon doughnut. You have bread and bacon in both, but one’s a lunch, and the other is…wait, what is a bacon doughnut? Dessert? Breakfast? Well, anyway, you get what I mean.
Style
The southern English brown ale or London brown ale is a style that’s rarely seen on the shelves these days, but it’s still a good one to have in your arsenal. It’s a beer that drinks a lot “bigger” than it actually is, with a deep flavor palate and body but relatively little alcohol. It occupies a middle ground between porter and mild and incorporates elements of both.