Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Sixpoint Brewery Brownstone

By Staff in Food on Aug 24, 2012 8:20PM

Sixpoint Brewery has made quite the splash in Chicago since they launched here in April, and they continued to do so last week when they introduced us to Brownstone Ale.

When Sixpoint launched in 2004 in Brooklyn, Brownstone was the first beer they brewed. Named after the iconic Brownstone townhouses that line Brooklyn streets, it's been a draft-only offering for New York City since its inception. But now, Sixpoint is finally introducing it to the rest of the country, both in kegs and their signature tall-boy cans.

In our opinion, Brownstone slides in perfectly next to Sixpoint's other full-time offerings. At 6 percent ABV, Brownstone Ale is very easy to drink, but still packed with flavor and complexity. And like other Sixpoint beers, it generally defies any specific, traditional style. Yes, it's definitely a brown ale, but the hop profile is a little more pronounced than most other brown ales out there, and the malt profile comes across a little more dry. On the nose, the hops are floral, and we get hints of caramelized malt right up front. On the palate, the hops give us a burst of earthy spice with a dose of nutty malts, dry cocoa powder, and a clean finish. Overall, it's more crisp than brown ales tend to be, with a little more assertive bitterness. We could see this pairing well with burgers, ribs, and most meats that might come off the grill, or even with some spicy Thai Noodle Dishes. Either way, Brownstone is a good call for BBQs, softball games, and general porch-sitting.

The beer officially launched a couple of weeks ago at Scofflaw in Logan Square, who had Brownstone on tap along with a few other Sixpoint beers (they dedicate 5 of their 12 draft lines to a featured brewery every month). Mostly known for their dynamic cocktail program, the good people at Scofflaw stayed true to their roots by reducing some Brownstone down into a syrup to use as an ingredient in a Mai Tai, which is something we wholeheartedly approve of. To top it off, they had a Brownstone-Braised Pork Cheek Sandwich with Aioli and Mustard Slaw on special for the evening.

Look for Brownstone on tap at Scofflaw and the Bad Apple, and in tall-boy cans at Drinking Bird, City Tavern, Binny's, and Whole Foods.

By Jason Baldacci