Yards Brewing Company’s Brawler Pugilist Style Ale is as unique as its name. It models itself after English session ales but brings its own unique style and flavor.
It pours similar to a brown ale, a dark, caramel-looking color that give you a nice head. The aroma was a bit of a surprise. You will notice a toffee, caramel tone with hints of hazelnut at times. However, when it comes to your first sip you will get the sweet tones of caramel and toffee but the hazelnut is not there.
This is a smooth ale with low carbonation like many brown ales. It is very easy to drink with a slight bitterness on the finish. It tastes sweet then offers a fuller body as it flows over your tongue giving you a nice depth of flavor.
There is a nice malt flavor throughout the beer. It definitely gives you a flavor profile similar to brown ales from England but with a smoother finish. I would say that over the course of the beer the malt really comes through which please those who are fans of malt. This would pair well with a fish and chips or another fried food like chicken.
There are no real surprises with this beer. It is a malty-earthy flavor that pairs well with fried foods or to be enjoyed all on its own. Don’t let the name fool you, it won’t beat you up. It is very smooth with just the right amount of tickle on the bitter side of your taste buds.
This was a pleasant brew that drinks easy and offers a pretty nice flavor profile. If you are a fan of brown ale or even mild IPA’s you will probably like this. This is definitely something worth having again.