Beer of the Week: Brown & Scary
Published 1:30 am Sunday, October 2, 2016
The beer: Brown &Scary, Skookum Brewery, Arlington
Style: Imperial Oatmeal Brown
Stats: 9.9 percent ABV
Available: On tap at the brewery and at next weekend’s Bier on the Pier in Anacortes
My thoughts: It’s nearly October and peak fall, which means it’s sweater weather. I consider this to be a sweater beer. It’s big, comfy and warm.
Skookum head brewer Hollis Wood is an expert IPA man. From Skookum standards like Mammoth Jack to the recent Mosaic SMASH Image of Objects, Wood loves to craft a diverse range of hoppy beers.
But he also knows his way around bigger, darker beers. Skookum’s Murder of Crows and its big brother Breakfast of Crows are American stouts that are intensely flavored yet smooth.
Like those two beers, Brown &Scary is the big brother of Big &Hairy. Skookum’s flagship oatmeal brown can get lost amid all those of Wood’s hoppy offerings.
But Brown &Scary deserves plenty of attention. Brewed with brown sugar and finished on whole vanilla beans, it’s a delicious beer that belies the fact it’s just under 10 percent ABV. It’s big and warm, perfect for fall.
Quick note: Wood placed half the batch in oak barrels so look for that in six to eight months.
Take a break from all those pumpkin and Oktoberfest offerings and scare up a glass of this.
From the brewery: Imperial Oatmeal Brown brewed with brown sugar and finished on a small amount of vanilla beans.
More new releases
To The Hip, Hip-Hop, You Don’t Stop, Justice Brewing: This Belgian imperial pale ale is light colored and light bodied with a big juicy hop finish. Made with Belgian yeast, Citra, Amarillo and Zythos hops. Available in bottles at the brewery and at Sno-Isle Coop, and on draft soon.
P-I-M-P-erial IPA, American Brewing: Named for the song the brewers were listening to when they brewed it, this big IPA is made with Simcoe, Amarillo and Mosaic hops to give it the swagger of 50 Cent. Available on tap at the brewery.
Put a Pumpkin In It Spiced Saison, 5 Rights Brewing: The brewery’s autumn saison brewed with organic pumpkin in the mash and a subtle addition of traditional pumpkin pie spices. Available on tap at the brewery and at the Snohomish Brewfest.
Fresh Hop Citra SMASH, Lazy Boy Brewing: Made with 126 pounds of fresh Citra hops in a 15 barrel batch. Super bright and citrus hop profile. Available at the brewery.
