New Belgium + Ben & Jerry's Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale

Beer Name: Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, CO)
ABV: 6.25%
How sold: 12 oz. bottles
Where bought: Belmont Station (Portland, OR)
Price: $1.89 for 12 oz. single

Date Purchased: November 14, 2015
Date Opened/Drank: November 15, 2015
Best By Date: April 3, 2016
When brewed? Limited-time beer.
IBUs: 14

Where distributed: New Belgium ships to many U.S. states. Click here to find it where you are!

What's on the Bottle: "When two B corps come together, delicious ideas are created. Our mutual dedication to using business as a force for good means you get to enjoy this brown ale laden with chocolaty, salted-caramel, vanilla goodness while helping Protect Our Winters combat climate change. Dig in!"

What's on the Website: "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream beer. Our newest collaboration with Ben & Jerry's brings together two different types of pint-makers for one common goal: To help Protect Our Winters combat climate change. When two Foodie B corps join forces for good, delicious ideas are created. Our Salted Caramel Brownie Ale scoops the lip-smacking fun of dessert from a bowl right into your pint glass. Brewed with specialty ingredients and a healthy sweet tooth, this beer's rich chocolaty, salted-caramel, vanilla goodness is worth savoring to the last drop. Reward yourself and dig in!" Click here for more!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured a dark brown into a pint glass. With light in the background and holding at eye level, it's a clear beer with a reddish hue. Light tan head that reduces to a sudsy surface. 3.5/5

Smell (25%): Intense malty aroma. Mix of chocolaty and vanilla notes. Could not detect the salted caramel. 3.25/5

Taste (40%): Fairly rich chocolaty initially, tempered a bit with the vanilla. Slight malty bitterness on the aftertaste. 3/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium bodied, smooth on the tongue, and very little carbonation. 3/5

Overall (20%): An average brown ale. I'm all for supporting a great cause and collaborating, but my occasional deviation from the IPA likely came back to bite me in the rear. I may enjoy this one more with ice cream or paired with dessert, but I'd probably take a pass if drinking this on its own. The price was right for a 12 oz. single, so I naturally had to try it for science. 3/5

Final Weighted Rating: 3.088/5