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The night started simple—two brown ales, side by side—and turned into a full-on fall flavor map. We cracked Civil Rivalry’s First Down Brown and Alesmith’s English nut brown to see how cocoa, caramel, bitterness, and biscuit actually show up in the glass. One poured darker with a chocolate-forward core and a clean, bitter snap; the other drifted lighter, smoother, and bready, warming into hints of cocoa when served at the right temp. If you’ve ever wondered why “biscuit” gets tossed around on labels—or how 21 IBUs can make a malt beer feel more alive—we break it down in plain language.

Between pours, we wandered into the good stuff: golf as stealth cardio, winterizing gear, and the chaos of wildlife run-ins from horse-to-dog stare-downs to the nightmare of moose on backroads. A skunk story became surprisingly useful—coffee grounds for rooms, a proven peroxide–baking soda–Dawn mix for pets, and a quick note on reversing fan airflow so you don’t perfume your house with trouble. We also talk pumpkin beer burnout and why brown ales might be the smarter fall choice: rich enough to feel seasonal, restrained enough to drink all night, and killer with smoked meat, stroganoff, or aged gouda.

By the end, we call a winner. First Down Brown edges out with deeper cocoa and just-right bitterness; the Alesmith nut brown earns props for smooth drinkability and food pairing potential. Looking for your next fall fridge staple? Start here, then tell us where you land—cocoa-forward keeper or biscuit-smooth sipper.

Enjoyed the tasting? Follow, rate, and share the show. Drop your favorite fall brown ale in a review so we can put it on the list next week.

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