If you've been hunting for a solid English Brown Ale lately, you know the feeling. Most tap lists are dominated by IPAs, and the brown ale section has gotten awfully thin. HomeGrown Brewing Company in Oxford, Michigan makes one that's worth seeking out. Avery Brown hits the notes you want from the style: roasted malts, chocolate and caramel, a nutty character, and a finish that goes down easy.
The Beer: 5.3% ABV, 31 IBU
Avery Brown clocks in at 5.3% ABV and 31 IBU. It's an English Brown Ale, one of six year-round flagships at HomeGrown. The brewery describes it as having roasted malts that bring out notes of chocolate and caramel, with a nutty character that rounds things out. The Better On Draft review put it well: the beer is full of roasty, nutty, caramel, and chocolate flavors, and it finishes with what they called an unparalleled smooth finish. That smoothness is part of what makes it work. At 5.3%, it's sessionable enough that you can have a couple without feeling it, but it still has enough body and flavor to hold your attention.
The craft beer world has shifted toward hoppy styles over the last decade. A reviewer at Better On Draft noted that these days a great English Brown is harder and harder to come by, and that most breweries either don't make them or seem to leave something to be desired. HomeGrown has kept Avery Brown as a flagship, and when you taste it, you understand why. It's a quality example of the style, the kind of beer that rewards you for paying attention without demanding that you be a hop head to enjoy it.
The Name and the Vibe
The beer is named after Avery Brown, a local wolftrapper and one of the first settlers of Oxford, Michigan. The brewery describes him as a good friend to have in the long winter months, and they've positioned the beer the same way. When the days get short and the temperature drops, a brown ale with some heft and warmth makes sense. The roasted malts, the chocolate and caramel, the nutty character, they all add up to something that feels right when you're sitting by a fire or watching the leaves pile up in the yard.
What Drinkers Are Saying
The Better On Draft reviewer had tried a number of HomeGrown beers over the years, including Steamboat Stout, PollyAnn Witbier, and The Imp Imperial Stout. After a recent visit, they called Avery Brown the tastiest beer they've tried from HomeGrown. They recommended it for an autumn bonfire or for enjoying while raking leaves before winter sets in. When someone has tried a brewery's imperial stout, their witbier, and their seasonal experiments, and they single out the brown ale as the best of the bunch, you pay attention.
The Style: English Brown Ale
English Brown Ale tends to be more balanced than the American version, with the malt character leading and the hops playing a supporting role. At 31 IBU, Avery Brown has enough bitterness to keep things from feeling cloying, but the roasted malts and the chocolate and caramel notes are the stars. The style has fallen out of favor in many taprooms, which makes finding a well-executed example more rewarding. Avery Brown fills that role. It's the kind of beer you could introduce to a friend who's skeptical of craft beer, and it's also the kind of beer that a seasoned drinker could appreciate for its balance and execution.
Pairing and Occasion
The brewery positions Avery Brown as a good friend for the long winter months, and that lines up with how it drinks. It pairs naturally with comfort food: burgers, roasted meats, stews, anything that has some heft. The chocolate and caramel notes could work with a chocolate dessert or a nutty cheese. The 5.3% ABV means you can have a couple without overdoing it, which makes it a good choice for an evening when you want to linger.
Where to Find It
Avery Brown is available at HomeGrown Brewing Company's taproom at 28 North Washington Street in Oxford, Michigan. It's a year-round flagship, so it should be on tap whenever the brewery is open. The brewery also distributes in Michigan, so you may find it at other bars and restaurants in the area. Check the brewery's website for the current tap list.
Bottom Line
Avery Brown is a well-made English Brown Ale with roasty, nutty, chocolate and caramel character and a smooth finish. In a world where IPAs dominate and brown ales have become harder to find, it holds its own. We've had it a few times, and we'll have it again. If you're in Oxford or passing through Michigan and you want something malt-forward and easy-drinking, give it a pour.
Sources
Beer Menu. HomeGrown Brewing Co. https://www.homegrownbrewco.com/brews (Accessed March 2025).
About. HomeGrown Brewing Co. https://www.homegrownbrewco.com/about (Accessed March 2025).
HomeGrown Brewing Company. Better On Draft. https://www.betterondraft.com/blogs/beer-reviews/homegrown-brewing-company (Accessed March 2025).