beer_name: Tröegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale
text: Rugged Trail is a beer that I've had many times, but I never got around to reviewing it. Now it is at the end of its line, as Troegs plans to stop brewing it, so I figured I would make a point to write a review of it. Rugged Trail has a mahogany colored body with ruby highlights and a lot of carbonation bubbles. A thick tan head rises about two fingers in height, and it has good retention. Some pretty nice lacing is left behind. The aroma has caramel, hints of bitter chocolate and an earthiness. Caramel and toffee are up front, but they are tempered with bitter chocolate and even a touch of coffee. Surprisingly, the chocolate seems to be the dominant flavor. A little bit of roasted malts are in there also. There is a touch of earthy, nutty flavor in the middle. There is just a hint of hops that come out in the finish. Rugged trail is definitely a malty beer and it is pretty good. It tastes like a mix of a brown ale and a porter, which I guess makes sense considering the brewers always say they don't care about style, just their personal taste. The body is medium to light in heft, and the carbonation is on the lower side. Rugged Trail goes down really easily, and the fairly low ABV makes sure you don't pay for it. Rugged Trail was never my favorite in the Troegs line-up, and when I bought sampler cases they always seemed to be the last to go. I like it, but I don't think I will miss it too much.