Brown ale is often the first beer attempted by novice homebrewers. It is, however, a beer style whose definition is often disputed by beer authorities and commercial brewers. Homebrewing emphasizes hops and "lots of everything," whereas "craft brewers consider their brown ales as a natural antidote to a highly hopped flagship pale ale." Is Brown ale defined by its color, or by a flavor common to all beers under the rubric of its name?