After the advent of coke fires in malting kilns and the resulting introduction of pale malts in the late 1700's, this process left the more affordable darker beers such as the Brown Ale for the working class. Brown Ales tend to be deep amber to light brown in color, with a malty aroma, a crisp moderate hop edge, a nutty caramel palate, and a dry finish weighing in at 4.2 to 5 percent.