(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
We've looked at Inkebara inks previously, an ink company based in the Czech Republic, and today we have the pleasure of talking about Deer Brown. Deer Brown #610 is a mustard brown that shows up as a pleasant green-brown in most nibs. The mustard yellows and greens don't really shine through unless you're swabbing the ink.
I've always been intrigued by brown inks. They might sound boring compared to bright oranges, blues, and purples, but brown inks offer a level of subtlety and intrigue that bright inks just can't compete with. This ink is easy to recognize as brown, but it's the green hints and barely-there yellow sheen in the wetter spots that set this ink apart. It isn't simply a brown ink, and that's what I love about it.
The more inks you try, the more you realize that color is just one factor to consider when buying an ink — and a fairly unimportant one at that. What good is the perfect color if it feathers on every type of paper you use? The way the ink behaves and how it interacts with nibs and paper is so much more important. If an ink company gets those things right, then the color can really shine. In the case of Inkebara, they nailed the performance of this ink. It's smooth, flows easily, and stays crisp on the page. There's nothing I would change about the performance of this ink.
Dry time leaves a little to be desired, though. In most of my tests with the Monteverde Omniflex nib, the ink was usually dry by 30 seconds — 40 max. On the Vanness page, it says the ink dries in 50 seconds, though I think this is on the extreme side for really wet nibs. Either way, this is a fairly slow drier, so beware if you need an ink that dries quickly!
Deer Brown shades wonderfully. The dominant color is a rich, deep brown, and there are hints of dark green that come through in the thinner areas. The movement between the different shades is beautiful. I know that deer in Czech Republic are a different species than the North American deer I see where I live — and this ink color makes me want to see one of these deer in person. It's a beautiful, dark color with plenty of personality.
I'd recommend Inkebara Deer Brown to anyone looking for a luxurious brown ink. It behaves well, looks great, and cleans out of your pen easily. It takes a while to dry, but not to the extent that it stands out against other inks. It's definitely not an ink you should consider if you require a fast-drying ink. At $15.40 for a 40ml bottle, it's also a good value. If you're not sure you want a whole bottle, Vanness also offer a 4ml sample vial for a few bucks.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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