American Brown Ale- Way too Dark

Hi HBT,
I brewed up my 4th all grain batch a few weeks ago, a clone Downtown Brown from AHS. It ended up way to dark....it is pretty much porter/stout black. Can any of you more experienced brewers help with what I might of done wrong, if anything. Here is the recipe for 5 gal.
8 lb 2-Row
.5 lb Chocolate Malt
.75 lb Special Roast
3 oz Black Patent Malt
.5 lb Crystal 60L

Mashed at 149 for 60 minutes. Single Batch Sparge. Ferment at 68 F for 10 days. It even tastes more like a porter than an American Brown. I almost wonder if somehow the recipe got mixed up with a porter. Any thoughts or comments. Thanks. Al

What was the hop schedule? American browns can be very dark.

Three ounces of BP is on the high side, most of my brown recipes that use it call for 1-2 ounces. Also, recipes that use BP, use less Chocolate, about 2 ounces less per ounce of BP. I think you would have been fine with one or the other OR half as much of each.

I am not a big fan of BP in my browns. I do add an oz of Carafa when I want it a little darker.

I brewed the One Down Brown from B3 a couple weeks ago and it is way darker than I expected, too.

there are things like water chemistry and how vigerous you boil was that will affect the color of the end product as well. More than likely I would guess that one of those is the culprit.

If it was a kit beer (and you didnt add anything to it) then it has to be a part of your process that got it a little darker.

Its still gonna be good I promise!

I've never had downtown brown so that recipe may be a clone. However, .5lb of chocolate and 3oz of black patent definitely roll into brown porter/porter territory. (for me)

I make a nut brown with .75lb Special Roast, 5oz chocolate, 1 lb of c-40 and it is definitely at upper limits for a brown ale in terms of color

Since I am a new AG brewer can anyone fill me in or point me in the right direction on how water chemistry and how vigourous a boil will effect color. My water is definetly on the harder side. I do full boils in a 30 qt kettle which allows a small boil but nothing crazy.