curious-- i use both whole wheat and brown bread..

Whole wheat is store/bakery bread. brown bread is home made-- and for me, most often a quick bread--whole grain (wheat and oats) irish soda bread.

but every once in a while, i will buy a can of New England style brown bread-- which is a steamed bread. at home, you put the batter into a can, cover it, and put the can(a coffee can is about the right size) in steam to cook. the bread is moist, and dark (almost like a plum pudding--but not quite)
commercially, its sold in cans..(but smaller cans) and you reheat it, in the can, (steam it again!) and then uncan and slice.

NE brown bread is whole wheat, corn(maize) and molasses bread. it often has raisins, too, and some spices, (ginger) but it's not sweet, or cake like.