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Brown Bear Ale
Catawba Brewing Co.
- From:
- Catawba Brewing Co.
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- English Brown Ale
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.62 | pDev: 14.09%
- Reviews:
- 24
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 14, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 26, 2003
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 14
Although widely known as the habitat of the classic "black bear", the mountains of North Carolina are also home to our extremely rare Brown Bear Brown Ale. Smooth caramel and chocolate notes dominate the first taste, and then a subtle dryness cleanses the palate just in time for another sip. This is a true, sessionable English-inspired brown ale
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by lagrluvr
4.25/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown, off-white foamy head , adequate lacing...Smells really rich malty, almost chocolatey, mocha and quite appealing on this cool November afternoon. The taste is rich and clean,with a more pronounced bitter ending that balances it out really clean...feel is lighter than expected for the rich aroma, and that is a plus. I get these every so often in my rotation of Browns, and would recommend it to others who like good local (for me) brown ales. Definitely more bitter than other brown ales I've had, in a good way. If I repeat a beer it's a 4.25 or better.
May 28, 2021Rated by twage04 from North Carolina
4.03/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown with medium carbonation. Aroma is chocolate, a hint of toast. Taste is much the same. Well balanced and easy drinking.
May 04, 2020Reviewed by Buckeye55 from North Carolina
3.54/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark brown, with minimal fast fading head. Scent is of grain and hops. Taste is equal parts malt and hop bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and an aftertaste dominated by hops on the backend
Feb 24, 2020Reviewed by PhantomWolf from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A rich, dark beer with a tan/ white head that settled quicker than I like- However, there was still plenty of carbonation in the beer. The flavour was quite nice. Earthy, toasty, coffee, and toffee. A very easy drinking beer for how dark it is. A great beer to pour for a friend who swears they hate dark beer.
Aug 20, 2019Reviewed by SmokySignals from North Carolina
4.28/5 rDev +18.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +18.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown ale poured from can, with a very slight head that settles out quickly.
Aromas are rich, typical choco-malt notes are there. Love some crystal and chocolate malts.
According to Cartawba, this is a British styled brown with the hop selections, and so it is drier, lighter and refreshing ale , not the sweet fruity tootsie roll type. yum
The light watery feel makes it super crushable.
My can says 5.2% abv.
Overall, I really like the Brown Bear for its light, dry character and the blends of malts and hops that authenticate its great taste. Try one if/when you see it.
Libate! Don't hibernate!
Dec 01, 2018Aromas are rich, typical choco-malt notes are there. Love some crystal and chocolate malts.
According to Cartawba, this is a British styled brown with the hop selections, and so it is drier, lighter and refreshing ale , not the sweet fruity tootsie roll type. yum
The light watery feel makes it super crushable.
My can says 5.2% abv.
Overall, I really like the Brown Bear for its light, dry character and the blends of malts and hops that authenticate its great taste. Try one if/when you see it.
Libate! Don't hibernate!
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.65/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From a 12 oz can.
Clear, dark brown body with a decent white head.
Aroma: fine toasted grain with faint spicy hops.
Flavor: moderately strong for style with more hops than the aroma suggests. Mildly bitter.
Feel: Medium body with medium carbonation.
Jun 09, 2018Clear, dark brown body with a decent white head.
Aroma: fine toasted grain with faint spicy hops.
Flavor: moderately strong for style with more hops than the aroma suggests. Mildly bitter.
Feel: Medium body with medium carbonation.
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.65/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I'm trying this at Buffalo Wings and Rings in Franklin, TN. It poured a nearly opaque dark amber with off white head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had hints of sweet bread. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it's a good beer.
Dec 30, 2017
Brown Bear Ale from Catawba Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
68 ratings
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