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Traditional Ale
Big Rock Brewery
- From:
- Big Rock Brewery
- Alberta, Canada
- Style:
- English Brown Ale
Ranked #126 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 78
Ranked #26,843 - Avg:
- 3.42 | pDev: 14.62%
- Reviews:
- 97
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 25, 2024
- Added:
- Jun 26, 2002
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 38
This medium bodied Brown Ale fills your mouth with a fusion of toasty malt and sweet caramel up front finishing with a nutty flavour, medium creamy carbonation and mild hop bitterness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JustinBathurst:
Reviewed by JustinBathurst from Canada (ON)
2.06/5 rDev -39.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.06/5 rDev -39.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
This one pours a reddish-brown with a slight head of tan. This is an extremely clear beer--there's your filtering, I suppose. The head doesn't stick around, and it doesn't really lace either.
The aroma is immediately raspberry to me, with some definite English hops (maybe Kent, maybe not), and... well, then the musty malt n' grain charges forth. This is the smell I will remember Big Rock by.
The mouthfeel is crisp and light, which I didn't expect for something being marketed as traditional ale. Doesn't exactly seem like English Brown Ale, which is what the box promotes.
At first, the taste gives me bitter hops, lime peel, and burnt malt. As it warms, the taste is conquered solely by the more astringent and aspirin-like qualities of Big Rock's malt. The aftertaste is bitterness and citrus tang. At first, I wasn't unhappy, but over the course of a glass I became disappointed with what should be, well, just 'more.'
As a whole, this beer doesn't have any characteristics to recommend it to others, but I wouldn't turn it down if I was offered one. Last note--I find this beer to be a bit too watery.
Feb 15, 2007The aroma is immediately raspberry to me, with some definite English hops (maybe Kent, maybe not), and... well, then the musty malt n' grain charges forth. This is the smell I will remember Big Rock by.
The mouthfeel is crisp and light, which I didn't expect for something being marketed as traditional ale. Doesn't exactly seem like English Brown Ale, which is what the box promotes.
At first, the taste gives me bitter hops, lime peel, and burnt malt. As it warms, the taste is conquered solely by the more astringent and aspirin-like qualities of Big Rock's malt. The aftertaste is bitterness and citrus tang. At first, I wasn't unhappy, but over the course of a glass I became disappointed with what should be, well, just 'more.'
As a whole, this beer doesn't have any characteristics to recommend it to others, but I wouldn't turn it down if I was offered one. Last note--I find this beer to be a bit too watery.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington
3.79/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I had this beer on-tap in a pilsner glass in the Calgary airport.
Appearance: lovely copper-brown hue with a crystal-clear body and two fingers of frothy tan foam. Nice!
Smell: lightly sweet with a mild toastiness and light caramel character. Good, though a bit subtle.
Taste: a little sweet at first and then a bit drier. There’s a nice toasty nuttiness, and a decent bitterness here. Overall not bad!
Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and creaminess.
Overall: a perfectly reasonable brown ale. I may have another before I leave the airport.
Oct 07, 2023Appearance: lovely copper-brown hue with a crystal-clear body and two fingers of frothy tan foam. Nice!
Smell: lightly sweet with a mild toastiness and light caramel character. Good, though a bit subtle.
Taste: a little sweet at first and then a bit drier. There’s a nice toasty nuttiness, and a decent bitterness here. Overall not bad!
Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and creaminess.
Overall: a perfectly reasonable brown ale. I may have another before I leave the airport.
Reviewed by xnotx from Pennsylvania
4.23/5 rDev +23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.23/5 rDev +23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Molasses / brown sugar + Slight maple syrup. Finnish is quite dry, may be perceived as bitter.
Carbonation is sharp. Does seem to taste better as it gets warm. Weird! but good... Best budget 2 dollar a can or less beer at the moment, IMO.
Feb 18, 2023Carbonation is sharp. Does seem to taste better as it gets warm. Weird! but good... Best budget 2 dollar a can or less beer at the moment, IMO.
Reviewed by charleskimmle from Canada (BC)
4/5 rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great well rounded brew. malty, nutty, mild hops. Robust enough to go with most meals, but just mild enough to be somewhat session-able. Even good warm. Great texture. Lower carbonation. Probably the best brew that comes in a 15 pack that i've had. This is so good, perfect carbonation and everything. Just a great mild flavour and perfect texture.
Jan 15, 2023Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A Traditional Ale that does what it is supposed to do: be the first loosener after a hard day and a comforting sessioner.
Had on tap at The Rundle Bar at the Banff Springs Resort; a fitting place to try Traditional Ale. And it Looks good also, relative to the competition; keeping its foam longer than most. Smells were not inspiring, mostly some vague malt. Tastes are nutty and balanced, just enough hops to check the sweetness. While a bit thin, so is the style. I think this ale would improve as it warms... which is what sessioners are supposed to do.
My first from Big Rock and I discover from their website that they are 37 years old; one of the pioneer crafters on the Canadian prairie. With Traditional Ale as their flagship, it indicates to me that they probably make moderate innovations in tradition. They also claim to have three breweries and many private labels... but that never gets detailed on their site. Nevertheless, I give them good Overall Hugs for all this.
Jun 30, 2022Had on tap at The Rundle Bar at the Banff Springs Resort; a fitting place to try Traditional Ale. And it Looks good also, relative to the competition; keeping its foam longer than most. Smells were not inspiring, mostly some vague malt. Tastes are nutty and balanced, just enough hops to check the sweetness. While a bit thin, so is the style. I think this ale would improve as it warms... which is what sessioners are supposed to do.
My first from Big Rock and I discover from their website that they are 37 years old; one of the pioneer crafters on the Canadian prairie. With Traditional Ale as their flagship, it indicates to me that they probably make moderate innovations in tradition. They also claim to have three breweries and many private labels... but that never gets detailed on their site. Nevertheless, I give them good Overall Hugs for all this.
Reviewed by LanceBiggums from Canada (AB)
3.82/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
A long-standing staple around these parts Big Rock Traditional, or Trad for short, is probably the most accessible and certainly the oldest "craft" beer in Alberta. For this reason I've drunk gallons of the stuff without thinking about it much, so this is the first time drinking it with a mind to review it.
It pours a medium brown amber colour with a puffy, two-finger, off-white head. The colour is quite English, and inviting. On the nose is some vague orchard fruit, a grainy malt, and a sort of mustiness. Can't detect any hops presence in the aroma. The flavour is more of the vague orchard fruit, with a strong backbone of sweetish cereal grain malt, and maybe a hint of that typically English juicy orange zest flavour, which I love. The hops here are present, but rather understated. They are so subtle that the finish is 9n the sweetish side, still dominated by orange zest, orchard fruit, and malt. The hops character here is earthy, musty, and laid-back. The mouthfeel is quite good, very pleasant actually. It slides down your throat very easily. Overall, quite a good "craft" imitation of a typical English brown ale, and solid ale all around. Versatile too: you could enjoy this stuff any time of year, any weather, and I can enjoy it just as much as an accompaniment to supper or at a concert or party. Very good stuff.
May 13, 2022It pours a medium brown amber colour with a puffy, two-finger, off-white head. The colour is quite English, and inviting. On the nose is some vague orchard fruit, a grainy malt, and a sort of mustiness. Can't detect any hops presence in the aroma. The flavour is more of the vague orchard fruit, with a strong backbone of sweetish cereal grain malt, and maybe a hint of that typically English juicy orange zest flavour, which I love. The hops here are present, but rather understated. They are so subtle that the finish is 9n the sweetish side, still dominated by orange zest, orchard fruit, and malt. The hops character here is earthy, musty, and laid-back. The mouthfeel is quite good, very pleasant actually. It slides down your throat very easily. Overall, quite a good "craft" imitation of a typical English brown ale, and solid ale all around. Versatile too: you could enjoy this stuff any time of year, any weather, and I can enjoy it just as much as an accompaniment to supper or at a concert or party. Very good stuff.
Rated by octortus from Canada (ON)
3.55/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
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Review: 228
Oct 26, 2020Appearance:
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Review: 228
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.34/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.34/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
473 ml can purchased from Fortinos for about $3.20 CDN. Served cold into a pint glass.
Appearance - Mostly clear, dark honey brown color with a finger plus of medium lasting off white head. Some lacing sticks to the edges of the glass.
Smell - Subtle caramel sweetness, some light nuttiness, possibly some toast mixed in.
Taste - Quite watery, some toasted malt, a touch of nutty flavors as well, possible some bread in the background. Taste is thin, but seems to improve a bit as the beer warms.
Mouthfeel - Medium-light bodied, carbonation is fairly light and finish is medium dry.
Overall - Not terribly robust, the nose is solid enough and wish the flavors match that as well. Considerably better as it warms, most of the scoring here is an average between the cold and the warmer beer.
May 17, 2020Appearance - Mostly clear, dark honey brown color with a finger plus of medium lasting off white head. Some lacing sticks to the edges of the glass.
Smell - Subtle caramel sweetness, some light nuttiness, possibly some toast mixed in.
Taste - Quite watery, some toasted malt, a touch of nutty flavors as well, possible some bread in the background. Taste is thin, but seems to improve a bit as the beer warms.
Mouthfeel - Medium-light bodied, carbonation is fairly light and finish is medium dry.
Overall - Not terribly robust, the nose is solid enough and wish the flavors match that as well. Considerably better as it warms, most of the scoring here is an average between the cold and the warmer beer.
Reviewed by LocalBeerGuy from Canada (SK)
3.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
nice English brown ale from big rock very simple easy to enjoy with good amount of head hardly any carbanion to it. good beer to enjoy any time of the year I see sometimes in case of cans of 12 when I buy my beer.
Sep 28, 2019Reviewed by eberesford from Canada (ON)
3.12/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.12/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A bit nondescript- more of a mild than a brown ale and not particularly distinctive even so. Malt sweetness - hints of toast - a mid amber- so pale for style. On tap at the Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewry, Toronto.
Dec 07, 2018
Traditional Ale from Big Rock Brewery
Beer rating:
78 out of
100 with
218 ratings
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