Big Bear Brewing Company

Big Bear Brewing CompanyBig Bear Brewing Company
Big Bear Brewing CompanyBig Bear Brewing Company
Brewery, Eatery

1800 N. University Drive
Coral Springs, Florida, 33065
United States

(954) 341-5545 | map
bigbearbrewingco.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.44
Beers:
25
Ratings:
102
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.92
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
43
pDev:
12.5%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by uturn:
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Rated by uturn from Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

Jan 23, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.18 by Oakley from North Carolina

Sep 07, 2019
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Reviewed by alconover from Florida

4/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The four of us enjoyed several varieties of beer plus dinner. All was delicious. There were families as well as adult patrons in the bar, dining area and patio. The patio is dog-friendly, too. Our server, Nathan, was terrific. Big Bear's beers are only available at their restaurant. The food and brews have won numerous and well-deserved awards in their 19-yr history according to the posters on the walls. We'll return when we're in the area.
May 01, 2017
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Reviewed by mverity from Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 4.25 | selection: 2.75 | food: 4.5
Fantastic facility. The ambiance is lively, the decor is beer and bear themed, and the place is well laid out. Beer was mediocre, to good, with the dubbel being the best offering on tap when I was there. I did a flight of their entire lineup. They offer their own brews, plus a small hand full of macro or large craft. I sat at the bar, and my two bartenders were quite attentive, despite there being a nearly full bar. I noticed that the servers seemed to always be within earshot of their tables. Food was very good. I got a salad, app and pizza; each of which was both delicious and a great value.
Sep 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.55 by Graham19840 from Florida

May 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by CBrodbeck from Florida

May 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.29 by Jobin_24 from Florida

Mar 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.54 by albertreact from Florida

Sep 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by Satsuma from Florida

Nov 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by embass from Virginia

Nov 06, 2014
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Reviewed by hopmashian from Florida

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
Good all around restaurant and brewery. Decor is dark wood and brass. Food is tasty and well prepared. Service is above average and professional. Beer is very good and they offer flights so you can taste the different styles.
I've been here twice and will go back for the grizzly red.
Nov 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by reaganrvltn from Georgia

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by johnwkraft from Florida

Aug 31, 2014
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Reviewed by jp11801 from Florida

2.5/5  rDev -36.2%
This place was full of Meh when I went. The beer was very average and the food was slightly better. Service was really great friendly and fast so that is a plus. Nothing was bad that I tasted but nothing was really good either.
Aug 17, 2014
 
 
Rated: 3.5 by Dolfan907 from Tennessee

Feb 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Jazar from Florida

Jan 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by karabearaesquire from Florida

Jan 19, 2014
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Rated by DuffDaddy from Florida

5/5  rDev +27.6%
Had dinner (fish and chips) while down in Hollywood for a deposition.
Nov 11, 2013
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Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.25
This was not a bad place at all. A beer destination? Perhaps not. But a solid brewpub, sure. It had a "chain-y" feel to it, but it was tolerable. A large bar, and a pretty huge dining area, there's nothing too intimate about the place, but it's just not that kind of place. As far as selection and quality go, there were a good number--maybe 10 or so--house brews on tap. Nothing out of this world, and a few clunkers, but overall everything averaged out to be decent to good, with the Espresso Cream Stout and the very sessionable Hibernation pale ale probably topping the list for me.

Service was fine, and while not necessarily in tune with the beer scene on the whole, they at least seemed educated in the house beers, and knew what to recommend to the masses. The food was quite good, and the menu gave a lot of options. Actually, when in a quandry about where to go for dinner one evening during our week stay in FL, the wife and I actually decided to return to Big Bear a second time just based on the food. It's basically comfort food, and steaks and seafood, but it's all tasty, from what we had. Prices were decent, with some entrees getting into the higher range.

Worth a visit if you're in town. Again, not what I'd call a "destination," but it was enjoyable overall.
Jan 20, 2013
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Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
In a strip mall-type setting in Coconut Creek, it's pretty easy to find. Nice atmosphere. Typical of a brewpub in a suburban area. The beers were all good quality. A little disappointing that the Kodiak Belgian Dubbel was out. The other 7 beers were good. The Hibernation Pale Ale is the best - a hoppy APA. The service was okay. The server gave mainstream examples to compare to most of the beers. She disappeared and was slow with the check later on. The food is really pretty good. The prices are reasonable for the area, too. It was a good visit.
Mar 31, 2012
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Reviewed by kopfjaeger from Alabama

3.74/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 2
I drove pretty far out of my way to get to this place, and they had no IPA. I'd had a LONG day of travel, and was dying for a big IPA. I hate when that happens.
I sat at the bar, which was a nice, comfortable bar. It is a very nice place overall. Great atmosphere. I had a fun conversation with a couple of regulars at the bar, who were very nice. The bartender was very attentive, but she was not exactly a fountain of knowledge about their beers. They didn't have an IPA. I started with their Porter. It was a very nice, balanced porter with a nice chocolate note. I had two of their Hibernation Pale Ales after that. The pale ale was very good, not wimpy. It had a good hop flavor profile. I didn't have time to eat.
Jul 25, 2011
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Reviewed by funkybuddha from Florida

4.45/5  rDev +13.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I grew up in Coral Springs, and unfortunately moved away before I really got into craft beer. I live close, but not close enough to make this a daily happy hour spot, which it would be. Matt seems to tackle most styles with ease and consistenly puts out excellent beer. Whether it is there Belgian Dubbel or a Imperial Stout on nitro I have never not been impressed.

Although I go for the beer, I am always happy to eat there as well. I am a huge fan of there beer cheese soup and they make excellent salads as well. A must stop for those seeking a good brew pub while visiting Florida.
May 12, 2011
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Reviewed by adkirkish from Florida

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
I wish there were more brew pubs in south florida, but sadly only a handful exist in So Fla. Of the two, this is the one I would choose. Beer is made on site (10 Bbl system). The brewmaster has been working here since 2002 (Multi-Award Winning brewer to include Gold Medal at the GABF 2002).

The beer is good (Abbey Dubbel), the food is excellent (Pair the beer with the pretzel encrusted chicken), and the service is always great.

I dont think this place gets the press that it needs, but I'll be the first to toss my hat into the favorable pile. Support your local brewery!!
Jul 13, 2010
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Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Entry at the 1750 Stonegate Bank Plaza entrance. The building was divided in the center by the awninged, double-doored entryway that opened onto the m.d.s. which also had a glass display case for logo items. Up a short pair of steps to the right was the onyx-black, marble topped, rectangular bar. Booths surrounded the bar on three sides with the fourth the wall for their wine rack, flanked on either side by monitors. Off to the left was the restaurant area with the kitchen all of the way aft. The restaurant area was all booth seating with the opulent lavs in the back left corner. Facing, the brewhouse and a few FVs sat in the window with a row of SVs running down the left side.

Extras: Jimmy John's Subs used to advertise "free smells" - here, the smoky odor alerted me to either a Class "A" fire or their Baby Back Ribs. My server, Marian, informed me that it was the latter and that I could relax. Not with her as my server! Yow! The diamond ring on the left hand was a thrill killer, but ... zounds! Curvaceous and on display. I know that such talk pushed the boundaries, but sometimes, yours truly cannot restrain himself. Did I mention the two redheads at Boca Raton! No! Restraint.

Food: I had the Pretzel-Encrusted Chicken for a late dinner/early supper and it turned into a Now "n" Later meal. Have some now, save some for later. A truly huge portion.

Beers: Polar Light; Hibernation PA; Grizzly Red; Brown Bear; Kodiak Belgian Dubbel.
Seasonals: (Fruit)-Raspberry Light; English Porter; (Wit)ness.

Aside: While we were there, one of the monitors was tuned to CNBC's "The Big Deal" where a dude was offered $10K to cut beard, negits. Finally, wins $225 K plus $25 K to cut beard. Walks out with $.25 M but cut his beard!?! Sellout. Obviously, not married to his beard. Me, start at $250K and start talking.
Dec 17, 2009
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Reviewed by umhurricanes from Florida

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I've been coming here for years and never reviewed this place. I'll base this review on all my experiences.

I've always had a good time while eating and drinking at Big Bear. While the Beer is average to above Average, the food and atmosphere is excellent. The Hibernation Pale Ale and the Red are my favorites and they also make a quality Belgium as well. Usually they have a seasonal on draft as well. This place has a pretty good happy hour, and also doubles as a good place to take the family, even on a friday or saturday evening. Nice Dark wood in the interior and plenty of tables on the patio in the front. We need more brew pubs/resturants in South Florida badly, and I wouldn't mind seeing this place expand to Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, or Miami. Definately a place to search out if you are within the the tri-county region!
Jul 28, 2009
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.48/5  rDev -11.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Big Bear stood out physically, in this mall of business, and was an interesting stop neot far from Fort Lauderdale or Boca Raton. A carved out bear area was appreciated, with generous number of seats and well lit up. There were many restaurant tables all about, and I believe a second floor for parties, etc. Big tanks, a reasonably good selection. The mission of coming here was for the double IPA that was Jack Daniels barrel aged, and that mission was accomplished. The remaining beers were passable to mediocre Service was genuine and there was root beer on tap.Service was downright friendly, university nearby may have helped. Beers served way too cold, so I made sure to get a non-frosted mug.
Feb 19, 2009
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Reviewed by ThirstyBird from California

3.84/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
I stopped by on a recent trip to FLA. I tried the sampler which consisted of 8 samples. I though four were quite good two were mediocre while two I did not care for at all. Definitley something for everybody in their offering. I did not try their food though the folks next to us enjoyed theirs and the portions were large.

The bartender was great as was the assistant brewer who took time out to chat and give a short tour.

The bar itself is nicely dark with plenty of wood and leather.

Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.
Jan 11, 2009
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Reviewed by kiawahisland from South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Stopped off and had lunch here on New Years Eve. I ordered the beer sampler to start off with along with the beer and cheese soup. The soup was outstanding! The sampler was hit or miss. They had 8 beers that were brewed on premise. The Belgium double, El Diablo Red, and Cappucino Cream Stout were excellent. The (seasonal)Peach beer, IPA, and light beer were decent and was kind of dissapointed with the Red and Nut brown ales. The red and nut brown seemed a little bland and hoppy. I wound up ordering another El Diablo and 2 more Belgiums with my meal.

For lunch I had the Chipotle Burger which was good and filling. My wife got the Rattlesnake salad which was excellent. Overall I was impressed with the food and the beer was pretty good. Like others said, it was a little dark inside but your not completely in the dark.Service was good.
Jan 02, 2009
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Reviewed by fireqc from Canada (QC)

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
I went there two weeks ago. I loved it! And I'll return next year.

The beers, are not so bad and not so impressive. But the service was very good and the food no bad point to say!. Try the bread soup, a nice choice!

Inside is a little bit dark, soft and not so much loud. And when I went there is for dinner at 6:15 pm. I try the sampler and some bear are notables. Kodiak Belgian Dubbel and the fruity seasonal! The IPA is too soft for me but ok...
The food selection is complete but they can improve by putting pictures in the menu (I hate to ask the server thousands of time for what is that blablabla)...

Anyway, my overall experience is yes I'll go there in the future even if they don't offer any good souvenir like coster or something more that just shirt.
Nov 11, 2008
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Reviewed by Brianmerrilyn from New York

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Buddy of mine lives in Coral Springs and we go hear each time I visit a few times per year, while he is a Mugmember and keeps me up to date on the seansonals. As others have mentioned, it's less than easy to find a quality brew pub in South Florida. While this is a chain, it blows away the former Suds which went out of business in the area. Large dining area with the "stick" set off to the right in clear view of the tanks. The "club member" pint dwarfs a regular one and it's pretty dumb not to join if you live in the area and enjoy fresh beer. My buddy shares the same opinion as most that Pale Ale is the best while I'm a fan of their Kodiak Belgian. Seasonal now is a blueberry which is most respectable and a Pilsner. Staff is knowledgable, friendly and genereous with the samples. Good South FLA menu while I'm a fan of the brie platter. The early closing hours (11PM!!!!??)are more to due with Coral Springs Blue laws than anything else. Cool bar flys Don and his wife Margaret and don't forget the rootbeer with Captain's for those not hop inclined.

5/2/08 Paw Print Pilsner(5.3) Blueberry Wheat(4.9) and English Porter(5.3)
Mar 27, 2008
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Reviewed by nhhokie from New Hampshire

3.45/5  rDev -12%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Visited on New Year's day. The atmosphere was pleasant... not your typical hole in the wall location. Seemed to cater to families lot's of kids were present. Beer quality was average. The selection and taste were middle of the road. The best of the lot was the Hibernation pale ale. Well hopped for a Florida ale but nothing special. The Belgian Dubbel, again, was good but lacked the balance and mouth feel expected of a great Belgian ale. Food was great but pricey; had a burger for $11.. ouch! Overall. a nice to place to visit but probably won't go back.
Jan 05, 2008
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Reviewed by phred6185 from Florida

4.63/5  rDev +18.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
In the sea of "crap" beer that is South Florida, this is about the only place to get a decent draft. My personal fave is the Hibernation (IPA) but the other offerings are very good. The Polar Light is a little weak for my tastes but it does give my BMC friend something to drink. The food is good with large portions and after more than 50+ meals here and having just about everything on the menu, it is the most consistent meal in the area at these prices.

If you are stuck in South Florida (beer wise) make this a stop...it will keep your beer senses sharp until you can escape to better beer locales.
Jan 02, 2008
Photo of DaveFL1976
Reviewed by DaveFL1976 from Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A very Brass & Fern type atmosphere. I sort of felt that I was in a place to have an upscale dinner with my grandmother in her Sunday Best. But, then again, we ARE in South Florida, God's Waiting Room. Or maybe it was just the time of day that we visited.

Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday at about 12:30. The place wasn't exactly doing gangbuster business, but we didn't feel lonely, either. I ordered the Bistro Burger (medium rare), my wife got French onion soup, and my dad ordered the fish and chips. My burger was delicious, the soup pretty good, and the fish just so-so. A little too greasy and too heavily breaded.

I also got the beer sampler. I was pretty suprised to see such a wide range, 11 different styles. None of which were bad. Most were merely OK, but the Pale Ale, Stout and Dubble were well above average.

Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area, though you might want to wear your suit pants and white shoes to fit in.
Aug 06, 2007
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Reviewed by futaboots from Florida

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Tried a sampler of all their beers on tap, and they were mostly pretty good. The only ones I didn't like were the seasonal fruit beer and the Polar Light. The rest ranged from "kinda liked" to "loved." The Hibernation Pale Ale, Belgian Dubbel, and Espresso Stout (a seasonal) really stood out.

Didn't get to explore the food menu too much, since I had a late lunch and this wasn't a planned trip. I tried the Meunster Soup though....and, it's basically a cheese soup. Of course it was good. Utterly delicious in this case. My friend had the steak sandwich, which he enjoyed.

Basically the beer was pretty good, the food that I tried was also pretty good. The bartender was very cool. My only nit was that the place was too dark. Lowering the lights for ambiance is usually cool, but I think this place found the line and crossed it.
Apr 03, 2007
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Reviewed by Shaw from Florida

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I were in Davie, Fla., for a friend's wedding so I had to punch up BeerFly to see what brewpubs were around. Big Bear was the only one that showed up and after reading the reviews it seemed like a good place to try, especially since my wife doesn't drink beer.

It's a fancy restaurant, as far as almost every brewpub I've been in. No smoking, thanks Florida voters! It's very dark inside after coming in from a bright February day, so watch your step! Nice wood and stone with visible brewing equipment in the front and a visible kitchen in the rear. Big bar and nice bathrooms (also dark with dark stone decor).

Our server, Carlos, was excellent and attentive and had no problem giving us extra time to decide on their food, which is not typical pub fair. It's a lot more upscale, with fancy sandwiches, pizzas, salads, etc. But back to our server. My wife ordered a mixed drink and I ordered a beer. It was a new mixed drink for her and she ended up not liking it. Carlos asked how it was; she said she didn't like it; he took it away and didn't charge us. That was a very nice touch. Neither of us would have had a problem paying for the drink, but he went the extra mile. We gave him a big tip for that and also for the rest of his excellent service.

The beer I had, their Hibernation Pale Ale, was very good. She ended up with their own root beer, which she liked a lot. I got the veggie pannini and she had the veggie pizza. My pannini was good, her pizza was excellent.

Overall, it was a great experience. We got there right before noon on a Sunday and when we left their was quite a line waiting for tables. I didn't see any of the other (many) patrons drinking, so you know the food is good when they come just for that.

It's not inexpensive. Our meals were about $10 each. My ~20-ounce beer was $4, a nice price. It's not an expensive place and you get nice food and a nice experience for the money. It's well worth it and we would definitely go back.
Feb 19, 2007
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Reviewed by Jredner from Florida

4/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Very nicely decorated. Upscale, but cozy with intimate booth seating and very toned down lighting. I didn’t eat, but the beer was decent and the brewmaster, Matt was a very nice guy. The Dubbel was my favorite, but the Brown Ale was fairly decent. There was a bock, dry-hopped cask IPA, Pale Ale, Esspresso Stout and a few others as well. Fairly solid if not outstanding brews. The lineupo isn't exactly expansive, with about 9 beers in total, but it's a fairly decent sized offering for a brewpub that seems to be based more ont he Hop's modeal...a Brewsteraunt. Worth a stop.
Feb 07, 2007
Photo of hunteraw
Reviewed by hunteraw from China

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Finally visited while home for break.

Atmosphere: a little on the dark side, more "classy" than many brewpubs - it's not a sports bar by any means, could be a decent date place. The brewing equipment and serving vessels are visible as you dine.

Quality: Both beers I had were solid. While a brewpub, didn't seem to be a beer-oriented place, most of the tables I saw had soda on them, although I did hear a girl behind me order the porter...

Service: Good, but didn't seem particularly attentive or knowledgeable about beer, either. Different glassware for the Belgian dubbel I ordered and the APA, which was appreciated, but the dubbel was served a little too cold and the APA was served in a frosted glass. Had to wait a bit more than I'd like to get the hostess's attention.

Selection: Better than average selection for a brewpub - eight beers on tap, including three rotating selections. I meant to ask if they had glassware available (I did see shirts...) but since none of their own beers were served in their own glassware, I guess probably not.

Food: Tasty. The beer meunster soup was delicious in a bread bowl, coconut shrimp were tasty, but a little on the greasy side. Good portions, didn't have room for dessert. Plenty of variety on the menu.
Jan 05, 2007
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Reviewed by GreenCard from Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -9.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Finally got to try this place. I've been meaning to every time I visit my parents in Coral Springs, but for whatever reason, I never have gone. Anyway...

The ambience is quite cozy. Makes you think you're not even in Florida. It's got that dark wood, subdued lighting thing going on. Seems to be busy all the time, too, so they must be doing something right. Fortunately, it's not been done up like a sports bar with loud televisions blaring all the time, etc. You can actually relax and have a conversation.

On to the beer... it's decent. Nothing amazing, but most of the samples in the "beer board" were pretty drinkable. Their pale ale was nice and hoppy, probably the best one. The dubbel apparently one a couple of awards, but I wasn't too impressed with it. One impressive thing is that they have quite a wide range of beer for such a small brewhouse. There's something for all tastes here.

The food was also decent, though a bit pricey: $12 for a grilled fish sandwich with fries and $10 for a reuben. The poor value was somewhat assuaged, though, when our waitress came by with a platter of chili and tortilla chips and asked if we would like to have it because they made an extra by mistake. We, of course, accepted her offer. The chili was pretty good, as was my fish sandwich. However, I didn't care for their fries. They're those skinny shoe-string ones. If you're going to consume deep-fried potatoes, they've got to be nice, thick ones.
Dec 24, 2006
Photo of joedon
Reviewed by joedon from Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -9.4%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I rated this place lower than the previous reviews. The atmoshere was commercial neighborhood brew-pub/restaurant, designed and fine-tuned by the marketing department. Even the beers seemed to be designed to fit the marketing profile.

First disappointment was that we had been seated in the "restaurant" area so we didn't qualify for the "$2.00 happy hour pints". Our sever could have educated us a little bit sooner about that.

Second disapointment was that it was pitch dark in the whole place. You could barely read the menus and certainly not see much of the beer. Why?

Selection was six+ taps with light/pale/Belgian (which I wish I'd tried)/stout/seasonal and "red". The "Hibernator Pale" had been praised in other reviews but I found it to be average. The chocolate stout was very good.

Food was basic chain-restaurant, short-order stuff. The pizza was unremarkable. Prices were OK but I still felt gypped about the $2.00/pint happy hour deal I missed.

Florida and the South in general still have a long way to go to measure up to craft beer-oriented drinking and dining establishments. Bud and a greasy burger seem to be enough, at the moment.
May 23, 2006
Big Bear Brewing Company in Coral Springs, FL
Brewery rating: 3.44 out of 5 with 102 ratings