-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
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.
Ratings by mikesgroove:
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina
4.05/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Another day up in Asheville, and it was HOT! The only thing to keep you cool was several trips around
to the local watering holes. Consumed on tap on 07/06/2010.
Finally I get to drink the brown bear. Sat down in the mushroom and ordered this one up. Nice dark
brown pour with some light garnet shining in on the sides and bottom and nice off white head capping
the top,
Aroma is caramel, coffee, touches of light chocolate and loads of roasted malts. Warming allows some
earthy hops to take hold but not too much. Just enough to keep it interesting. Rich, creamy feel hits
you just the right way as it was not too filling but had enough of a bite to keep me interested. Nice
smooth, fading finish was just about right as the final touches of flavor lapsed off the tongue.
Overall this was very solid and something I would love to try again any day.
Jul 09, 2010to the local watering holes. Consumed on tap on 07/06/2010.
Finally I get to drink the brown bear. Sat down in the mushroom and ordered this one up. Nice dark
brown pour with some light garnet shining in on the sides and bottom and nice off white head capping
the top,
Aroma is caramel, coffee, touches of light chocolate and loads of roasted malts. Warming allows some
earthy hops to take hold but not too much. Just enough to keep it interesting. Rich, creamy feel hits
you just the right way as it was not too filling but had enough of a bite to keep me interested. Nice
smooth, fading finish was just about right as the final touches of flavor lapsed off the tongue.
Overall this was very solid and something I would love to try again any day.
More User Ratings:
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.
Brown Bear Ale from Catawba Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
68 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!