Bear
Tree House Brewing Company

BearBear
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From:
Tree House Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #38
ABV:
6.4%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,529
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 8.35%
Reviews:
67
Ratings:
411
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 24, 2023
Added:
Dec 22, 2014
Wants:
  19
Gots:
  87
Nearly four years in the making, Bear is Tree House brewer Brendan’s recipe and his first scaled commercial batch. It has all the characteristics of a classic English Brown Ale with a distinct American twist. Bear pours a nearly opaque dark brown with a sticky caramel colored head. Aromas of toffee, caramel, chocolate, and earthy hops prep the palate for the wonderful flavor to come. We taste toffee, brown bread, caramel candy, varied nuttiness, and a melange of dark fruit. The earthy hops dance throughout and are balanced beautifully by a brown sugar sweetness. Delicious. Bear is one of the best food beers we have ever had - it pairs brilliantly with nearly everything… including nothing! A lovely and unique example of a brown ale and one we are quite proud of Brendan for creating! Brewed in honor of those who leave a lasting and influential impression on our lives.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jlindros:
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Growler filled yesterday, shared with rudzud.

Big creamy thick 1 finger head fades semi slowly with lots of soapy lacing, dark mahogany almost black brownish color with light ruby hue.

Nose is nice, lots of toasty brown malts, nice biscuit and lots of nutty notes, little caramel and toffee, little biscotti like candy, etc. Then some earthy spicy like hops, faint touch of pine.

Taste brings more of the same, to start at least, lots of toffee caramel biscuit malts, toasty brown malts with very light sweetness and a touch of brown sugar. Then big hops kick in, spicy earthy piney hops kinda get in the way, which is unfortunate. Nice nutty toffee flavor but not very sweet. Finish is very bitter, spicy slight piney hop and even a little citrus rind, sticky caramel toffee, nutty, etc.

Mouth is med bod, lighter carb tough, soft and a little sticky.

Overall mixed, great malt profile but the big American hops really clash with it. Still an enjoyable beer but hard to get through the hops.

Edit: Second batch, the hops toned down a bit. Much nicer balance of the toffee biscuity malts and mild spicy hop adds a nice touch to the caramel malts, etc. Pretty enjoyable for an English brown with American hops.
Dec 29, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.11 by DavyJonesXXX from Texas

Apr 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by pveilleux from Massachusetts

Apr 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.03 by MDDMD from Pennsylvania

Feb 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.39 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Feb 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by DustyBeerz from New York

Jan 31, 2023
Photo of DublinDrunk
Rated by DublinDrunk from Massachusetts

4.17/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Found this one hiding - canned March 2022, drank today and was as delicious as the first three!
Jan 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by Taenim from Maine

Oct 12, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Oct 09, 2022
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.12/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can, dated 9/6/22 on the bottom of the can

pours almost black, much darker than most brown ales. tan colored head. aroma is fairly roasty, again more so than most brown ales. taste is similar - roasted and toasted malt. fairly dry finish. medium to fuller bodied. overall I like it.
Oct 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.43 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Sep 20, 2022
 
Rated: 3.9 by benjaminsa from Vermont

Aug 06, 2022
Photo of TheBigBoy
Reviewed by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
One of these best browns I've had, this one poors an intimidating dark brown and delivers a complex hearty medley of flavors. It a darker beer so drink it on the right day and you will be captivated. Well done.
Jun 05, 2022
Photo of 322wingedfoot
Rated by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a 16oz can dated 3/28/22. A solid brown ale.
May 05, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

3.99/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Canned 3/28/22. "Da.....bears" stamped on the bottom of the can

Back with yet another classic style from Tree House, but this one being a much old release than the Pizzeria Pils I had earlier. This is one I always mean to pick up when I go to the brewery, but end up not getting in favor of some more exciting options. But this time, I was feeling more of the classics. Let's see what they can do with a Brown Ale

Pours a muddy medium brown with 2 fingers of tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

I know they have a version of this with coffee, but this is already pretty damn roasty without any coffee added. I'm picking up on aromas of pumpernickel toast, medium roast coffee, milk chocolate, earthy hops, raisin, and bread crust

In taste, it's a bit sweeter than I would've expected, but it's still pretty good. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting brown bread, peppery hops, doughy malt, milk chocolate, and general dark fruit. The swallow brings notes of milk chocolate, earthy hops, drip coffee, pumpernickel, light raisin, and toffee

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a silky yet semi-dry beer. Finishes neutral with a slight roast

Well it's not the best they can do with classic styles, but it's pretty good. Definitely easy drinking for 6.4%
Apr 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Jan 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.81 by BeerMe8 from Florida

Dec 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by SeaCros from Florida

Nov 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.09 by StanleysCup from Maryland

Nov 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by Saturna from Massachusetts

Nov 19, 2021
Bear from Tree House Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 411 ratings