Bear Hug
Taxman Brewing Co.

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Taxman Brewing Co.
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
+4 ratings needed
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 5.45%
Ratings:
6 | reviews: 3
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 17, 2021
Added:
Dec 13, 2020
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Embrace Bear Hug, our special gingerbread-cookie-inspired brown ale with spices. Sweet, robust and roasted dark malts are cuddled together with earthy honey, zesty ginger, spicy cinnamon and smooth vanilla, making this ale the ultimate acquisition of the season.

26 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.79 by icemanexit from Indiana

Dec 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by freewill35 from Indiana

Mar 28, 2021
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Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz canned 12/09/20 poured into a snifter at just above fridge temp 9% ABV 26 IBU. The beer pours bright, light to medium brown in color with chestnut highlights and abundant tan colored head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves a web of lacing. The aroma is mild cinnamon up front and lesser notes of vanilla and honey. The taste is semisweet gingerbread cookie. Ginger, cinnamon, vanilla are integrated into a malt & honey sweet base. Minimal bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. The ginger and cinnamon pull this one right back on the finish so there's no lingering sweetness. Overall, very good. I'm not normally a fan of "desert" inspired beer, but this nails the gingerbread cookie mentioned on the label, without sticky or lingering sweetness.
Feb 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by aasher from Indiana

Jan 05, 2021
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Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a light brown color with a light beige head. The aroma is a fantastic gingerbread and clove. The taste is probably the best and strongest tasting gingerbread flavor I have ever had in a beer. Clove is also quite strong, with some honey sweetness and yeast and malt. Light feel. Overall this was way better than expected, although a bit hard to drink more than one.
Dec 28, 2020
Photo of BucBasil
Reviewed by BucBasil from Rwanda

3.43/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the 12oz can into an imperial pint glass. The beer's label states that it is brewed with honey, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla - a gingerbread cookie inspired beer, if you will.

A: The beer is a hazy dark brown with a tan head that is frothy and builds up high before decreasing down to a finger or so for a while.

S: Gingerbread aroma is strong in the nose. A bit overpowering at first, but then some vanilla is evident, along with some Belgian yeast, which is a nice surprise.

T: Roasted malt and yeast balanced with a bit of bread and fruit. It is somewhat gingerbread-y, with the gingerbread and frosting note strongest near the end. Cinnamon overpowers in the finish. Good for a bit, but then becomes a bit cloying.

Overall: I like the idea of this beer. It has a unique flavor, and I love gingerbread, but the beer is a bit much for a whole drink. Worth a try, but I don't know if I'll be picking this up again.
Dec 13, 2020