Bar Harbor Real Ale
Atlantic Brewing Company - Town Hill / Mainely Meat BBQ

Bar Harbor Real AleBar Harbor Real Ale
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From:
Atlantic Brewing Company - Town Hill / Mainely Meat BBQ
 
Maine, United States
Style:
English Brown Ale
Ranked #147
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
81
Ranked #36,110
Avg:
3.55 | pDev: 12.96%
Ratings:
415 | reviews: 231
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 03, 2026
Added:
Jul 25, 2001
Wants:
  12
Gots:
  43
A good, clean nut brown ale with a malty body. This is our most popular ale due to its smooth and malty flavor.

We use a mixture of pale, crystal and black malts in this one, and our primary hop is Target, though we also add some Whitbread Goldings Variation as well.

The Real Ale is best fresh, so fresh in fact, that it's great right out of the bright tank.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Crackblind:
Photo of Crackblind
Reviewed by Crackblind from New York

4.33/5  rDev +22%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap in Bar Harbor in a pint glass

A good American example of an ESB. Clear pale brown with a thin persistent head, leaves very little lacing. The malt hits your nose as you take a sip. The malt & hops are well balanced with malt hitting first and the hops following. Nice bready flavor with a hint of chocolate and caramel and light carbonation. Goes great with a lobster roll.
Aug 15, 2025
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by prisdefer from New York

Dec 06, 2025
Photo of StoutElk_92
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

4.54/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
16 oz. can

Pours clear mahogany red brown with a dense creamy off-white foam head. Notes of honey, nutty caramel, toasted bread crust, chocolate, some vanilla, subtle pretzel, hints of dark dried fruits and mild earthy grassy herbal hops. Feels medium lighter bodied, smooth.
Aug 12, 2025
 
Rated: 3.85 by Abstractspirit from Rhode Island

Apr 29, 2025
 
Rated: 2.84 by brother_rebus from Maine

Apr 15, 2025
 
Rated: 4.24 by AirBob from Massachusetts

Aug 06, 2024
Photo of FreePal88
Reviewed by FreePal88 from Niger

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Roasty and stout-like yet incredibly crisp and clean initial impressions. Hops very subdued. Then caramel (and maybe something approximating notes of vanilla?) and biscuity malts creep in. Sessionable and tasty, what's with the low rating? If this was some generic NEIPA it would be at like 95%.
Feb 16, 2024
Photo of Taybeh
Reviewed by Taybeh from Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From a tall boy, pours a dark reddish brown with minimal head. Nose is nutty and bready malt…nice. Taste follows nose…there’s a little earthy chocolate, and maybe just a little caramel, but not much. A nice fall beer…maybe just a little English style hops in there. Low carbonation. Maybe a little bit thin and watery on the body, but I bet this would be great on cask.
Oct 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Taenim from Maine

Sep 11, 2023
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

3.77/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can: Poured a deep brown ale with a medium -off-white foamy head with OK retention and light lacing. Aroma of deep caramelized malt notes with light nitty notes. Taste is also dominated by deep caramel notes with some nutty flavors and a semi-dry finish. Body is about average with medium carbonation. Good brown ale that paired well with ribs.
Jul 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.84 by StrangerTides from North Carolina

Jul 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.19 by newcastlemike from Connecticut

Oct 09, 2022
Photo of mpk2020
Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Draft in Bar Harbor. Pretty good ESB
Sep 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.43 by shelby415 from Oregon

Jul 18, 2022
 
 
Rated: 3.63 by Blogjackets from Ohio

Sep 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by KrissyKat6 from New York

Jul 08, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by McSeal from Connecticut

May 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.94 by BidYouABrew from Washington

Sep 10, 2020