Big Gut Pale Ale
Rocky Run Tap And Grill

had as part of the sampler platter, on tap from restaurant in charles village. this has similar qualities as the bar wench brew but is richer and with more body. the amber color is very pleasing, as is it's crisp hoppy taste. the ale finishes smoothly.

-notes from 12/04

I sampled this brew at the Marley Mall outlet. It was a rainy Friday night, 3 days before Christmas - the mall was packed and so was the Rocky Run restaurant, but there was room at the bar. The Big Gut Pale Ale was served in a 22 oz tumbler with minimal head. It was sort of dirty amber color and rather cloudy. There was not much nose to it and the taste was pretty weak, at least for my palate. Hop flavor was so faint as to be uncharacterizable. Malt flavors were present but unremarkable. Mouthfeel was watery, although the carbonation added interest. This beer is drinkable, I guess, but I woulda rather had a Sam Adams -- more flavor. Pretty disappointing for a hop-head, but I guess if you wanted a local brew with your burger or dinner, this might do the trick... or not. I doubt if I'll be back.

I sampled this on the sampler platter at the Dobbin Center location. Poured a medium copper color with a tight compact off white head. Yeast, malt and hops detected in the nose with the malt winning out. The flavor was dry and malty, nicely balanced, leading wat to a very long drying finish, this was a very drinkable beer.

Just sampled last night at the Columbia location. Pours a light brownish copper. Has a thick, small-bubbled white head that dissipates quickly. Smells a bit yeasty. Definitely fits the style, but smoother than a lot of more popular pale ales. You get a nice, sweet caramel flavor. The mouthfell is light and smooth. No overbearing flavors stick in the mouth. It goes down very easy. You could definitely slug back a few, especially on a warm day. Unfortunately, you have to go to Rocky Run to try the beer. I think that they only offer the beer on tap at their locations.

A clear golden/amber body is capped by a thin lid of white foam that receeds shortly and leaves only spotty lacing as it goes. The nose is clean and lightly grainy with a subtle touch of caramelization. It expresses a more sweetish-than-biscuity malt; and that's later verified in the flavor. The body is medium-light with a dextrinous feel to it; and it's fine, median carbonation leaves it crisp across the tongue. The caramel splashed malt expressed in the nose is delivered in the flavor and tempered with some citrusy/lemony hops and a solid bitterness that leaves it well-balanced and drinkable! It finishes dry with just some short lived malt and lemony hop in the aftertaste.