Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Healdsburg, California USA

On tap at the best bar in the world THRASH ZONE, Yokohama Japan. Poured a massive thick freaky dark blackness with a suitably abundant head. Smell was slight, but inviting. A big taste on the tongue greeted me with a "Howdy, hello...I’ll be sticking around here for a while, so get used to me" kinda thing. Big, bold, black...just like Shaft or an oil rig. Truth be told, however, this bear just didn’t fit me needs. More like an IBA than a Stout, this was overly hoppy for the style and was simply too thick and heavy for me to fully enjoy a full pint. In fact, I actually felt rather sick after downing this. The first time, I thought it might have been a fluke; so I tried it again and had the same sickly stomach. Perhaps a quality beer, but does not suit me.

Aroma is sweet malts more than any coffee or chocolate. Taste again is sweet, hoppy for an impy stout, and some coffee and chocolate. Nothing great here, but drinkable.

The aroma is sweet with toasted malt, coffee, chocolate, and a small amount of hops. The appearance is almost black with a large head. The flavor is hoppier than the aroma but is dominated by the same elements from the aroma. The palate is a bit thin. Overall a drinkable beer that is to style but is nothing special.

it has all the good qualities, but the their is a over toasty taste and the finish is kinda funky and astringent. the malts over roasted and over sweet. palate is solid, yet it lacks any one surparb thing to make really worthwhile.

Bottle from Binnys, Chicago. Near black in colour with a tight, creamy tan head. Aroma of coffee, roasted malts and citrus hops. Full mouth feel, with flavours of dark chocolate, caramel and prunes, before a big citrus hop kick and dry finish. Very good.

bottle,dark brown pour..tan head..chocolate,malt,coffee..bitter flavour with chocolate..not the greatest stout but not bad

Very dark brown pour, some light seeps through it. Nice tan head. Aroma of chocolate, some roasty malt, a bit of coffee. Flavor is bitter chocolate. Some sweetness, a bit of hops. My girlfriend drank a whole bomber of this, that’s impressive. Though, I think there are much better imperial stouts.

Black pour, small tan head. Nice concentrated malt roast, a bit of chocolate. A tad bit sweet, palate is pleasant, nothing special but a good offering.