Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout

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

Not too impressed. Small, thin head, quickly dissipating head, light lacing. Pitch black color. Heavy roasted malt flavor masks the alcohol well but doesn’t make it taste extraordinary.

Bottle. Pours just a little thicker and darker than cola and has a pretty quick forming one finger tan head. Aromas are beautiful. Molasses and dark malt are dominant, but noticeable prune/dark fruit and anise undercurrents are there, too. Flavor doesn’t quite live up to the nose’s expectations. It’s still pretty good, but the elements don’t come together smoothly and it seems a little sharp. Don’t know if it is the molasses or what, but something makes this a little edgy.

Bottle. Pours a black color with minimal head, white in color. Aromas of chocolate, malts, and a bit of molasses. Strong initial texture with an oily texture aftertaste. Okay stout, but I have had many better.

Great standard for a rich, heavy stout. Dark, opaque brown/black color producing a filmy brown head and bunches of spotty lacing. Hearty aromas of chocolate, black licorice, molasses, roasted nuts and fudge. A strong hop aroma is present as well (cascades perhaps). Lush, silky smooth and very filling. The mouth feel is creamy and provides a wonderful feeling of sweet vs. bitter. Dominating flavors of bittersweet chocolate, piny hops, nuts, toast and licorice. Fantastic

I am surprised to read that this is an Imperial Stout rather than just a stout, although I suppose that the 8.1% ABV I saw listed on the bottle is explained by that style. However, in all other respects other than ABV, this beer seemed mild to me, much more like a stout than an imperial stout. Color was dark and head was pretty tall and tan. Aroma was not very rich, but was pleasantly roasty. Flavor was a good "burned pizza crust" roastiness, but I didn’t detect much of the chocolate, coffee, or dried fruit notes that are usually present in this style. Mouthfeel was decent, but pretty thin compared to other RIS’s. A good beer, but not up to the competition in the RIS/Imperial Stout category. For that reason, I’d be reluctant to recommend, despite a good review.

22oz. Poured into mug. Pour is pitch black with 2 finger coco head. Aromas of oat, coffee, and roasted malts. Flavor is dominated by roasted malt. You get a nice smooth finish with this one. Solid stout but I dont think it’s on the Imperial scale.

Pours a deep dark brown, almost Bback, with no head. Aroma of roasted malt. Taste is bitter roasted malt with a touch of hops.I find the commerical descreption a little off.

Pours black from the bomber with a creamy tan head. Has a mild aroma of roasted malts and dark fruit. Tastes of dates, charcoal, coffee, caramel, and faint hops. Well balanced and more dense in flavor than I had anticipated.