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Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout

Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout

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 Percentile 
98
overall
An Imperial Stout brewed by
Bear Republic Brewing Company

Healdsburg, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
7593.92/5.03.92/5.0Winter8.1%73 Snifter P  Stats

Commercial Description:
Big Bear, as the name implies, is a hefty, black, Russian Imperial-style stout. This strong stout boasts a rich, caramel sweetness lavished by a robust, deep-roasted heartiness you can sink your teeth into... Big Bear's bold flavors are produced using a blend of Belgian and English roasted barley and crystal malts. Some unique flavors come forth in the malt character...Louisiana sweet molasses and dark brown sugar. This dark brew is well hopped with Chinook and Cascade hops, which are somewhat, masked by the malt. This is a balanced strong brew boasting an ABV of 8.1% that can creep up on you, "so don't get mauled". It has a dry roasted quality that masks its high alchohol content, so drink responsibly.

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 zootfinster (153), Chicago, Illinois, USA
1.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
3/103/53/102/58/20

Jul 4, 2007  
Contrary to the majority of reviews, I find this to be a particularly awful stout. Very hoppy, bitter and no sweetness or maltyness. If the label didn’t say stout and it weren’t dark brown I’d say I was drinking an ipa. I think I’ll try to exchange it or ,something. Probably can’t since I only bought one bottle

 jlf278 (228), Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/105/516/20
Aug 26, 2008  
On tap at bear republic brewpub. Mmmm, chocolatey and malty. I love me some big bear black stout. Looks great and really satisfied my senses. Maybe a touch too alcy, but the taster went down just right.


 phishpond417 (1409), Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/104/515/20
Aug 20, 2008  
Pours a thick opaque black colour with a barely noticeable tan head. Aroma is sweet of roasted malts, caramel and toffee. Taste is creamy, rich and full of generously toasted bready flavors. Smooth all the way through and very filling.


 JasonG (632), Cleveland, Ohio, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/516/20
Aug 19, 2008  
22 oz bottle - Pours a fairly dark but not totally opaque black color with medium sized creamy tan head. Aroma is fairly roasty, with notes of light caramel, vanilla, cream. Flavor has fair amount of chewy malts, roastyness that comes across a bit chalky, hint of ash and vague herbal hops. Palate is very nice if just a touch overcarbonated for the style, which lends a bit of a rough bicarb bitterness in the finish that mingles with a subtle, balancing hop bitterness. Overall it’s very good, and definitely more drinkable than some imperial stouts, but it’s not quite at the level of many of the imperial stouts around from the better breweries.


PolakPorter (60), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Aug 19, 2008  
Black pour, great aroma. Bursting with coffee, choco-dark fruit aroma. Flavor follows suit. Incredibly easy to drink. Usually after a bomber of an imperial stout leaves me craving something light. At the end of this one, I just wanted more. Great beer, wish more Bear Republic was available in Illinois.


 17thfloor (641), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/515/20
Aug 13, 2008  
Pours a thinner black with a bubbly fizzy beige head. Big roasty, smokey raisin and chocolate aroma with light notes of licorice. Medium/light bodied, fizzy carbonation, quite "off-style." Bitter deeply roasted malt flavor with lots of chocolate and a hint of raisins, big hop bite. Flavor is incongruent with the body. Very easy drinking due to the relatively lighter body, covers the alcohol very well for that fact as well. The carbonation settles down quite a bit after being poured for a few minutes, much better.




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