Smoky Mountain Black Bear Ale

Brewed by Smoky Mountain Brewery & Restaurant
Style: Brown Ale
Gatlinburg, Tennessee USA

Draught. Pours a very light brown, almost amber hue with a small light tan head. Given the very light appearance for this style, it’s actually fairly aromatic. Hints of hazelnuts, toffee, chocolate biscotti, and even some light fruity hops are noticed. This is quite light on the palate, especially for a brown ale. The flavors, however, are balanced and clean. There is a tasteful presence of toast, nuts, molasses, gingerbread. This is a very interesting brown ale. No stickiness is present. Really well done for such a light ale. [Sept 17, 2007] Had this one out of the bottle. Smoky Mountain is not known for their consistency. This time around was as good as any though. I experienced a light bodied, semi- tart brown ale with good balance and no overbearing sweetness. However, in the past I’ve had a very sweet, cotton candy-tasting mug of this stuff. It just depends on when and where you get this stuff.

Delicious Brown Ale? I think not... Pours an amber color, no head. Aroma is caramel, sweet malt. Flavor is thin, roasted malt, a little caramel, overall watery.

On tap at the brewpub in Gatlinburg TN, Pours light brown aroma is quite sweet notes of caramel and brown sugar dominate. Flavor is much the same. Some nut flavor also is there. Kind of watery on the palate.

Thanks for the beer, SpringsLicker. Poured a dark amber. The aroma is roasted caramel and walnuts. The taste has pears and honey. A little bit of earthy moss in the finish.

thanks to jay, he hooked up heem who was ever so gracious to share it with me. very dark, like maybe some redness in a dark brown sea. spicey sauted brown sugar in the aroma. not much for the taste, fairly week, but not bad, dont get me wrong. tastes like a 2 week old biscut.

Tap. Caramel malt aroma with a hoppy nose. Pours nut brown with an off-white head and thick creamy lacing. Creamy caramel malt flavor with a hop end. Medium bodied and refreshing.

Deep and rich reddish brown color, with no head to speak of...but according the to brewer’s description it has a light carbonation. I would have expected more if not for that. So I rated it according to brewer’s note. Heavy on the malt, sweet and caramely aroma. Flavor is very sweet with an added nuttiness. Good overall feel, creamy and very smooth. Not bad. Quite possibly SMB’s best offering.

I have ONLY had this beer on-tap from two of the restaurants within the chain. It has been very good each time I have experienced it. Malty notes with less than expected levels of carbonation. Little in the way of hop taste, but enough to balance it. Overll, a good beer. The folks who have had bad experiences with the bottled versions may have a valid gripe (I don’t know), but fresh from the tap, it’s a good beer.