Brown Bear Ale - Catawba Valley Brewing Company

cantstandya65

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +28.4%

03-12-2012 20:02:42 | More by cantstandya65

tdm168

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Barley's Taproom in Asheville

A - pours a dark brown with a thin layer of brownish head that has good retention

S - creamy, nutty, faint caramel

T - toasty, caramel, toffee, coffee, nutty, earthy

M - smooth, medium bodied, good carbonation

This is a great, full flavored, highly drinkable beer. It's definitely worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2012 17:17:15 | More by tdm168

Malverson

1.5/5  rDev -59.5%

05-06-2012 18:42:36 | More by Malverson

VaterRoss

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.1%

12-27-2011 02:08:07 | More by VaterRoss

TheKingofWichita

North Carolina

1.6/5  rDev -56.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a deep brownish black color with a thick tan head and a little lacing. Smells of tons of malts and a little coffee. Tastes like a malt bomb. Nothing else. Mouthfeel is medium and it has a good carbonation. Drinkability is less than average because the flavor is so bad.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2011 23:46:39 | More by TheKingofWichita

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another day up in Asheville, and it was HOT! The only thing to keep you cool was several trips around
to the local watering holes. Consumed on tap on 07/06/2010.

Finally I get to drink the brown bear. Sat down in the mushroom and ordered this one up. Nice dark
brown pour with some light garnet shining in on the sides and bottom and nice off white head capping
the top,

Aroma is caramel, coffee, touches of light chocolate and loads of roasted malts. Warming allows some
earthy hops to take hold but not too much. Just enough to keep it interesting. Rich, creamy feel hits
you just the right way as it was not too filling but had enough of a bite to keep me interested. Nice
smooth, fading finish was just about right as the final touches of flavor lapsed off the tongue.

Overall this was very solid and something I would love to try again any day.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2010 00:51:33 | More by mikesgroove

aubuc1

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured flat in to a shaker pint glass

looks like a dark flat coke. clear but dark brown.

smell is mellow roast and slightly tame

taste is a smooth roasty kind of like a porter.

good full mouthfeel and and nice drinking english style brown ale.

a solid beer from catawba. wish it was poured with some head.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2009 20:14:42 | More by aubuc1

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours an opaque, dark brown body with a thinnish, beige head.

Smell: Brown malt aroma with a nice amount of chocolate to it.

Taste: Brown malt flavor that, while light, does display nutty, earthy tones and a mild sweetness. Hints of chocolate. Finishes dry and with a soft bitterness and still more of the chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Very drinkable and quite flavorful for a light-ABV brown ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2007 20:34:12 | More by ChainGangGuy

Duster72

Indiana

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On draft at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company. I tried to send it back because I thought it was a porter, but they assured me that it was the Brown Bear and other locals assured me that it was the correct brew.

Pours a very nice dark brown with a off-white head. Aroma is huge chocolate. Taste is cocoa with definite nuts, coffee, and toasty malts. A little more toasty than I like, but in line with the style. Medium body was a little on the heavy side. The beer is very tasty, but I have to be in the mood for a brew like this, and wasn't expecting anything so heavy on a hot summer day. Definitely worth checking out!

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2007 12:01:05 | More by Duster72

ncvbc

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was the first of the beers I tried from CVBC and this is also my first review. Tried on-tap at Barley's in Asheville.

Beautiful dark brown color with a smell of chocolate coming through first. Taste is unlike any other Brown Ale I have tried to date and in my opinion a category of its own. Chocolate, caramel, a little more thick and leaning towards Porter. Smooth mouthfeel and light body make this a very drinkable brew. I just hope they put out some growlers soon!

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2007 02:11:15 | More by ncvbc

AlexJ

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark walnut brown with a thin, but creamy and dense head of light tan that holds quite well. Darker than your average Brown Ale, to me this is a good thing.

Aroma is mild, creamy, and almost nutty. Smooth caramel malt is accented by whispers of dry cocoa, charred wood, and a hint of sweet tobacco.

Flavor thankfully holds up to the nose. Creamy caramel and toasty chocolate malt notes with a strange but welcome charred note. More complex than expected from such a low abv.

Body is medium, creamy, and very smooth. Feels like velvet on my tongue. A joy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2006 22:35:43 | More by AlexJ

chanman20

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Note: Had this Beer as part of a 'sampler' called 'Malt Madness' (6, 6 oz glasses of beer)

Appearance - Dark brown with thin tan head that laced the glass

Smell - malty cocoa aroma

Taste - Slightly sweet with milk chocolate and roasted nuts - very well built

Mouthfeel - Light and Smooth - just enough taste for you to want another

Drinkability - Amazing Flavor

Sebago used to be my favorite - this one kicked its a$$

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2006 01:08:10 | More by chanman20

Enola

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pint at Barley's

This was damn good for a brown ale. The beer is very dark brown. There was a thin head. The smell was caramel like. The taste was very good. The beer had a nice smooth finish. This will be one of the beers I get in my growler when the brewery moves into town.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2006 00:51:31 | More by Enola

wcudwight

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at Barley's
Darker than I expected. More of a porter color. Excellent head with lot's of retention. Very mild in the nose. Maybe some caramel and a hint of nuts. This is a unique brown ale. Very malty and sweet. WIth some roasted and caramel taste. Nice nutty finish. Feels good in the mouth, but just a tad bit syrupy. Very drinkable. After one you'll order another.
I've been impressed with the two Catawba Valley brews I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2005 16:16:04 | More by wcudwight

homersimpson

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy deep reddish brown with a frothy tan lace that quickly turns to lace
Earthy aroma tinged with malt
Slightly slick medium body with light carbonation
Very malty with a bit of a peat note. Earthy with only a faint hint of hop. Lingering yeast and dryness in the finish
Nice english malts, a rather interesting brew. Not the run of the mill brown ale. I was rather surprised that this was coming from NC.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2003 00:47:10 | More by homersimpson