Big Rock Honey Brown Lager - Big Rock Brewery

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I recall the great Honey Lager Revolution of 2003 in Canada, and that Big Rock waited a bit before releasing their version of the style. Before trying it at a food and wine show, I remember remarking to the Big Rock rep, that they were kind of finally jumping on the bandwagon, as it were. The rep looked at me sideways, babbled something about taking the time to get it right, and still gave me a healthy sample. I thought it was the best of the Honey Brown Bunch, at the time, and it temporarily brought me back to the Big Rock fold. A few years later, and the requirements of a ski trip dictate buying beer in cans, so here we go...

This beer pours a clear medium amber colour, with lots of foamy white head. The smell is grainy malt with a light heather honey essence. The taste has a bit more light grainy malt, with a slight sticky sweetness, nothing really in the hops department, and a mild honey finish. There is low carbonation, and coupled with the overall temperateness, makes for an easy, if not terribly complex, hot tub sipper. And as far as the hotel management was concerned, it was Honey Brown Cola...

Serving type: can

01-14-2009 23:02:52 | More by biboergosum

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +6.6%

05-20-2013 04:35:22 | More by Kmat10

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +31.1%

03-22-2013 20:57:39 | More by schnarr84

JennBushey

4/5  rDev +31.1%

03-03-2013 00:08:27 | More by JennBushey

LagerHOGGER

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +14.8%

10-26-2012 15:00:37 | More by LagerHOGGER

joefinnigan15

3.5/5  rDev +14.8%

09-19-2012 02:18:00 | More by joefinnigan15

JustinRB

3.5/5  rDev +14.8%

09-15-2012 20:59:59 | More by JustinRB

Vyronian

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +14.8%

08-18-2012 00:44:34 | More by Vyronian

Iggy12

2/5  rDev -34.4%

07-30-2012 03:38:01 | More by Iggy12

Sbekolay

2.5/5  rDev -18%

07-20-2012 17:53:49 | More by Sbekolay

Alberta_Beer_Guy

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +14.8%

07-16-2012 00:48:05 | More by Alberta_Beer_Guy

TJMcScmeebs

2.5/5  rDev -18%

05-21-2012 14:11:24 | More by TJMcScmeebs

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

355ml can poured into a 16oz pint glass.

A - Pours a clean dark amber hue with a frothy, light tan head that settles quickly but stays present as a thin film for a while. No lacing.

S - Thin pale malt base with some caramel malt and honey tones sprinkled on top. Odd artificial sweetness, like HFCS. The honey is mild, but adds a somewhat pleasant aroma to this lager.

T - Much like the nose. Pale malt makes up much of the profile, with crystal malt and honey sweetness coming through at the back of the palate. Mild grassy hops pop up in the aftertaste, as well as a dash of roasted barley. Simple profile all around, but I'm still picking up an off-putting sweetness that feels out of place; almost cloying.

M - Medium bodied feel that boasts a thin delivery of fine carbonation. It has more body than anticipated, but the cloying sweetness compromises the feel in my opinion. Finishes a touch too wet as well.

D - Pretty much a run-of-the-mill brew for local Big Rock. A marginal improvement over usual macro-lagers, but doesn't hold a candle to true craft. This brewery is really only good as a gateway to bigger, better things in the world of beer. Problem is, some people get stuck here and never find their way to the vast world of craft beer. A decent brew, but I'll pass next time.

Serving type: can

05-08-2012 22:57:00 | More by Converge

Maydame

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +31.1%

04-28-2012 02:56:19 | More by Maydame

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

355ml can poured into pint glass 15/4/12

A clear bronze liquid with big quick bubbles that feed a short lived finger of foam that leaves zero lace

S smells like a bowl of cereal with loads of honey,

T dark bread with what I smell, nothing offensive but pretty basic

M it has some body too it for a lager, a little sticky and well carbonated

O just a basic brew, sweet honey and dry cereal that's about it

simple stuff brewed for the masses, there's nothing wrong with it but not something I'd bother with again

Serving type: can

04-16-2012 02:13:44 | More by wordemupg

ScottWestmaas

3.5/5  rDev +14.8%

04-06-2012 23:36:00 | More by ScottWestmaas

garybrown

2.5/5  rDev -18%

03-05-2012 03:24:35 | More by garybrown

hockeybarbie

Alberta (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -18%

01-15-2012 16:56:59 | More by hockeybarbie

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +6.6%

11-24-2011 06:54:37 | More by thehyperduck

bbb099

California

3.45/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Shared with mjyoung.

Appearance - Nice, clear, amber color. Thin head, no noticeable lacing.

Smell - Mostly malty. I did not detect any honey smell.

Taste - Malty with a hint of honey. No overwhelming flavor, but it is sweet and creamy for a lager.

Mouthfeel - Average. Well carbonated, but not too much.

Drinkability - Quite drinkable due to its lightness. I do not recommend drinking this with food as the food will surely overpower the beer flavoring.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 07:48:27 | More by bbb099

mjyoung

California

3.23/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Split with bbb099

A: Poured a nice brown color, thick head that dissipated quickly and completely leaving little lacing.

S: Strong notes of brown sugar and honey. Not much depth to the nose, and a little harsh, but not too unpleasant.

T: Very light, with a relatively strong taste of honey. Not much depth to the flavor, but that was as expected. I still left a bit disappointed.

M: Not bad at all, but it leaves a bit of a harsh finish.

D: Went down smoothly. I'd drink more!

Serving type: can

12-16-2010 03:18:02 | More by mjyoung

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

355ml can poured into a mug.

A - Poured a bronze-amber with 2cm cream coloured head that reduced to a thin cap. No lacing is produced.

S - Mild aroma of malts, a bit of caramel and faint notes of herbs.

T - Light sweetness with a hint of honey and a very mild bitter bite in the finish.

M - Low carbonation. Some stickiness and a watery finish.

D - Drinkable, yes, but quite bland.

Serving type: can

07-14-2010 01:21:18 | More by decimator

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Big Rock surprises with a sweet offering...

A - Pours a nice golden brown with a little head which quickly dissipates to nothing, leaving no lacing.

S - Weird, but there is very little scent on this one. Had to stick my nose almost in the beer to find a hint of sweet malt on it.

T - Surprisingly sweet with a noticeable honey flavour and aftertaste. Finishes with a bready malt and is almost a bit smokey, sort of like a peaty scotch.

M - Pretty light, though the sweetness almost makes it feel creamier than it is. Noticeable carbonation, but goes down pretty smooth.

D - I must say, I've found Big Rock beers to be rather plain, but was taken aback by the sweet honey flavour in this one. Definitely impressed and would actually order this one over their other offerings the next time I'm at a pub!

Serving type: can

04-24-2010 00:49:20 | More by andrenaline

ludachris

Ontario (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got this one courtesy of TheHammer from a trade a while back. Thanks pal.

Pours an appropriate hazed honey amber hue with one and a half fingers of off white fluffy head that has a decent amount of retention but leaves almost zero lace.

Processed honey, musty floral hops, and a bit of wheat, grain, and biscuit make up the nose.

The honey seems more natural in the taste and is present throughout. Floral hops are way at the back and are easily overpowered by the sweetness of the honey. Honeyed bread and a light wheat character make up the finish.

Mouthfeel is light and a tad filmy with a lower than expected level of carbonation, allowing the honey to really stand out. A bit syrupy towards the end, but not enough to take away from the feel nor drinkability.

I have yet to come across a fantastic honey lager, but this one beats the bunch I've had. The honey is natural in the taste, sweet, but not cloyingly so. Overall, this is a very simple and sweet thirst quenching lager. Average at best, but a good alternative to the standard macro.

Serving type: can

04-14-2010 00:52:51 | More by ludachris

beerbum05

Alberta (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Medium carbonation, small head which faded fast dissapointed in that, very clear beer, dark orange/light brown colour

Smell: some maltiness

Taste: Malts and Honey

I would highly recommend this beer. It's a very nice smooth brown lager.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 16:16:19 | More by beerbum05