Bald Eagle Brown Ale - RJ Rockers Brewing Company

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +35.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Poured into a pint gleass at the local Flying Saucer.

A: Ever so slightly hazy dark amber-mahogany with a thin, light tan head.

S: Lots of malty caramel and toffee. Mild fruity hops.

T&M: Very nice creamy, medium body. Caramel roasted malt flavor. Very mild hop bitterness but flavor is mainly malty, caramel, and toffee tastes as the smell would indicate.

This is definitely one of the best brown ales I have had and better fresh on tap. I could actually drink a few of these.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 21:09:35 | More by cdizinno

upstatewoodie

South Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

this nice brown ale was a great suprise from the guys at RJ Rockers. I went into this Pint thinking it would be really heavy like other Dark Ales i have had and it was suprisingly lighter in its feel. The nice head it created when poured left a lasting ring as it was drained which i enjoyed. the faint taste of Chocolate hops was a very nice touch. the drinkability of this beer was one of the best ive had in a dark beer, usually can only enjoy 2 or 3, where with Bald Eagle all 6 went down smooth, leaving me looking for more in the fridge. i did notice though that the warmer the beer got the better it was.

Great Job Rockers! keep doing what you are doing

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 16:07:14 | More by upstatewoodie

anexetastos

South Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: spot on. color was a perfect dark amber/reddish tan, head was low (appropriate to style, but also possibly because it was served too cold -- this was the pub's assumption that American's want frozen beer).

Smell: The hop presence was appropriate, but it lacked a bit of the maltiness i would expect in this variety.

Taste: Excellent nuttiness, maltiness more present in the flavor than in the aroma; there was a hint of biscuit-type malt (but not nearly Belgian).

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, but again, probably because it was served too cold.

Drinkability: i had more than one!

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2009 00:44:11 | More by anexetastos

pablot71

Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poored beer into pint glass.
A Poured a thin head that leaves a little lacing. Has tanslucent medium brown color with some reddish hues.

S A little floral, slight citurs in the aroma.

T Drier malty flavor with some toasted and slightly nutty note. Finishes with a balanced bitterness.

M- A little fuller bodied with a fair amount of carbonation.

D This is nice English brown that pushes the style envolope just enough to give it some character yet still remains true. Goes down a little too easy. Enough to be dissappointed when it's finished. I've been exploring English brown's and this is my personal favorite so far.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2009 02:06:13 | More by pablot71

AtrumAnimus

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This one is a nice deviation as there are not enough really good brown ales in the world. This one is rather excellent and an extremely nice beer to enjoy on a Sunday afternoon.

The beer pours a beautiful dark brown with a light tan a luxurious head that fades slowly leaving a fine lacing down the glass as it fades.

The nose is a tad smoky with strong malts and subtle hops and a tinge of caramel blending together. The nose is a tad weak for my tastes but after tasting the beer I am forgetting the weakness of the nose.

The flavor is the best part the smokiness continues to be a dominant component but that is a good thing. It is extremely well balanced and matches well with the maltiness that is rich and flavorful that is perfectly balanced with the hops. There are notes of coffee and dark chocolate along with a touch of caramel to match the nose. Overall a very well balanced beer and very enjoyable.

The mouthfeel is rich and full and combined with the flavor results in an extremely satisfying beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 21:55:26 | More by AtrumAnimus

LauraAlberts

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Brown with a ruby hue with an off white head.

Smell: Italian herbs/Spice. I honestly smell pizza.

Taste: Nice brown character - with a roasted coffee finish. Italian herbs come out in the peppery aftertaste. This is not a quiet/or boring brown. There's a lot to this beer - if you just taste.

Mouthfeel: full bodied with nice soft tannins.

Drinkability: I love brown ales and I highly recommend this as a shining example of the style. If you can get this beer - try it!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2009 23:55:40 | More by LauraAlberts

Zekezilla

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'd never heard of this beer or brewery but heard a complete stranger recommend it as "one of the best browns out there." Took a chance and tried it. So glad I did. I've not found a brown ale that I like as much as this one. Smooth, low carbonation and nice coffee/caramel richness.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 15:35:28 | More by Zekezilla

Loki

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Modeled after a traditional deep brown English Brown ale. Pours a deep brown. Couldn't judge the head because I was tasting in a 2.5 oz shot glass. Has a nose of chocolate and malt. Has a taste of malt, chocolate, and a slight hops for balance. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2003 16:12:46 | More by Loki

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

RJ Rocker's delivers a tasty, malt brown ale in their Bald Eagle. It's a clear deep-chestnut brown beneath a creamy head of light tan foam.

The aroma is cocoaish and chocolatey, with a little bit of yeasty fruitiness and a touch oof leafy hops.

In the mouth it's creamy smooth with a medium body and moderate carbonation level.

The flavor displays the maltiness upfront; it's chocolatey and a bit toasty with a very subtle edge of roastiness (think of the slightly burnt edges on the crust of a loaf of artisinal bread). Leafy and mildly grassy hops appear across the middle, and every once in a while you get a flash of yeasty fruitiness. It's well-rounded, and well balanced, and it finishes dry with some swirling hops, a thin bit of residual malt, and a lingering, firm bitterness.

A very solid rendition of an English style brown ale with a bit of an American twist: a little more malt, and a little more hops to balance it. Nicely done!

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 14:43:47 | More by NeroFiddled

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Never thought I would be as big of a fan of this one as I ended up being. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 01/30/2010.

The pour was simply great. Rich dark brown in color with some nice bits of light shining through on the bottom of the glass. A smallish head rises up from the bottom of the glass and gradually settles down into a thin, but nicely placed pad of foam. Aroma is caramel malts, hints of roasted nuts and a nice shot of piney hops. Well put together and definitly more robust then I thought it would be. As I take the first sip a light to medium body washes over me and thoroughly impresses with its depth. Caramel, bready tones, hints of light hops all seem to come together nearly perfectly as it fades in and out of the palate. Really easy to drink and superbly sessionable, I had no issue at all with finishing this one off.

Overall a very, very good offering from them. This could be a regualr session beer for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 16:18:04 | More by mikesgroove

gatorbreath

Fiji

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is solid..

Dark brown, light colored tan head.

Smells of chocolatey malts and malts in general, caramel maybe...definitely malty

Taste is of chocolate and dark malt, typical of a good brown ale, and mouthfeel is smooth and finishes clean, no carbonation issues.

Stable, solid brew here, pick one up - a go-to brown ale..

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2011 13:33:03 | More by gatorbreath

drowninginhops

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a standard pint glass.
A: Dark brown, white head
S: Lots of Chocolate and a plethora of other malts.
T: Low hops and bitterness.
M: Well balanced and well carbonated
D: Glad its made in my home state so I can just go down the road for a six pack

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 21:31:21 | More by drowninginhops

jabocu

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into glass.

A – Color resembles a strongly brewed tea with red hues. Very clean look. Cap was thin and dissipated to very light lacings along surface. However a little swirl brought a ¼ inch cap back briefly.

S – Sweet and malty immediately come out. Floral and citrus are faint, and hints of chocolate and hops. Smell is very enticing and medium in strength.

T – Sweet and floral at first, then hops mellow things down, and finishes with light coffee and hit of chocolate. Hops have average bitterness.

M – Thin-Medium body with good amount of carbonation that fizzes up right away. A little watery, but finishes nice and dry. Leaves a light refreshing feeling in mouth.

D – A good thirst quencher due to it’s light wateriness, but still a great flavor. This is a good summer beer and maybe a good beer for starters in hops. And a good representation of a english brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2006 01:24:17 | More by jabocu

wcudwight

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at Terry's Taproom
Color is a dark brown. Just a little light gets through and shows some red hues. Thin head that doesn't last very long.
Smell is great. It's a nice mixture of smokey and nutty.
The flavor is very balanced and was more complex than I was expecting. The roasted malts are the first thing that I notice and are dominate. But there is also a smokiness that adds complexity. The finish is a nutty chocolate flavor. The chocolate is more pronounced than you would think. It leaves a lasting nutty aftertaste.
The mouthfeel is medium bodied, but doesn't really stand out to me in any way.
This is a great beer that is easy to session and just may be my favorite RJ Rockers beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2006 15:44:54 | More by wcudwight

squirrelpirate

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

RJ Rockers Bald Eagle Brown poured a clear dark brown with a pillowy off-white head. The aroma consists of a lot of sweet, dark notes including molasses, brown sugar, caramel, and chocolate. Maybe a little hops in there as well.

The flavor starts mimicking the brown sugar and molasses found in the aroma, and transitions into a roasted, slightly hoppy finish. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste.

Medium-bodied with a thicker mouthfeel. The roasted, bitter taste lingers on your tongue and makes you want to drink more, which I would gladly do. It's still a little heavy and awkward, though. I would drink many of these.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2009 01:46:41 | More by squirrelpirate

atsprings

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a nice crisp semi-dark brown with a thin head that diminishes to a ring. Aroma is dark malts and burnt caramel. The taste is burnt caramel, mild chocolate, and a hint of dried fruits and coffee. The beer is light and crisp with low carbonation. While I could see this making for a decent session, it's just not anything I'd usually seek out that often. I am glad to taste some good stuff out of SC, however.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2007 06:40:45 | More by atsprings

connecticutpoet

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this one at the restaurant at the Greenville/Spartanburg airport, where they had four brews from this microbrewery on tap. I was highly pleased to see that. Of course, they charged a good price for the 16-oz. glasses they served, but it was well worth it.

This was a clear brown ale, with a very small head. Whether it would have been bigger poured from a bottle, I do not know.

The aroma was of medium malt, sweet, and slightly fruity. But one that was very hard to pin down.

The fore- and aftertaste were quite bitter, which I love. It was mildly hoppy, but not overpoweringly so. There was no hint of sweetness or fruitiness that the nose implied.

This was a very drinkable ale, and went perfectly with the nachos I was eating at the time.

I just feel sorry for the poor souls in the restaurant who I saw ordering bottles of the macros... they had no idea was was so close, and how much better it was.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2004 02:47:52 | More by connecticutpoet

clemtig76

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Quaffed a few at Abby's Restaurant in Spartanburg, SC. Poured a clear dark brown with a thin, tan head. No lacing. Sweet, malty aroma with a hint of chocolate. Rich chocolate malt flavor with just enough hop bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt. A very drinkable brew and a good representation of the style. Tastes like a Bass used to taste, only better.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2005 14:12:28 | More by clemtig76

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. III Issue I:

Clear tawny color with a dollop of off-white head. Smells nutty with some brown bread, sun-dried grass and a vague ripe apple fruitiness. Crisp medium body. Fresh toasted malt runs from nutty grain to toasted bread, grassy to light caramel. Quick kiss of cocoa powder and light roasted coffee in the middle. Modest hopping here, with a lightly balancing bitterness. Hint of fruitiness in the back of pears and ripe apples. Finishes semidry with a long trail of toasted malt.

Bald Eagle has "session ale" written all of over it, with its down-to-earth style. Hard to tell if it was brewed in the US or not, which shows that this is a damn good Brown Ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 19:38:12 | More by BeerAdvocate

brentk56

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear caramel color with a rather thin film of a head and lots of spotty lacing

Smell: Brown bread, nuts and a hint of chocolate

Taste: Rich chocolate malt flavor with a nutty balance in the middle just before the chocolate reintroduces itself after the swallow; a bit of nut skin bitterness in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A very nice brown ale with a surprising degree of chocolate flavor

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2005 02:31:18 | More by brentk56

confer

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This was included in the variety case.
A- Deep leathery brown with a tan head that turns into those moldy looking froth clumps.

S-Smells like a delicious Brown should, caramelly with a slight hint of roastiness.

T- Smooth and malty. I do detect a small hop bitterness in the finish.

M- The finish is dry and watery.

O- Not a bad beer and a pretty good Brown Ale. I preferred this beer to their Patriot Pale.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 19:20:20 | More by confer

Mississipping

Mississippi

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from a "Box of Rocks," poured into a RJ Rockers shaker. Have had this many, many times ... time for a review.

A: Pours a quite transparent, clear brown with a small off-white head that doesn't last long. No lacing to speak of at all. Appears to be fairly highly carbonated.

S: Pretty standard maltiness, with hints of bread and nuttiness. Slightly earthy with a touch of hops as well. Nothing overwhelming but nothing unpleasant.

T: Slight roasted malt, slight nuttiness, slight caramel malt. More bitter than the smell implied. A bit of an earthy and bitter finish. Missing a little that's typical of the style.

M: Medium/light bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Fizzy and bubbly (a bit too much). Pretty drying finish.

D: It's not one of RJ Rocker's best, in my opinion, but it's fairly easy drinking. There's a bit missing that is typically characteristic of the style, and it's not overly balanced, but it's still pretty enjoyable. I visit SC several times a year, and this is one that I drink frequently while I'm there. Not bad at all, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 06:20:37 | More by Mississipping

chaz410

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle and sampled with the Charlotte Beer Club.
Pours a dark redish brown with good retaining carmel colored head.
Nice subtle malty nose. Smells similar to nut brown ales.
Very rich caramel malty flavor. Little chocolate flavor, especially at the end. Tart finish with very faint hop hints. Very smooth mouthfeel and good drinkability. Really enjoyed this as a session beer, good character and good flavors on every level.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2009 01:27:57 | More by chaz410

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've had a few different RJ Rockers beers recently and I think they are much improved overall. This brown is solid for the style. Relatively understated but balanced and tasty. Pours a coppery brown with a moderate head that fades to a ring. Nice color, but the head could be a bit thicker. Nice dry toasty aroma with some nuttiness. Quite dry. Similar in taste, with a nice nutty dryness, some nice moderate toastiness and a touch of coppey metal in the finish. Quite nice. Smooth, medium bodied and drying on the finish in the mouth. Quite respectable. I enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 03:20:37 | More by Georgiabeer

therica

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A= dark amber-copper brown, poured slowly, a light rim of head and plenty of lacing.

S= noteable, very nice caramel and some floral notes; light liquor scents at times, smoky hints.

T= slightly dry and grassy, lightly sweet taste with roasted malts, some chocolate and caramel evident. Much better when it's warmed to room temperature and left to settle.

M= slightly dry and astringent on the tongue with modest sweetness and dry chocolate, maybe some caramel to savor.

D= fine for a few or a session.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2009 02:17:05 | More by therica