El Oso - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Floydster

California

3.3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Had a pint of this up north back in April, looking at my notes it does not say where from and I cannot recall at the moment, straight from my notebook, color is golden amber, not much of a head, aroma has grass, earthiness, flowers, and cereal, flavor starts off with a crisp grain and toasted malt taste, ends earthy with a hint of citrus sweetness, medium bodied, lots of carbonation, easy to drink, no alcohol present, smooth and crisp, not a bad lager but nothing special either, good to see Bear Republic branching out with new styles, although they seem to come up a bit short with this one, would skip in the future, worth trying

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2009 04:05:33 | More by Floydster

waddellc2

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

05-08-2013 19:14:01 | More by waddellc2

LSx

California

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

04-25-2013 04:53:03 | More by LSx

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

08-21-2012 02:46:33 | More by t0rin0

hplevy

Maryland

2/5  rDev -37.5%

07-05-2012 08:01:50 | More by hplevy

DrunkenMonk

California

2.5/5  rDev -21.9%

06-17-2012 23:12:26 | More by DrunkenMonk

redfox405

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -6.3%

05-29-2012 23:50:38 | More by redfox405

GRG1313

California

3/5  rDev -6.3%

01-02-2012 04:34:57 | More by GRG1313

spamages

Michigan

1.5/5  rDev -53.1%

12-30-2011 03:00:16 | More by spamages

coldriver

Texas

4/5  rDev +25%

12-12-2011 04:06:34 | More by coldriver

2neardead

California

4/5  rDev +25%

12-11-2011 22:10:32 | More by 2neardead

bob727

Florida

5/5  rDev +56.3%

11-22-2011 06:24:17 | More by bob727

litheum94

California

3/5  rDev -6.3%

11-16-2011 17:38:57 | More by litheum94

Ineedabeerhere

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -6.3%

11-15-2011 02:38:36 | More by Ineedabeerhere

avaldivia

California

2.63/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Bear Republic.

A: Really nice clear amber color. Surprisingly nice head and lacing.

S: Light. Very light. Some cereal grains. Not much going on.

T: Again, light. Some grains. A bit of hops, but it is very light.

M: Light. Crisp. Good carbonation.

O: Not one of Bear Republic's best offerings. Just not much going on.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2011 05:42:04 | More by avaldivia

Gavage

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: dark amber in color with a short 1/2" head that breaks apart quickly.

Smell: very little aroma here as some bready and caramel flavors are tough to pull from the glass.

Taste: caramel, light grainy bread, hints of fruit sweetness, and some mild grassy / earthy tones are the main flavor components. Bitterness is barely detectable.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Light crispness to start, smoother at the finish. Aftertaste is very short.

Overall: I was looking for a lower alcohol beer on tap while at a bar, and seeing a Bear Republic beer on I figured it was an easy selection. It had a mild flavor but left me a bit unsatisfied. I only had one.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2011 11:22:32 | More by Gavage

zacross

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Excited to try the new bear republic labeled (misguiding) as amber ale just tapped at the local craft brew bar in a rural city not known for its selection of beer. There were high hopes as i received a pint of an amber hued draft with a thinner head. First sip gave way to an increase of these high hopes as it went down smooth and enjoyably. As i continued to drink, the sour things got. I have utmost respect for this bar, filling my growler here very often, yet this was a great let down. The beer started retaining a metallic taste (no doubt from the keg) but more importantly the smell began to shift the more i drank. A distinct fish smell preceded every sip making me feel ill the more i drank. The taste became less enjoyable (drinkability=a good pilsner) and more forceful to get each swallow down. I love and will continue to love bear republic and hopefully this is an outlying case of disappointment for the el oso, but i would not recommend taking the risk.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2010 01:21:36 | More by zacross

DiabolikDUB

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-Tap @ Saraveza poured into Pilsner glass.

Pours a light golden-brown color with a couple fingers of off-white head that quickly dissolves into a thin ring around the glass. The aroma is mostly caramel and toasted bread and some sight hints of nuttiness. The flavor is all malt, nice a mellow, not abrasive and extremely smooth with a slightly dry, slightly bitter finish. It has a light-medium mouthfeel with a crisp carbonation. Really enjoyable and highly sessionable. I really liked the malt profile of this beer which is what and why it really shines in my book.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2010 08:16:12 | More by DiabolikDUB

jneiswender

Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I had this beer as part of a flight of samples at the Healdsburg, California restaurant. From tap and in 3oz sample glasses.

A-copper body with an off white head

S-sweet scent

T-malty, almost candy-like, no detectable hop flavor

M-medium

D-I would have liked to have seen more hop character to this brew. The malt side is really nice but too sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2009 18:32:00 | More by jneiswender

SurlyDuff

Oregon

3.7/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

As usual, lagers suffer from a specific chronic syndrome on BA. However, I attend to review this objectively, judging it to style, not against iipas or impy stouts.

Had a pint at the Healdsburg pub. Wasn't served with fruit accessory (apparently some other BA's were not as fortunate).

Bright yellow with a white rocky head, plenty of tasty little bubbles were all aflutter.

Light cereal graininess and a mild noble hop crispness in the aroma. Light honey sweetness.

Its a good drinker for sure, beating any american macro lagers hands down. It's a bit thinner than I'd like even for a pils, and the carbonation was a bit too fizzy, almost had some blow out my mouth/nose on a vigorous swill. I'd recommend it to a craft newbie, but otherwise get yourself a racer5 and you'd be infinity more happy.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2009 03:29:18 | More by SurlyDuff

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Elmer Sudds. Presented in a shaker "pint" glass and appears a clear golden amber color with about a finger of fluffy off white foam. No lacing to speak of. Smells and tastes of bready toasted grains, light grassy hops, hint of caramel malt. Crisp and quenching with medium body and carbonation. My glass was empty in no time and I ordered another. Tasty stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2009 04:19:03 | More by ClockworkOrange

illidurit

California

3.13/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at The Red in Santa Cruz. Poured into a pint glass. Clear gold with thick but watery white head. Aroma is earthy with some toasty grains. Flavors of dough with a touch of toffee. Some vague noble hoppiness. Thin and well-carbonated. Pretty boring.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2009 03:41:18 | More by illidurit

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Light copper with a thin white head leaving nice lace.

S-Slightly bready with a faint whiff of citrusy hops.

T-Sharp but somewhat light hop bite. Very crisp. Followed up by a nice malty finish.

M-Medium-light body with a very nice crispness.

D-Great summertime drinker. Like what one would hope all Mexican Lagers could be like! Super crisp and refreshing--Nice.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2008 06:26:06 | More by Deuane

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on tap at Ginger Man in NYC. Not familiar with it at time when ordering, but always happy to try something new from BR. It was listed under the lager category so I knew what to expect.

A: Dark, clear golden color with a large white head that hangs around for a while and leaves streams behind on the glass.
S: Very mild, grain, malts, everything expected from a lager. Nothing remarkable, nothing bad.
T: Immediately reminds me of Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, but, well, not as great. Fit exactly what I was looking for at the time however, a refreshing, flavorful "beer". Slightly more hopped than the GL, but in the end a pretty average lager. Medium body with active carbonation. Very drinkable, but nothing special, plenty of other beers fit this style and better

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2008 20:49:14 | More by yourefragile

jwc215

New Jersey

3.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at The Gingerman, NYC:

Pours deep golden with a thin white head that stays. Trailing, mostly vanishing, lacing sticks.

The smell is floral/slightly tropical with a whiff of alcohol. This isn't "bad", but is out of style.

The taste is even more out-of-style. Honey sweetness with floral/almost medicinal bitterness. Not much of a finish. A touch of alcohol comes through.

Light-bodied, slightly coating despite thinness. Not quite as crisp at a lager should be.

Not a fan of this one, and I don't know that I enjoyed it as much as the score shows. They tried to do too much, but not enough in the right direction of the style. A bit out-of-control and not the thirst-quencher it should be. A disappointment, especially considering the brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2008 12:50:46 | More by jwc215