Big Bear Black Stout - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

jhammel01

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours pitch black, no light penetrating at all! Coffee colored head, thick and rocky and almost never goes away.

Dark Chocolate scent, roasted malt, hazelnut, Freshly brewed coffee.

Great robust flavor. Tons of roasted malt flavors, more chocolates in the finish. Very very chocolatey, like chocolate milk. Awesome malty bite in the end with some lingering hop spiciness.
Mouthfeel is on the thicker bodied side without too much carbonation. Perfect level of carbonation for the style

Frankly exactly what the style embodies. A robust, chocolaty, Coffee infused stout. An outstanding beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 04:20:28 | More by jhammel01

RandyPuckett

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-24-2013 02:31:18 | More by RandyPuckett

ExaltedNecrosis

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-24-2013 01:18:13 | More by ExaltedNecrosis

drh1382

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-23-2013 20:12:04 | More by drh1382

pin

Australia

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-22-2013 01:54:36 | More by pin

JohnF51

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-21-2013 16:21:04 | More by JohnF51

gkozeny

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-20-2013 23:51:15 | More by gkozeny

seplo

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-20-2013 23:20:27 | More by seplo

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-18-2013 23:59:48 | More by Photekut

Honus1

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-18-2013 02:44:33 | More by Honus1

mrw1zard

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-13-2013 13:08:04 | More by mrw1zard

2beerdogs

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-09-2013 04:37:11 | More by 2beerdogs

NastyNate11

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-09-2013 03:08:52 | More by NastyNate11

klawburke

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-09-2013 00:52:13 | More by klawburke

waddellc2

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-08-2013 20:33:43 | More by waddellc2

sofisdad

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-08-2013 06:53:11 | More by sofisdad

Beer21

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-08-2013 06:43:12 | More by Beer21

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.66/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bottle into a tulip. From notes.

A: Pours a dark ruby color that actually reveals some suspended sediment when held up to the light. Otherwise, it's nicely opaque. The head is a two finger khaki shade. It fades slowly but surely, however it leaves little lacing on the glass.

S: I note some licorice, dark fruits, touches of both smoke and citrusy hops, along with a hint of roast. A rather nondescript aroma for an imperial stout; it's more befitting of a good single stout.

T: This one seems to be dark fruit and licorice forward. I notice some caramel in the midtaste, and pleasantly balanced citrusy hops on the back end. The hops also provide some herbal and peach qualities. It seems to be mellow and balanced to a fault - however, this would make a great everyday stout due to its easygoing nature.

M: It's light, clean, and dry. If the bottle didn't say 8.1%, I'd wonder if it was really 5% or so; the alcohol is concealed superbly given its lightness. It doesn't offer much in the way of richness, however.

O: I was unsure how to grade this one. As an imperial stout, it's rather meh - but as a regular stout, it's damn good. For better or for worse, this drinks like a 5% single stout...except that it's really 8.1%. Since Bear Republic doesn't call it an imperial stout, I'm grading it as a single. Ergo, I'm willing to overlook some of its flaws and appreciate it as a decently priced (for a bomber) everyday drinker.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 18:54:27 | More by ThisWangsChung

MacStinson

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-02-2013 05:30:58 | More by MacStinson

smutty33

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-01-2013 17:23:44 | More by smutty33

Boone757

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-30-2013 21:17:18 | More by Boone757

LSx

California

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

04-24-2013 19:52:21 | More by LSx

lancecenter

Texas

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-23-2013 23:14:54 | More by lancecenter

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-23-2013 19:59:52 | More by BigBry

Nugganooch

California

3.89/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber served in my Sierra Nevada balloon glass
*notes taken on 04/18/13

A: A dark mahogany brown on the pour that sits totally opaque and jet black once collected in the glass. There forms a light brown sugar colored head on top with only some moderate retention. Sifts down back into the body leaving some clumsy trellising and light dots of stick down the glass after each sip.

S: Smells of dark roasted grains, molasses, burnt caramel sugars, and dry roast coffee. There is an overall earthy quality to the aroma and a bit of ash coming through as well. Pretty nice nose, very appropriate for the style with some deep roasty notes.

T: Prominent roasted barley flavors bring forth a smoky char and notes of dry roast coffee that envelope a bed of sweet molasses, scorched caramels, and some dark chocolate. There is a bit of licorice and dark fruit detected that was not apparent within the nose as well as a little earthy pine and citrus dusting of hops. Overall bitterness is moderate to low however with just a dash of alcohol spice in there. Has a nice smooth balance. A touch heavy on the Roasted Barley for my tastes but still very solid. Similar to Rasputin for me.

M: Moderate sized body that does lean towards the thinner side as it tends to get little watery at times. Overall smooth and creamy feel with a little chalkiness midway there and a nice drying finish. Very slick and clean with some light alcohol warming.

D: A solid stout with some real deep rich roast barley flavors. Lots of dry roast coffee and ashy charcoal. I think the mouthfeel does fumble a bit and it is definitely not your thick Impy. More along the lines of a Double Stout which to me offers more quaffability. Factor in the very reasonable pricing and year round availability however and the Big Bear Black Stout is pretty hard to beat.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 19:59:24 | More by Nugganooch