Heritage Ale - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

david18

New York

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is on tap at the Amsterdam Ale house as a part of Craft Beer Week in New York City. An excellent beer. I had no idea what the style was when I tasted it but the maltiness came through immediately. Very good color, great flavor, excellent mouthfeel and drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2009 14:27:48 | More by david18

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm not sure if the bar I just had this at screwed up the facts about this because the ABV they listed was the one listed for their "French oak" version of this wondrous ale (The Bear Repub website has all the facts in order). Didn't get any assertive french vanilla oak-iness on this. But, shit, was it a treat. Finally(!), a domestic brewery nailed down the mouth-lubing rich, thick malty/fruity excellence of some of my favorite wee heavy - Skull Splitter, Traquair, for starters. Thank you, Bear Republic! Thank you.

This pretty much fits the bill in every way. Short, mid-compact off-white head on pour, settled to a misty collar. Color: dead-on - rusty, umber-tinged blood red. Erratic slashes of lace.

When properly de-colded, the ale lets forth some inviting aroma. Malts show (in order of prominence) caramel, toasty, and grainy/nutty (small degree). Big malty cherry smell for the most part - esters be deep. NO SMOKED SCENT! Amen!!! None in the taste as well. Which, by the way....

Is fucking stellar!! YES! How do so many other breweries pretty much custard-dump on the flavor profile of a wee heavy?! I'll repeat what I've said time and time again - smoked malt is NOT a traditional part of a Scotch Ale and it sure as hell ain't the thing that makes a Scotch Ale a Scotch Ale. LISTEN!!! It is the unique combination of proper malt bill and charcteristic fruity ester that gives a beer any right to call itself "Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy". I've drank enough of these - I KNOW! BR might have just brewed a clone recipe for Skull Splitter for all I know. Not AS good, but still superb.

By the way (prime) - this drank 3-tier - faint bitter sizzle fizz immediately up front, light nectar smooth in the middle, with a warm wave silken dryness in the finish. Nice subtle sweet, toasty aftertaste. Cheers, Bear Republic!

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2011 04:58:57 | More by Bouleboubier

Mark

California

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I understand my rankings are bit spread out here, but here's why. I like my beer to have a head on it, this didn't have much of one though lacing was present. Color was a deep deep amber, and aroma was earthy and clean. Nice and malty with some unique hopping on the finish, can't put my finger on it but I liked it. This ale weighs in at a big 8% but it went down like a bitter. A session strong ale if I have ever had one. A winner.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2002 20:34:43 | More by Mark

socon67

New York

4.35/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark brown color with a quickly sinking foam.

S - Scent of candied fruit, caramel, and rich malt. No boozy smell which I generally don't like.

T - Pleasant flavor of dark berries, sweet caramel, and hearty dark malt. Very complex, and very enjoyable.

M - For this style I found it highly drinkable. No boozy finish, and actually mellow for the style.

O - The highlight of the Bear Republic dinner I was at, and possibly my favorite offering from them.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2012 01:57:34 | More by socon67

cosmicevan

New York

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up from my local bevy in a growler when I saw it on tap.

A - Poured a rich brown amber with not much carbonation and a frothy creamy head. Sticky lacing.

S - Cherries, figs, grapes...malty caramel. Almost maple syrup like.

T - Delicious. Sweet and malty. Cherry, plum, grape with a subtle hop.

M - Feels like a good beer with an even balance of carbonation and flavor and hops.

D - Extremely drinkable beer. Tasty and well balanced. Sweet & malty without being too much so that it becomes filling.

Serving type: growler

01-16-2010 23:49:56 | More by cosmicevan

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap @ Taste of Top in Tempe, AZ.

A: Deep brown in the glass but a dark, ruby red when held up to light. No head to speak of.

S: Great nose. Honey, caramelized sugar, brown sugar, raisins, molasses.

T: Sweet, toasty, nutty, malty, syrupy, warming goodness. Honey and molasses dominate. A hearty brew. Everything a Scotch Ale should be. A bit of booze and roasted malt in the finish.

M: Smooth, sweet, easy drinking. Not as cloying as I expected it to be.

O: A fantastic example of the style. Bear Republic does it again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2012 05:08:44 | More by Gatch

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a lightist brown with a bit of crimson in there. Nice head and plenty of legs as it went down. Nice malt presence, with a few backing hops. Lots of dark fruits and a bit of red fruit. The taste is quite sweet and a bit cloying, but not overly so. Mouthfeel is medium and drinkability is very nice. This was one of my wife's favorites of the California leg of our trip.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2010 17:33:18 | More by Thorpe429

mdfb79

New York

4.23/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 02/18/12 notes. Had this on tap at Rattle N Hum in NYC.

a - Pours a dark, somewhat transparent amber brown color with one inch of off white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of dark fruits, light sweet caramel malts, and toasted malts. Fruitier then expected and a little sweet, pretty nice.

t - Tastes of caramel malts, toffee, light chocolate, swet dark fruits, sugar, toasted malts, and nuts. A ton of nice lightly sweet toffee and caramel, a really awesome taste.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Pretty smooth.

o - Overall I liked this one a lot. I thought the taste was awesome and had a ton of caramel and toffee, which I love. Would love to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 21:27:40 | More by mdfb79

Offa

California

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a really nice, smooth, well-rounded wee heavy-scotch ale type.

It's brownish red with a somewhat dense, light orangish tan head. The head is somewhat long-lasting with moderate lace.

The aroma is rich, caramelized grain, caramel and hints of stwed fruit and nuts.

The taste is fairly full, sweet, malty caramel and fruit, a hint of nut, faint yeasty and chocolate elements and with a light bitterness, making it nicely balanced. It has a moderately thick, oily palate. The alcohol is unusually well-hidden for the style, but noticeably contributes to the body and the full, warm feel.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2008 18:00:25 | More by Offa

Phoenix2443

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at the Alamo drafthouse south Lamar last night, I was very impressed with the drinkability as well as the even transition from the sweetness to the slight bitter aftertaste:

A - the beer pours a reddish amber with a very light white head. Looks like your average Scottish.

S - the beer has sweet smells of fruit - cherries, figs, etc. The beer didn't have a strong nose to it but it fit the style.

T - the beer has a sweet almost honey taste. Again, fruits and a nice complexity. Aftertaste was slightly bitter, letting you know the hops was present.

M - nothing special here

D - the beer was very easy and incredibly enjoyable. I could drink this throughout a night out easily. Hopefully they'll bottle this even as a limited time beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2010 17:41:22 | More by Phoenix2443

barleypop

California

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this one on tap at Bear Republic. This one poured a dark copper colour with mahogany accents. I nice tight head tops it off. I expect this one to be malty!

A very malty nose greets you with just the slightest hint of sweet ginger.

Nice thick flavours of fresh roasted toffee hit your tongue and leave a sweet peaty aftertaste in your throat. For a stronger ale (7.4%), this one is very drinkable without being overly sweet.

A great brew for a cool autumn evening. Like a good single malt scotch it will warm you right up before it puts you to sleep.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2003 20:09:25 | More by barleypop

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tap at Armsby Abbey

Creamy .5 finger head fades at a med pace over very dark mahogany brown color.

Nose of fairly sweet caramel, brown sugar, molasses, toasted nutty malts, sweet malts, fruit fig and date, soft almost aged malts.

Taste is soft but dark malts, sweet brown sugar and molasses, soft aged malts, caramel, dark fruit fig raisin and date, light roast, fluffy, tasty. Finishes a bit bitter with a light earthy hop flavor, little sweet still, lingering soft malts and fruits.

Mouth is med body, soft, good carb.

Drink is good, soft and drinkable, you would never know its 8% abv, little dry finish, and no herbal good, light hops and bitterness overall, the soft malts are the selling point of this as it should be.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2011 03:34:20 | More by jlindros

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft.
Pours a dark ruby brown in color. There's a head for a few seconds, but then it's gone by the time your first sip is done.
Smell is huge malts and some toffee. Taste is the same with some brown sugar and spice coming through at the end. Alright tasting and highly sessionable. Glad I had the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2009 17:52:11 | More by FtownThrowDown

RoyalT

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – This one poured a deep orange in color with a decent head that didn’t show much retention, which is typical of the style.

Smell – The malts here are heavily-toasted and soaked with sugars. There is a light, easy peat to this nose that rounds out the bouquet nicely.

Taste – The sugars here are very tasty. They are stiff and dominate the flavor profile. I can also pick up some light peat and a bit of brown sugars. The malts at the tongue are just like the ones at the smell: heavily toasted.

Mouthfeel – This medium-bodied Scottish Ale is super sweet and sticky in the mouth.

Drinkability – This is on the very sweet end of the style, but it was very tasty and went down quickly.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2005 03:19:59 | More by RoyalT

mikechance

California

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pint at a Whole Foods Beer Tasting Event

A: Dark brown and not much of a head

S: Malty with caramel, alcohol, sweetness

T: very interesting. Earthy, malty, complex, alcohol

M: Medium bodied. Carbonation is light but works perfectly.

O: This is an excellent scotch ale! I could drink it often --- they sholud bottle it!

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2011 20:31:59 | More by mikechance

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at ChurchKey poured into sampler glass. Pours a clear dark brown with a lovely tan head, nice. Aroma is light, but caramel shows through. Flavor is fairly rich caramel, with some faint notes of dark fruit. But mostly just a malt experience, with some balancing bitterness on the finish. Surprisingly medium bodied as opposed to coming across as huge or syrupy. Nice scotch ale from Bear Republic!

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2012 19:29:34 | More by CuriousMonk

sraimondi

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Having this one at Moe's in Lee, MA as it is snowing out--yes, a perfect backdrop for this quite traditional Wee Heavy.

A--Light to medium brown with nice ruby notes. Typical head retention for an 8% brew. Nice lacing throughout.

S--I don't pick up on much peatiness, but definite malt substance, little hops, as it should be. This is quite interesting as the published IBUs are at 75. I also get some other sugary notes.

T--Interesting. Malt sweetness is upfront for sure. However, the IBUs work well to keep this one from being cloying. Especially notable is the fact that there is still little hops profile; almost non-existent, except in the very finish, where there is an ever so slight bite. As in the nose, very slight peat, although definite caramel present.

M--Medium feel, a bit light for the style IMHO.

D--Nice, smooth drinkability.

Overall a very nice and traditional Wee Heavy, a style not normally well done in the USA, IMHO. Compares well to Belhaven, which I think is the current style target. More peatiness would have moved this one up.

Thanks to Josh for getting this one on draft.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2009 22:16:32 | More by sraimondi

pwoods

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Dilly Deli. Notes via text.

A: Pours a light chocolate brown that lets plenty of light through. Head was only about 1/2 finger without much retention. A few wisps of lacing here and there.

S: Toasted grains with an underlying sweetness. Good but not very complex.

T/M: My first thought was a slightly weaker Dirty Bastard(and Dirty Bastard was tapped right next to it, lol. I did get the right one, though). Robust malt character with a very slight whiskey note. Malts also a brown sugar sweetness. Mouthfeel is mostly creamy but a little thinner than I would have liked.

D: Overall, not a bad brew and could be easily sessioned. Maybe not quite a good as a Dirty Bastard but it can definitely hold its own.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2007 02:08:21 | More by pwoods

loving44

California

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - This one poured a deep orange-brown in color with a thin layer of head, not much head retention...

Smell - deep sweet malts, sugars, peat, earth, very hearty aroma. lots of toasted malt.

Taste - Again sweet but not overly sweet or syrupy. Lightly toasted grants, peat, and raw brown sugar.

Mouthfeel - medium body, sticky with constant carbonation.

Drinkability - I like a little more peat or toasted grain to mellow out the sweetness of the malts of this style, but this was highly drinkable and great on a cold rainy night.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2009 04:04:33 | More by loving44

jwillcourt

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a tulip glass.

A - Dark chestnut brown, almost black, with a purple/reddish tint when held to the light. Finger-sized, beige head that dissipates quickly into a white ring of foam. It leaves sticky lacing and a sheen down the side of the glass.

S - Sweet malt, slight peat and nutty smell.

T - Overall sweet flavor. Very fruity, with notes of plum, fig, grape, melon, and cider. Slightly bitter aftertaste with a bittersweet cocoa quality.

M - Medium bodied with higher than average carbonation. It looks and feels a little chalky.

D - The fruitiness is refreshing but I certainly feel the alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2010 01:35:06 | More by jwillcourt

Halcyondays

California

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Hollingshead's,

A: Pours brown with a small off-white head with good retention, no lacing.

S: Heavy malt, molasses, soy sauce.

T: Sweet malt, definite soy sauce note to the beer. Not really peaty, like I get in the more tradtional versions of the style, but the malt flavour still is quite tasty. I know this is a low hopped style, but it needs a bit of hops for balance in this one, it's a malt bomb.

M: Full-bodied, robust, nice carbonation character, not overdone, sweet finish.

D: A good beer from Bear Republic. I really liked it at a bit cooler temperature, I thought it became more cloying as it got warmer. Still a nice one, I'm glad this made its way out of the brewpub.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 01:43:50 | More by Halcyondays

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on tap at 1702; March 2011
This beer arrives with a tan colored head that sits on top of a dark, brown-amber colored beer. A big caramel character is noticeable in the nose up front and this is backed by aromas of dark fruit, toasty malt touches and just a hearty, appetizing character that is quite nice, though definitely malt focused.

My first sip is sweet, with rich caramel notes that accentuate fruit notes of raisins and a big prune like flavor. Softer toasted whole grain notes support the sweeter / fruitier notes from up front. This has a nice, chewy body that is quite hefty for a beer of this strength. There is a touch of roasted malt in the finish that helps add a light bitterness to go along with the touch of bitterness from the soft hop contribution. This is actually quite nice; I really ike the malt character and the noticeable fruit component is nice, even if a bit divergent from a traditional American interpretation of a Scotch Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2011 14:44:19 | More by Gueuzedude

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at khyber in philly

Pours a deep caramel brown color with some brighter cherry and orange hues in the light. Tanned head rests on top, fading into some patchy lacing on the glass.

Pretty robust and malty in the nose with layers of chocolate and caramel. Hints of peaty smoke and faint bitterness. Somewhat sweet and warm.

A decent spike of warmth up front with edges of smoke and peat. The profile smooths out with touches of dark chocolate and caramel, before the bready, burly malt backbone comes through. A couple touches of dark fruit lurk underneath as well. Finishes a little sweet and warm.

Slightly fuller medium body, decently carbonated, a bit chewy and sticky. Drinks pretty nicely, good combination of flavors that I typically look for in beers like this.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 00:03:48 | More by xnicknj

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This brew was served from the tap at Rattle N’ Hum in New York, NY. It arrived in a generic tulip glass and showed a rich dark amber coloring. The drink sported a one finger tan head of creamy, cakey bubbles, showing good retention. Patterned lacing was left around the glass. There was haze but no sediment, and carbonation appeared high. The aroma showcased roasted caramel malts, mild herbal hop balanced, and rice crispy cereal grain. With warmth came some buttery licks and booze, and a creamy softness to the back. Our first impression was that this was smooth, buttery, and bitter. As we sipped, buttery diacetyls, caramel malts and sugars, milk chocolate, and butterscotch hit the palate. The malts warmed up towards the middle, mixing with fusel booze at the peak. Darker malts also appeared here, as chocolate and metallic, bringing us to a sweeter, dryer, and chalkier finish. There was a final wash of floral and herbal hop bitterness, along with some far off sour grain. The aftertaste breathed of bittering cocoa, piney hops, yeast, and a hearty breadiness. The body was fuller, and the carbonation was high but softer. There was gentle cream, slurp, and froth to each sip, with a puckering and resiny bite and slickness left all around the mouth. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was how nicely everything blends in the nose and flavoring. The hop bitterness was unexpected and at first, nice, but it became almost overpowering by the end. Thankfully there was richness of caramel malts and sweetness to end things on a more balanced note.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 16:53:41 | More by TheBrewo

DoubleJ

California

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Hollingshead's, on to the beer:

I had never heard of this beer, so I had no idea what style of beer I was getting. It's brown in color, maybe ruby brown, lighter hues of color found on the edges. In the nose, I found some dark fruits and a pinch of cocoa. To taste, my tongue found a lot of fruit skins of dark fruit flavor. There were also figs to be found. Cocoa is revealed, and the overall taste becomes powdery as it dries in the mouth. Worthy of a pint...if you can find it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2008 04:37:07 | More by DoubleJ