Altered Beast - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

ehammond1

California

2.75/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

On Tap

2012 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest
Paso Robles, CA

Clear golden and light amber with a moderately sized off-white head that leaves spots of lacing down the glass.

Sweet and malty aroma, especially for the style, with some cedar wood complements, and good amounts of caramel, toffee, and alcohol.

The flavor is sweet, slightly boozy, and has distinct wood notes. This isn't what I look for in a DIPA, though I don't think it's a complete failure.

Medium to heavy bodied with moderate carbonation as well as a bit oily. Somewhat heavy and lifeless, especially for the style.

I didn't care for this offering.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2012 21:29:09 | More by ehammond1

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark copper tinted amber, big plume of off-white froth, sticky lacing and sticky liquid. Scent brings resinous hops, orange and grapefruit, medicinal and herbal quality, big malted grain, brown sugar and caramel, oak, notes of vanilla and coconut. I would swear this is a barelywine based on nose alone - great stuff. Mouth feel noticeable immediately on first pour, riach and dense, sticky and oily, big resinous and citrus hop notes, wood edges out the bitterness a bit and brings coconut, malt profile is fresh, caramel and toast. Dry, dry finnish. Really good stuff here, big and bold.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 22:04:59 | More by rfgetz

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a 10oz offering at the brew pub. pours a hazy, dark orange. Tastes very sweet with a malty finish. Some slight hop notes with oak lingering there too. My girlfriend who doesn't like beer, thought it tasted like dessert. You can feel the big booze in the taste however. Would say this is drifting towards the American barleywine style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2012 03:27:35 | More by WeedKing4

shleepy

California

1.98/5  rDev -51.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Writing from ~3-week-old notes. Tried on tap at The Hopyard in San Ramon. Honestly, I may have had a bad keg (or the tap was dirty... something like that - who knows).

A: Hazy golden. Medium white head.

S: Sweet (lots of caramel), grassy, but also soapy.

T: Everything I dislike about heavier IPA's, without the redeeming qualities. Very malty, bready, with a hint of hot alcohol. Bitter off-flavor (cardboard) that completely kills the beer. There may be some nice fruitiness hidden behind it, but I'll never know. No citrus or pineapple is apparent. On the plus side, only a subtle breadiness remains as the aftertaste.

M: "Thick" (syrupy) and heavy. Medium carbonation. I don't like the smell or taste, but the mouthfeel is enjoyable for a slow-sipping beer.

O: You can do better, BR.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2012 04:17:43 | More by shleepy

r0nyn

New York

4.98/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A 8oz pour at the Pony Bar for BA infi's birthday pub adventure! Totally got this on a whim because it's named after one of our favorite games to play on the Sega Genesis.

Pours an unfiltered golden hue into the glass. Clarity is translucent. Frothy white head has a good amount of staying power before receding, leaving a morass of lacing clinging to the inside of the glass. Stuff absolutely cakes itself there. Ridiculous. The smell is sweet and floral, with the Cascade and Sonnet hops melding together to create a wholly enticing nose. There's a bit of sugary bubblegum to be detected, along with a faint hint of vanilla, ostensibly from the American Oak. Tiny shake of bourbon-y booziness at the end. Just a fantastic-smelling beer all around.

Taste is out of this world. I know this is an IPA, but there's nary a trace of bitterness to be had. Instead, there's a ton of floral and hoppy essences that pervade the senses, washing over the palate and treating your taste buds to a wondrous cacophony of flavor. The taste starts on a sweet note which carries throughout the entire sip, never once becoming cloying, but instead melding harmoniously with the rest of the flavors. Some earthy oakiness, followed swiftly by a pleasant tinge of alcoholic warmth. I know the booze is there, it's just nearly impossible to detect. Rounds off with a silky smooth buttery kick that accentuates the hops to a degree I didn't think possible. Just phenomenal all around. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied and easy on the tongue with a nice, easy-to-drink feel. The carbonation is just right.

Just everything about this beer is right on. My cousin and I have fond memories of trying to get through Altered Beast on the Sega, but now that we're old enough to appreciate craft beer, this Beast has altered us. Bear Republic has an absolute gem of a brew on its hands and this needs to be bottled and/or distributed regularly. It is a fantastic and extremely well-done example of an Imperial IPA. I would honestly drink this every day if I could, it's that good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2012 03:57:37 | More by r0nyn

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Altered Beast! Growler filled at Pony Bar, NYC.

Appearance: Pours a beautiful deep-orange-amber color, with a sizable head but not a lot of retention or lacing.

Smell: Deep and delicious, dust and wood, barrel for sure. Nice sweetness and bourbon. Firewood, spice and dry hops. Malt, some floral notes and stickiness.

Taste: Sweetness upfront, nice booze. Lotsa honey, wood and barrel. I feel like I'm drinking carbonated bourbon and I love it! Great oak flavor, plus brown butter and caramel. Sweet and spicy, very well balanced, damn great beer.

Mouthfeel: Full flavor, body, medium carbonation. Spicy, get those hops? Dry finish, but not overtly so, very manageable. Reminds me of Burton Baton, only better. YES!

Overall: An exceptional brew! One of the best DIPA's I have ever tried... it seriously feel like a major barrel-aged beer without the fanfare, you know what I mean? It drinks damn nice for the ABV and it tastes just so good! I am a fan.

Serving type: growler

04-26-2012 03:16:43 | More by DoubleSimcoe

animortician

California

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Been trying to get up to the brewery to try this for quite a long. Finally made it!

A: dark orange to copper brown, slightly hazy but still decent clarity. Great head and lacing all the way down the 3 in tall 10oz glass :)

S: Not very big smell, some citrus, malty, kinda of boozy

T: WOW, Right off the bat this beer is just a plain good ol double IPA then upon swallowing it goes to a whole new level! The oak aged aspect it amazing. buttery, nutty and sweet finish on a hop bomb! Amazing. Complex but not overpowering. This beer needs to be bottled!

M: Smooth, extremely drinkable, great carbonation

O: This needs to be bottled right away, if more people tried this and reviewed it, this beer would be up there right away. Its unique and well crafted, creative and kind of daring. LOVE IT! Worth the trip!

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2012 17:35:13 | More by animortician

UCLABrewN84

California

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler pour sampled at mrbubbler's tasting courtesy of brwilson.

Pours a clear honey orange with an off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is awesome with honey, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and wood aromas. Taste is the same with a medium level of bitterness after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good wood aged DIPA with a fantastic smell.

Serving type: growler

04-09-2012 04:38:15 | More by UCLABrewN84