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Beer Reviews

Big Bear Stout Ale

Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Healdsburg, CA
USA
http://bearrepublic.com/index.php

Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 8.1%

Baby-Boy’s Rating:
   (Outstanding within its style.)


Comments:
Now, this Big Black Bear is from outside the normal Beer Dorks’ Midwestern range, but it is too good to be ignored.

Just because the company is from California doesn’t mean it’s a slouch where beer is concerned. For example, Richard G. Norgrove, Bear Republic’s Brewer, was named “Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year” at the 2006 Great Amerian Beer Festival in Colorado. So, this is a very tasty, smooth, malty beer. It is full-bodied and has a rich, roasty flavor with some caramel thrown in for good measure. It’s definitely a dark beer, but very easy to drink.

The company’s web site says that the beer is brewed with Belgian and English roasted barley and crystal malts. It also has Louisiana molasses and dark brown sugar, along with Chinook and Cascade hops.

All of that comes together to make a very fine beer. If you can’t find it in your local stores, check out the web site, because the brewery will ship beer to a limited number of states.

Reviewed by Baby-Boy Jackson on January 24, 2007.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

Beer Dorks News

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