Bear Republic Brewing Company Big Bear Black Stout

**Aroma:** “Big coffee, moderate roast, light toasty, floral/citrus hops notes, dark chocolate, lots of fruity esters, with cherry and a touch of bubblegum, caramel, and molasses. Alcohol is evident. Emptied mug of latte and a chain smoker’s breath in a dive bar.” **Flavor:** “Strong roast, moderate coffee, moderate toasty, some chocolate, background, fair bit of malty, prominent tropical fruity hops flavor, moderately sweet, full bodied, juicy fruit, light plum aftertaste. Long linger is dark chocolate, dates, and plums.” **Overall:** “Strangely fruity for an imperial stout—gives it a unique twist and it works. A fairly long lingering chocolate note with dates and plums. Odd choice of hops? Alcohol flavor is strong, lingers in aftertaste. Fruity esters. Boozy and awesome imperial stout. The more I drink it, the more I like it.”

**Aroma:** “Big dark chocolate and coffee aroma. Big plum, dates, moderate cherry, light acidity, moderate caramel, light umami, light earthy hops, some brown sugar notes. A backbone of bready malt. I’m sitting by the fire with a snifter of...not barleywine, but this beer. Rich malt complexity with sherry, dried figs, and raisins, and warming alcohol. More caramel than roast, but the coffee and chocolate are there.” **Flavor:** “Lovely complex malt sweetness—like chocolate-covered Fig Newtons, or maple syrup, with a touch of earthy hops to help balance. Like a shot of strong expresso, no cream. Complex and deep, but a bit intense so sessionable is not part of this section. Big cherry, light plum, big chocolate, moderate coffee, light hops bitterness, touch of alcohol, moderate caramel. Aftertaste: big chocolate, touch of coffee, light bitterness. Starts out like a thinner-bodied barleywine, but the hops and roast bitterness crack that illusion. The promise from the nose is here, but it doesn't quite mesh as well in the flavor because the lingering hops and slight astringency add some harshness. Hops flavor is as big as the roast. Sherry, malt, dried fruit and esters are still nice, though.” **Overall:** “Very tasty, but could use a bit more carbonation to help the flavors pop. Love the fruitiness. Fun dark-fruit dominated imperial stout. The chocolate, caramel, and roast notes are present throughout with just enough hops to balance. It is fairly well carbonated, but that works to bring out the brighter fruit notes. The nose had me, but the flavor not so much.”

**Aroma:** “Dark roast coffee and roasted malt. Biscuity, toasted rich malt in the background. Spicy alcohol. Mild chocolate.” **Flavor:** “Coffee-forward, followed by roast malt and alcohol. Medium hops bitterness complements roast notes. Starts quite sweet and transitions to a moderately intense acrid bitterness that’s emphasized by the medium high carbonation. The alcohol brings out a nice nuttiness and accentuates the cocoa highlights. Pleasant caramel, too.” **Overall:** “Well-crafted beer. The balance of coffee and malt is nice. Alcohol warming is pleasant.”