This is a good, smooth, red ale. Mildly hopped with a slightly roasted malt character. It holds it’s own as a true MICRO-brew.

22oz bottle, from mug. Creamy, slightly off-white head. Body is clear, but is so dark that it almost looks opaque, and is a deep red-mahogany color (it’s called a "red ale" on the label). Aroma is very unique; it smells like a hoppy stout, but more complex. Chocolate, bread, fruit, grass, leather, smoke...wow! Medium-full body; lightly oiled yet creamy texture; mild carbonation. Flavor is like nothing I’ve tasted...wood smoke...dead leaves...salt... I’m having trouble placing these flavors. As exciting as the flavors are, I’m not particularly crazy about them -- but they deserve a decent rating based on their uniqueness. Finish starts bitter, then turns salty. This beer was certainly an experience! The brewer’s description is way off; it’s neither mild nor crisp, in my opinion.

(22oz bottle) Foamy beige head atop clear copper/cola body. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, some berry, light chocolate. Taste is moderately sweet, caramel, roast/coffee, some chocolate, faint earthy. Smooth medium body. Seems more a porter than a red ale.

A gift from my friend Paul. This poured a really really dark red - like ruby red with hints of brown; very little head, no lacing. Aroma is malty sweet, a little smoke, not strong, but nice. Started thin and bubbly, then grew into 3 distinct flavors - the effervescent thin sharp taste, an almost sour thin fruit juice on top of that and then a thicker maltiness under it all with a bread and smoke flavor. I’m thinking that it’s flawed in some way, but at least it was an interesting drink

<i>Any first impressions?</i><br /> -Lofty foam laces around the deep ruby brown.<br /> -Crackling campfire wood and light fruitiness make for a relaxing, almost soporific aroma.<br /> -Herbal hoppiness, malt roastiness, and multiple fruit &#40;berries, peaches, apricots, mangos&#41; render complexity if you care to look for it, but fail to excite.<br /> -The frothy carbonation and fragile maltiness all point towards überdrinkability.<br /> <br /> <i>What if you dig deeper?</i><br /> -A careful caress of leafy, herbal hops ends each sip.<br /> -Some dark chocolate is even whipped up by the wooden character.<br /> -As you get further down the pint, tartness stems from the fruitiness, and the roasting campfire slowly turns to ashes.<br /> -Another decent pint from Bear Brew; to echo Clark’s wishes, I’d really like this brewer to try something more exciting. He sure has the talent to do so.<br /> <br /> <b>Bottle; no date.</b>