Catawba Valley Brown Bear Ale

Brewed by Catawba Valley Brewing Company
Style: Brown Ale
Morganton, North Carolina USA

Serve in Dimpled mug

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Draft. Nice brown pour with good frothy head. Nothing else positive to say. Watered down, boring brown ale that has nothing to it.

Dark brown pour with tan head and lace. Aroma is light chocolate and toasted malt. Taste is same toasted malt with more chocolate flavor than aroma. Nice choco for a brown. A bit thin and watery but still a nice beer.

Draft at Barley’s. Poured a cloudy brown with tiny brown head. Roasted malt Scent. Sweet roasty taste with a hint of chocolate.

On draught at Barleys, Asheville on 7 July 2006. Described as an "English style brown ale" but, as a Brit, it’s a bit difficult to know what that actually means these days. Anyway, it’s an attractive reddish brown colour with a thin off-white head. Light roast malt aroma. Quite restrained. More roast malt on the palate with a touch of creamy caramel (but not enough to intrude too much). Smooth, yet firm, mouthfeel. A very decent drop.

Looks amazing, pouring a burnished copper with a towering thick head. Earthy aroma slapped with spicy hops and some powdered chocolate. Unfortunately, these elements do not come through in the flavor. Somewhat watery and underpowered on the malt side.

Tap at Barley’s in Asheville. Pours clear light brown. Sweet mild malts and very mild hops on the nose. Some brown sugar and mild caramel. Really thin palate and watery taste. Mild is the key word here.

Draft sample at Knoxville Brewers Jam 2009. Poured a hazy brown color with an average frothy brown head that was mostly lasting and excellent lacing. Moderate toasted sweet malt aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium toasted sweet flavor with a medium sweet finish of moderate duration. Solid drinkable brew.

Tap at Scubby’s in Asheville. Clear clean brown pour with a thin off white head and minimal lace. Light coffee and light nutty presence. Thin bodied.

On tap at Asheville Pizza Company. Dark brown pour with small white head. Nutty aroma with some coffee in the flavor and roasted malts. Decent pair with pizza.

On tap at the bier garden in asheville. Dark brown and slightly clear color. Nice nut and almond flavor. Some roasted malt and a bit of a sweet finish. Overall decent sessionable beer with not a lot of individuality or uniqueness.