Though never as ‘thick-skinned’ as hippo its named after, this astringent maple-malted brown ale fortifies bittersweet powdered chocolate assertion with creamy caramel-butterscotch-molasses link, wood-smoked barley thread, and herbal spices. Prickly hops carbonate sour prune dryness leading to candied yeast finish.

Steadfast American Brown Ale layers hop-moderated stewed prune and green raisin souring above imminent bruised apple, sweet peach, and tart banana illusions. Meager nuttiness and weak grain backbone drag down Black Bear slightly.

Blood-thick ruby amber brown ale may please wine drinkers with its grape tannin consistency, oak-y cherry-grapefruit dryness, and tart plum restraint.

Typically fine organic California microbrew retains modest fizz-hopped bitterness and grain-malt constraint overriding percolating well water crispness. Refreshing jasmine aroma consumes mocha-caramel efficiency and tangy citric zest.

Rich coffee hue and nose pervade toasted-hopped brown ale bursting with mocha bitterness, barley-roasted sweetness, and honeyed maple viscosity. Pleasant finish retains bitter grain edge. A welcome choice, indeed.

Strong up-front alcohol presence stimulates intricate brown ale. Candi-sugared yeast distillation animates floral hop eloquence, hazelnut-chestnut addendum and fig-date-quince whisk, countering less attractive musty herbaceous nature. Dank barnyard funk swindles earthen pinot grape souring and dwindled clove spicing.

Brandy-sweet crimson-highlighted brown ale promotes creamy cherry vanilla froth, mild nut astringency, and plum-date register saddling bitter hop linger. Brawny finish bends molasses into drier chocolate slit.

Thickly resin-textured brown ale matches aromatic chocolate lightness to thin malt flow and bitter nutty bottom. Ultimately indistinct brew lost between middle of the road red ale and cheap stout. Brewery defunct: 2005.

Weak dirty earthen tawny body fails to supply proper walnut-hazelnut frontage for pallid malt roasting and dubious unrefined chocolate backdrop. Blah.

Blood-thick chocolate malt richness and mild burnt hop bitterness provide winning blend for high caliber New Englander. Softer palates will appreciate moderate-bodied essence yet hard drinking guzzlers will enjoy long lasting mocha finish.

Deep reddish amber hue appears thicker than soured grapefruit-tangerine frontage, fading smoked hop sharpness, and medium-bodied appeal. Wispy candied caramel malts allow sugar cookie and rice cake illusions to daub off-dry toasted barley finish.

Tart Finnish-styled brown ale with cascading fleshy bubbles atop viscous coppery body offers oaken cherry-soured prune-dried prominence, sedate white burgundy-yellow grape backing, and unripe green apple finish. White gobs of yeast sediment spot this squint-soured digestif.