Score: 79/100 – Good
Appearance 6/6
The beer pours a clear black (opaque in glass) with tall, dense, brown head. Great foam retention.
Aroma 21/24
Strong intensity with decent balance. The aroma leans heavy into the barrel with big woody character and pronounced fruity tones.
Noticeable alcohol. Moderate dark malts and esters. Very little – if any – perceivable hop character. Mild oxidation. Something seems off but it’s buried in significant complexity.
Flavour 34/40
Follows the aroma with strong intensity, decent balance, and assertive perceived bitterness.
Heavy barrel character, alcohol, and dark malts dominate. Pleasant oxidation, noteworthy esters, and no apparent off-flavours. The hops still seem to elude me…
Mouthfeel 6/10
Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is viscous and oily with a mild acrid quality. The alcohol warming is rather strong and there’s significant astringency on the palate. The beer finishes sweet. Somewhat harsh – especially for 8% ABV.
Overall 12/20
This is an interesting one… Ursa Major packs more character than most 8 percenters have any right to have. I love that. At the same time, the beer is rough around the edges and it lacks finesse.
The appearance is fantastic and the depth of character is commendable. However, there’s a lack of balance and the drinking experience is diminished by harshness on the palate.
Overall, I consider this worth trying, but at the price point I wouldn’t drink it regularly. With some fine-tuning, this could be an excellent beer.
Beerfection 