Brentwood Big Brown Bear

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

Chappel Beer Festival - Summer 2026, Chappel, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		12 Sep 2026	2nd beer: Very good head and lasting lacing on this traditional bitter from family-run operation, Brentwood Brewing, set up in 2006 at Calcott Hall Farm in Pilgrims Hatch, just north of the major Essex town of Brentwood. A dry bitter spicy first bite in following the second-ever commercial recipe formulated in the brewery's history. A very earthy, grassy dry hoppiness rising from its UK Challenger, Goldings and Fuggles hops. Its roasted British malts working their magic with English Pale Malt lending biscuity flavours, Crystal Malt behind its sweet caramel and toffee flavours, Brown Malt aiding a dry toasted touch and spicy hints and Chocolate Malt aiding the brown hue and roasted depth without making it heavy like a porter. A fragrant, floral note prevailing before its slide downwards. Served in good condition.

Three Blackbirds, Boxmoor, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	18 Jul 2026
Hogan Sampling		18 Jul 2026	Good head and lasting lacing presented on this Essex-brewed traditional English bitter from Calcott Hall Farm, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood. The brewing operation had humble beginnings as set up inside a garden shed in 2006. A dry bitter first bite on this brewery's second-ever recipe and brought back to celebrate their 20th anniversary. A fruited hoppiness rising aided by its English Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. A touch of caramel joining in from its maltiness for me. The likely malts are English Pale Malt, aiding a light biscuity sweetness, Crystal Malt behind its sweet caramel and toffee flavours, and Chocolate Malt, aiding its dark hue. A toffee-infused maltiness prevailing on my taste buds. A dry bitterness lingering on its downwards’ passage. On good form with lasting conditioning.