Black Bear Brewing Company
Microbrewery
in
Orono,
Maine,
United States 🇺🇸
Owned by
Blaze Brewing Company
Associated Venue: Black Bear Brewing
- Out of business
Established in 2008
Contact
Description
Black Bear Microbrewery is a family owned distributing craft brewery and tap room. Our beers are available on draft at many bars and restaurants across the state of Maine as well as at the brewery tap room.
Located in the heart of downtown, at 19 Mill St. Orono, Maine, we installed a 10bbl brewhouse in 2007 and began operation in 2008. In October of 2013, we opened a small tap room where we serve pints and sell Growlers. We brew a variety of beers and styles for our tap room. Get directions to the brewery and come by for a pint or just to pick up a Growler from the tap to go!
In 2025, Black Bear shut down their taproom in Orono, while selling the brand rights to Blaze Brewing, who will continue to produce their iconic beers.
Located in the heart of downtown, at 19 Mill St. Orono, Maine, we installed a 10bbl brewhouse in 2007 and began operation in 2008. In October of 2013, we opened a small tap room where we serve pints and sell Growlers. We brew a variety of beers and styles for our tap room. Get directions to the brewery and come by for a pint or just to pick up a Growler from the tap to go!
In 2025, Black Bear shut down their taproom in Orono, while selling the brand rights to Blaze Brewing, who will continue to produce their iconic beers.
5.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
(Tap) bright, clear orange Amber colour with a small beige head; aroma of citrus, stewed fruit; balanced flavour with a long, light bitter finish
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Oct 2015
at 11:21
6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
(Tap) bright clear Amber colour with a small beige head; aroma of stewed fruit; dryish, mineral flavour with a long, light bitter finish
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Oct 2015
at 11:03
4.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
Reviewed from notes.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewery.
The appearance was a hazy golden burnt orange to ruddy amber color with a slim finger’s worth of white foamy head that dissipated super quickly.
The smell had a weird sweet to spicy blueberry - esque to weird maybe coriander spice to it.
The taste was mainly sweet to grainy spicy but in a weird sort of way.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was somewhat subdued but also carried a decent smoothness to it.
Overall, uh...what exactly is this supposed to be? I have no clue...it just kinda seems all over the place.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewery.
The appearance was a hazy golden burnt orange to ruddy amber color with a slim finger’s worth of white foamy head that dissipated super quickly.
The smell had a weird sweet to spicy blueberry - esque to weird maybe coriander spice to it.
The taste was mainly sweet to grainy spicy but in a weird sort of way.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was somewhat subdued but also carried a decent smoothness to it.
Overall, uh...what exactly is this supposed to be? I have no clue...it just kinda seems all over the place.
Tried
on 29 Sep 2014
at 05:13
5.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 8
Overall 6
Reviewed from notes.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewery.
The appearance was a nice looking hazy orange to amber color with a slim white film of a head, bar pour and I’m okay with that.
The smell was slightly spicy with a weird refreshing sweet/spice to it. Not bad but just different.
The taste was mainly sweet and spicy with a slight bready / biscuity arrangement of weird spice (I wanna say coriander, but I can’t quite right place it).
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was somewhat sharp but still had a decent sweet to smooth rolling texture over my palate.
Overall, nothing special, just okay saison, wouldn’t seek out but this could probably work in a pinch.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewery.
The appearance was a nice looking hazy orange to amber color with a slim white film of a head, bar pour and I’m okay with that.
The smell was slightly spicy with a weird refreshing sweet/spice to it. Not bad but just different.
The taste was mainly sweet and spicy with a slight bready / biscuity arrangement of weird spice (I wanna say coriander, but I can’t quite right place it).
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was somewhat sharp but still had a decent sweet to smooth rolling texture over my palate.
Overall, nothing special, just okay saison, wouldn’t seek out but this could probably work in a pinch.
Tried
from Can
on 29 Sep 2014
at 05:05
5.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
Reviewed from notes.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewery.
The appearance was a nice looking hazy amber to red color with a slim cap of a white foamy head that dissipated within about a minute leaving some light lacing sticking and then sliding.
The smell had a decent roasty creamy nutty to caramel maltiness glossing underneath my nose.
The taste was mainly sweet with an ample roasty caramel - ness to it.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was there with a decent smooth quality to it.
Overall, not a bad beer but mostly just okay.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewery.
The appearance was a nice looking hazy amber to red color with a slim cap of a white foamy head that dissipated within about a minute leaving some light lacing sticking and then sliding.
The smell had a decent roasty creamy nutty to caramel maltiness glossing underneath my nose.
The taste was mainly sweet with an ample roasty caramel - ness to it.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was there with a decent smooth quality to it.
Overall, not a bad beer but mostly just okay.
Tried
on 29 Sep 2014
at 04:57
4.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 3
Texture 6
Overall 4
Reviewed from notes.
This was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a hazy pale to burnt rounded orange color. The head was slim to none with barely any lacing around the glass.
The smell had some burnt caramel malts to combine with a burnt hoppiness. There was a light cracker - like substance there as well.
The taste was moderately cracker sweet with a substantial amount of weird burnt caramel malts to it.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was somewhat subdued and came across as bland over my tongue. Something definitely didn’t sit right.
Overall, I didn’t really dig this one.
This was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a hazy pale to burnt rounded orange color. The head was slim to none with barely any lacing around the glass.
The smell had some burnt caramel malts to combine with a burnt hoppiness. There was a light cracker - like substance there as well.
The taste was moderately cracker sweet with a substantial amount of weird burnt caramel malts to it.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was somewhat subdued and came across as bland over my tongue. Something definitely didn’t sit right.
Overall, I didn’t really dig this one.
Tried
on 28 Sep 2014
at 02:45
6.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5
Reviewed from notes.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewpub.
The appearance was a fairly decent looking black to brown color with a bar pour’s kind of head.
The smell was weird, the roasty notes tried to show some beef but had a slight sour note to it.
The taste copied the smell.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium with a weird sessionability about it. I think I could do this. The carbonation 6was slightly smooth. There’s a light palatable roasty to sour aftertaste.
Overall, this one was o.k. I’m not sure if the \"sour\" was intentional or not.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewpub.
The appearance was a fairly decent looking black to brown color with a bar pour’s kind of head.
The smell was weird, the roasty notes tried to show some beef but had a slight sour note to it.
The taste copied the smell.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium with a weird sessionability about it. I think I could do this. The carbonation 6was slightly smooth. There’s a light palatable roasty to sour aftertaste.
Overall, this one was o.k. I’m not sure if the \"sour\" was intentional or not.
Tried
on 27 Sep 2014
at 19:37
5.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
Reviewed from old notes.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewpub.
The appearance was a glossy orange color with a bar pour’s kind of head that dissipated within about a minute. Light lacing roamed around the glass nicely.
The smell had a slight sweet to bitter pine hoppiness to fairly big caramel malts.
The taste was basically the same with a lingering sweet caramel aftertaste and finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionable quality rolling about a lightly carbonated tongue.
Overall, I say this was a decent APA I could down again, but it’s nothing to seek out.
This was poured into a pint glass at the brewpub.
The appearance was a glossy orange color with a bar pour’s kind of head that dissipated within about a minute. Light lacing roamed around the glass nicely.
The smell had a slight sweet to bitter pine hoppiness to fairly big caramel malts.
The taste was basically the same with a lingering sweet caramel aftertaste and finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionable quality rolling about a lightly carbonated tongue.
Overall, I say this was a decent APA I could down again, but it’s nothing to seek out.
Tried
on 27 Sep 2014
at 19:28
5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 5
Reviewed from old notes.
I grabbed a 22 oz-er of this the day I left their brewery.
This was poured into a chalice.
The appearance was a hazy dull yet semi-clear brown color. Transparent in a barleywine? Uh...ok, I’ll just say brewer’s intentions and move on. A slim half finger-ed off white foamy head formed and dissipated within less than a good twenty seconds. Barely any lacing graced the glass.
The smell had a strong English sweet malt to it. Light chocolate and coffee were noted.
The taste was semi-sweet and had a dry sweet maltiness over top of some light chocolate.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionability about it. Sessionability for a barleywine? Uh...once again, okay, I thought I’d be able to sip this one but am finding I’m able to drink it. The aftertaste had a somewhat of a dry sweet caramel rolling over my tongue that bled into its finish.
Overall, weird barleywine as its not as bitter as I had hoped for, I couldn’t really tell if this was closer to an English or an American version of barleywine and I was drinking this instead of sipping it. I’m unsure if that ABV really was 8.8%. I stand on the fence if I would have this again.
I grabbed a 22 oz-er of this the day I left their brewery.
This was poured into a chalice.
The appearance was a hazy dull yet semi-clear brown color. Transparent in a barleywine? Uh...ok, I’ll just say brewer’s intentions and move on. A slim half finger-ed off white foamy head formed and dissipated within less than a good twenty seconds. Barely any lacing graced the glass.
The smell had a strong English sweet malt to it. Light chocolate and coffee were noted.
The taste was semi-sweet and had a dry sweet maltiness over top of some light chocolate.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionability about it. Sessionability for a barleywine? Uh...once again, okay, I thought I’d be able to sip this one but am finding I’m able to drink it. The aftertaste had a somewhat of a dry sweet caramel rolling over my tongue that bled into its finish.
Overall, weird barleywine as its not as bitter as I had hoped for, I couldn’t really tell if this was closer to an English or an American version of barleywine and I was drinking this instead of sipping it. I’m unsure if that ABV really was 8.8%. I stand on the fence if I would have this again.
Tried
from Can
on 20 Sep 2014
at 22:18
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Reviewed from old notes.
At their brewpub, this was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a semi-glossy orange color with a bar pour’s kind of slim white head that left no lacing.
The smell had a lemon to slight citrusy sort of orange-esque hoppy aroma with a light dose of earthy and semi-spicy hops enter in nicely.
The taste was basically the same adding a subtle sweetness to it.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was decent for the style and for me. It did leave a subtle spicy aftertaste.
Overall, good Autumn IPA, however, I just wonder if this was their Ichabod with a slight orange aroma added.
At their brewpub, this was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a semi-glossy orange color with a bar pour’s kind of slim white head that left no lacing.
The smell had a lemon to slight citrusy sort of orange-esque hoppy aroma with a light dose of earthy and semi-spicy hops enter in nicely.
The taste was basically the same adding a subtle sweetness to it.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was decent for the style and for me. It did leave a subtle spicy aftertaste.
Overall, good Autumn IPA, however, I just wonder if this was their Ichabod with a slight orange aroma added.
Tried
on 20 Sep 2014
at 22:07