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Gristly Bear

Grist House Craft Brewery
United States·Brown Ale
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Nutty and malty, with hints of caramel and coffee, this brown ale pours a chestnut hue under a fluffy white head. The body is full and silky smooth. At 5.0% ABV and 38 IBU, it is brewed by the family-run Grist House in Pittsburgh, where weekly can releases keep the taproom lineup moving.

ABV
5.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter38 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
nuttymaltycoffee
nutty
malty
coffee
caramel
toasty
bready
Aroma
The nose leads with warm nutty and toasted malt character, rounded out by subtle coffee and caramel notes.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Gristly Bear

◎ Appearance

Gristly Bear pours a deep chestnut brown with excellent clarity and a fluffy white head that persists across the glass. The body is visibly full, with moderate carbonation generating a steady stream of fine bubbles. Head retention is firm, leaving delicate lacing that clings to the glass as you drink.

chestnut brownfluffy white headclearfull-bodied

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with warm nutty and toasted malt character, rounded out by subtle coffee and caramel notes. A gentle herbaceous hop presence frames the malt-forward profile without dominating. The overall aroma is inviting and approachable, with no harsh or solvent-like qualities.

nutty maltcoffee and carameltoastedherbaceous

◐ Taste

The palate opens with creamy, silky malt sweetness that carries notes of hazelnut and biscuit through the mid-palate. Coffee and caramel flavors develop gradually, layering over a smooth, full body. Bitterness remains restrained at 38 IBU, allowing malt character to dominate while providing just enough balance and structure.

creamy malthazelnut and coffeebalanced bitternesssmooth

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with lingering nutty and toasted notes that fade gradually. No sharp edges or astringency, just a pleasant, warming aftertaste that invites another sip.

dry finishwarmingnutty fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
82
Finish
74
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Gristly Bear

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About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Brown Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same nutty, malty, full-bodied character as Gristly Bear will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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