The bugged examine after killing Briarclaw has been removed, so the quest now updates immediately after the kill.
Briarclaw was a level 36^^^ and appeared by a tree, above a rock near the brook (on the briarpaw side of the brook) loc 0, 0, -270 (there or thereabouts). He seemed a little tougher than the Great Briarpaws 35^^^, but maybe that was just because he was a level higher.
Got the Ethereal Tabard (dumb stats for cloth - +18str +5agi +55 health +25 power +280 vs magic +70 vs disease +10 heal amount) on completion of killing the bear plus a treasure chest containing Foliaceous Bracers and a level 30 Mystic Adept I.