The Bruery Black Orchard

Ruddy prune in color. Large off-beige head slowly settles and forms a tight but broken cap. Cocoa, plums, alcohol, apple, bready malt, and brown sugar aromas. Faint sulfur, bubblegum, and roasted malt hulls. Soft and expansive effervescence. Dryish and earthy with chocolate-tinged roast upfront. An array of delicacies abound, though the residual sweetness packs substantial weight. Distinctly oaty as well, which also somewhat hampers the body as it deposits an aggressive oiliness on the tongue. Notably floral yet slickly appley with trace notes of banana and bubblegum. Ensuing twinge of coriander echoes the feisty plasticy phenolics as doughy yeast films the palate and neutralizes the fervid spice. Pleasant tang of iron comes and goes, but enhances the quaffable nature. Buried yet perceptible banana esters continue to lend more slickness to the body. Alcohol provides warmth despite its modest strength. Bold notes of plum form an agreeable alliance with the sturdy bready-malt spine. Finishes with apple and plum notes with hints of coriander and distant glimpses of plastic. The malt does show occasional promise as it exhibits some depth and rounded texture, but is partially overshadowed by the plasticlike phenols and oily oats. Yeasty and fairly alcoholic. Middle of the road.

Other than the slow and constant geyser from the bottle, this beer is not as interesting as I’d hopped. Slightly herbal, with some hints at a classic wit, but not one I will revisit.

Bottle. Aroma very intense with spices of all sorts, almost herbal, some smoke, as well as some light cookie malt and average yeastiness. Flavor of dark, lightly roasted malt meshing with the spices, though not nearly as intense as in the nose. Yeast continues to be present but not overbearing. Prickly carbonation was a massive distraction for much of the duration of consumption, only subsiding toward the very end and revealing more cookie and chocolate malt notes. Overall...I guess I just wish the biting carbonation hadn’t been there...

Bottle. Pours a dark brown with a thick light tan head. Aroma of spices, yeast, and light sweet fruits. Flavor is also quite spicy upfront (definite peppery, can’t identify the others), a touch of roasted malt, roasted nuts, and yeast. Interesting beer and pretty tasty. 7/4/8/4/14 (3.7/5)

On tap at Blue Dog. Pours black with a live off-white head. Aroma of citrus and yeast. Thin body. Citrus, yeast and chocolate on the palate. Not bad.

Bottle at Papago. Pours coffee in color with a faint tan head. Very hot in the aroma and flavor. Tastes of toasted malts, orange rind, black tea, and mild caramel. Not a contender in my book.

750ml bottle, picked up from Del Mar Liquors, shared with Katie. Thin black appearance, some short-lived clear bubbles. Aroma is light smoke, wheat earthiness with an acidic undertone. Flavor is less impressive, but easily drinkable. Mostly smoked malt, wheat and faint coriander with old hay. Finish is quick and lacking character. Thin bodied. Could have used the 8 bucks I spent on this for 2 bottles of Pliny. Damn.

On tap at the Blind Tiger. Very dark brown in color with a small tan head. Aroma of mild roast, some spices, as well as citrus and belgian yeast. Taste is about the same, and feels kind of muddled and contrived. Wasn’t a big fan of this one...