The Bruery Black Orchard

Brewed by The Bruery
Style: Belgian Ale
Placentia, California USA

Explodes out of bottle pouring a five+ finger very light tan head that fades very slowly, leaving some lace. Opaque dark brown color. Good carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Mystery nose, I’m not sure what it is. Flavor is semi-sweet molasses. $9.20 for a 750ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Dark brown almost opaque. Off white frothy head. Not much aroma but has hints of yeast spiciness and roasted malt. Doesn’t deliver on the spice or orange peel but has a nice light malty flavor. Cheers!

Draught at The Red. Black with a tan head. The aroma is yeasty, with some apple skin and yoghurt stuffed in. The flavor is spicy, but otherwise hard to define; after my first sip, I wasn’t really sure that it had any describable flavor because it was so motley. There is some roast, but in a completely debittered way, some caramel, and yoghurt but without any tartness. Light-medium body with ample but smooth carbonation. The flavor is just so all-over the place that I’m not really sure what to make of it. Odd.

Poured a lightly hazy mahogany color with a medium sized, light tan head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of roast, cocoa, chamomile, lavender, citrus, spruce, and sweeter caramel. Taste of dark fruits, light spices, smoke, cocoa, wood, banana, and toast, with a nicely carbonated mouthfeel that smooths out after some time in the glass.

Bottle. Pours a cola brown with a tan head. Dry grainy and dull, husk with notes of coriander and banana, light notes of chocolate and some spices. Eh its a bit of a mess if ya ask me.

On tap at the brewpub. The aroma throws off a bizarre, spice heavy waft that feels like eucalyptus oil and sage blossoms. Heavy and weird. Pours a mid-brown, soapy, with a golden edge and whitish head. Flavor is a mess of spices and chewy brown, underattenuated sugars. God, I hate this spice profile. Coriander doesn’t belong in beer and is toxic and overly strong. Coarse, biting and just not a good example of anything. Rubbery and palate overwhelming.

On tap at The Gingerman NYC. Sits in the glass a dark, hazy murky brown, tan head leaving behind some nice lacing. It has a nutty aroma with a touch of spice and citrus. The flavor is an interesting mix of notes, mostly dark baked bread, some coffee, a touch of over ripened fruit, and chocolate in the finish. It has a medium body and a smooth finish.

On tap at The Red in Santa Cruz. Murky brown color with an ecru head that leaves some nice lacing. Aroma is peppery and toasty with a boozy tinge. Some roasted grain and nuttiness as well. Flavor is spicy with lots of phenols. Underneath are notes of charred bread, fleshy fruits, powdered cocoa, and maybe a touch of earthy hops. Mouthfeel is overly effervescent at first but it settles down with a little patience. Body is light but not watery. Not bad.