The Bruery Black Orchard

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

Draft at Blind Tiger. This was the star of the night for me. Deep black pour with sizable mocha brown head atop. Mouth is rich dark berrys, cocoa, coffee and a slight hint of smoke. Mixed in the background - yeast and coriander tie this brew together. Bubbly, but soft..not astringent or aggressive at all. Everything works. Really, really awesome.

Draft at the brewery. Dark pour with a decent head. Some wheat flavors but more citrus and some spice. Decent but not as good as the White.

Draft Pours dark brown slipping into black, lush, densely creamy 2-finger light brown head that lasts. Beautiful pour. Nose is a bit floral, clean wheat, some yeasty zest, and just a hint roasty, maybe even smokey - it’s there, but it doesn’t overwhelm. The end results is a refined wit-like nose that hints at the dark color rather than being dominated by it. taste is similar - floral, wheaty, with just a bit of smokey roastiness underneath. Some creamy yeast is noticeable. Lemon zest pokes out; finish is clean and light. Best black wit I’ve had, and the only one that succeeds in not bashing the drinker over the head with the "black" part of the beer. Mouthfeel is soft, fluffy, creamy, makes the light body feel bigger than it is. Nice, but would like to see just a bit more zing in the carbonation. Overall a fantastic effort, superbly drinkable and done with both simplicity and finesse.

Dark brown in color with a small off-white head. Aroma is of yeast, roasted malts, and spice. Taste is of spice, raisin, and yeast.

Bottled version, thanks to heemer77 for the sample. Tart, fruity, spicy aroma, roasty, sweet and grainy, even a bit smoky; quite remarkable all in all. Cloudy dark brownish-red color, head is fine and fading. Flavor follows the aroma closely, with plenty of darkly roasty malts and spiciness, along with a very mild tartness and bitterness, just a lot of things going on at once, but maintains its balance. Effervescent and active on the palate, body is light-medium. Different, to be sure.

Tap at City Beer Store and at The Bruery. A beer in an interesting style: black wit. An oxymoron. It was indeed black with a light tan head. Aroma of light fruits, roasted malt, banana, and yeast. Flavors of banana, coriander, wheat, and some yeast in the flavor. Slight roasted taste. Lively mouthfeel.

Poured a hazy brown color with a beige head. The aroma was dusty with a wheaty citrus sweet lemon and mild spice. Light roasted malt flavor with again some wheaty citrus notes. Lively mouthfeel. Light bodied with a semi-dry finish. Mildly bitter finish.

Pours a dark mahogany with a huge fluffy light tan head. Smells slightly of dried fruits, sweet malts and just a overall over ripe fruit. Slight dark bread as it warms. Taste is fruity, with a slight roast, and a nice tartness in the finish. Slight citrus/orange flavors. Taste of coriander comes as the beer warms. Palate is nice and easy to drink. Good winter/fall session beer.