The Bruery Black Orchard

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

Thanks to beerbill for sharing - huge explosion of foam when opened - fizzy, short-lived head - doughy aroma, with notes of chocolate-covered cherries and a bit of spice - full in the mouth - earthy and toasty - a bit chalky, with a decent amount of cocoa and a bit of tartness, orange peel - some lingering cherry flavors and yeastiness - not any really apparent spice/coriander - decent, but not memorable.

Bottle graciously shared by beerbill at a Bruery tasting. Dark black beer with a very thick creamy head. Aroma is kind of strange. Light licorice and soft dark malts over a soft orange fruitiness. I don’t get much in the way of coriander but I do get a softly smoky phenolic character. Earthy and rustic with a light lingering chewiness. Finishes with a sort of herbal cocoaish flavour.

750 ml bottle courtesy of a trade with dirty martini. This one was a gusher when we opened the bottle. Pours an opaque very dark brown, not quite black, with a very large off-white head that lasted until mid-glass. Mild earthy aroma with molasses, lightly roasted malt, and yeast. I am not picking up the coriander or the orange at all in the nose. The flavor is also a bit earthy with more yeast than the aroma along with some mild roast. Light-medium bodied and a bit sprtizy on the palate.

Nearly black with a huge tan head. Tart bready wheat and oat aromas. Light bodied with a frothy mouthfeel. Nice flavors of tart wheat, beady malts, with peppercorn spices and rich dark raisons. Enjoyed this one.

In short: A black Witbier. No kidding. And pretty good beer on top of that.
How: Bottle 750ml, drank soon after receiving it from jjpm74, thanks a lot John.
The look: Very dark brown body topped by long-lasting tan head
In long: Nose of coriander, orange peels and such. Blind tasting I would have never guessed this was a black beer. Taste has a light ashes/burnt malts sensation but overall it’s still the orange peels, coriander, lemon skin and such that dominate the taste. The aggressive carbonation could have been more mellow. Nice lemony tartness. The roastiness takes away a bit from the drinkability of a “normal” witbier but dark beer is still a surprisingly nice thirst quencher. A black beer on the outside but a white beer on the inside. I’m sure the mean stouts are calling it Oreo.

Pours nearly black with mahogany edges. Thick, creamy off-white head. Fruity aroma comprised of apples, apricots, and orange peel blended with holiday spice and spearmint. Intersting, complex taste. Brown bread, orange peel, cinnamon, and heavy with darker fruits (plum, raisins). Slight woodiness with an earthy quality. Balanced well with a licorice sweetness as the beer warms. Initially, this was very easy to drink, but it tended to "build up" making it a bit sticky and too sweet in the finish.

On tap at the brewery. Thin black pour. Very easy to drink with some wheat, clove and spice. Pretty good.

750 ml bottle courtesy of heemer77. Pour is cloudy brown ruby with a one inch tan head. Aroma of big jasmine spiciness, some dank earthy thing going on. Nice, interesting full nose. Taste is acidic caramel wheat, some grainy oats. The finish has dried fruit, prunes or raisins. Palate is silky, medium coating. Highly carbonated. Nice beer, though I was hoping for more in the taste after the nice nose.