The Bruery Black Orchard

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

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.

Very dark brown with a small off-white head. The aroma is roasted with lots of chocolate and licorice and a little spicy touch. Sweetish chocolate flavour, medium bitterness and a little citrus in the finish.

Pours black lagery color, with off-tan head that dissipates quickly. Nose is charred patent malt, chocolate, molasses, some rauchy notes. Medium to light palate heft, very dry, with dark malt, some dark chocolate, fig, and slight nutty and rauchy finishing notes. Stays rather dry, with emerging yeasty spicy notes as it warms.

Bottle. Head is initially large, frothy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is hazy dark brown, bottle conditioned. Aroma is lightly malty (caramel, roasted grain), trace hops (herbs), lightly yeasty (cobwebs), with notes of prunes, overripe banana peel, and pepper, hints of plastic, coriander, and cardboard. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. A let-down compared to Orchard White...weird and almost unpleasant fruit character, with a few other unwanted notes in the background. Rather muddled and unfulfilling.

Bottle from Hi-Time. Gushing, huge tan head over very dark brown liquid. Aromas of spice and medium dark fruit plus citrus. Medium body with creamy carbonation. It’s darker roasted malt, darkish fruit, spice, and still a hint of citrus. Seems like a touch of coffee. Rather smooth. Tasty finish. Highly recommended.

The body was black with a khaki colored head. The aroma was plums with chocolate and coffee hints. The taste was milk chocolate with some prunes and tobacco. There was also some wood. I enjoyed, but didn’t love this.

750ml bottle and enjoyed with tj. I was really looking forward to this brew since I sort of dig the "blackened" version of classic styles. Well these bottled conditioned releases seem over carbonated as the beer gushed out the top before I could start the pour... of course there was a big fiizy off-white head associated with the beer, nice sheets of lace upon the glassware. The aroma has notes of raosted malts, dates, pepper, corriander, wheat, earthy and dirty yeast esters, a tad too weak all things considered. The flavor was better, twangy and fruity with a slight smoky and toasty background. Light handed spiced finish with a wheat note throughout. The mouth feel is very sprite and over-carbonated, warming finish which was surprising with only 5.7% ABV. A touch dry and ashy upon the finish as well. Different for sure, tastes better than it smells. I would like to see more orange peel character.

Draught. High white creay and lasting head. Light yellow body. Banana coriander aroma and flavor with a heavy carbonation and a short aftertaste.