The Bruery Provisions

After checking out the Tustin Brewing Company, I was able to spend some time hanging out with my wife and friends Brian and Jenn and checked out The Bruery Provisions.  The Bruery is located in Placentia, California, which is in Orange County.  The Bruery has a store in historic Old Town Orange (the largest historic district west of the Mississippi) called The Bruery Provisions which is a "specialty market and tasting room."  Basically, they sell craft beer, wine, specialty goods (olive oil, tea, chocolate, marmalade, etc.), and cheese.  If you go and check out The Bruery Provisions, it's worth while to explore the Orange "Circle," which is a big traffic circle surrounded by historic buildings containing shops and restaurants.  On a side note, I previously reviewed The Bruery's Orchard White. 

 

Street view

Huge selection of high-end beers, not just from The Bruery

Logo with bottle caps and corks surrounded by Bruery labels in frames

Taps with logo made of bottle caps

Bathroom wall wallpapered with Bruery labels

$11 is a lot for a small cheese plate, but it paired really well with their beers

Flights are normally $5 (but Brian and I each had a coupon for $3 flights), which is a pretty good deal considering most places will charge $8 to $10 for a flight of the same size, plus The Bruery's beers are stronger than most, and The Bruery's beers are more expensive than most.

The Bruery Classic Flight

Saison Rue -- 8.5% ABV -- Golden color.  Very Belgian tasting, which to me is yeast-y and light.  It's a Belgian/French-style farmhouse ale.  Overall, its light but complex.  The Bruery says this beer will dry out and get more complex as it ages.

Humulus Wet -- 4.6% ABV -- Copper color.  Brewed with "60 lbs of Chinook and 60 lbs of Citra wet hops makes for a blast of piney, floral and citrusy goodness."  Smooth and light.  Pine-y-and citrus-y taste.

Bruery Gremlin -- 7% ABV -- Straw color.  Light Belgian-style beer, but I thought it was a little too light.  A little bit of a floral flavor.

Rub-A-Dub-Dubbel -- 7.4% ABV -- Dark brown-red color.  The Bruery calls it a Belgian-style brown ale, that has a "nutty, coffelike malt back bone and a dry roasty finish."  Brian described it as a, "Sweet brown ale."  It has a creamy-chocolaty-brown flavor.  Its fairly light body for a dark.  It has a short linger.

Loakal Red -- 6.9% ABV -- Red color obviously.  It smells really hoppy but tastes balanced.  Its lighter body than most reds.  Its smooth on the front, but has a hoppier aftertaste.  This is a blend of two versions of the same red ale.  One version is aged for a month in new oak barrels, and the other version is dry-hopped.  This beer is only sold in Orange County.

The Bruery Special Flight

Citracado -- 5% ABV -- see my previous entry.

Bruery Gourd -- 6.66% ABV -- Black-brown color.  The Bruery says its a "milk stout brewed using fresh pumpkins from the Cal Poly Farm Store, seasonal spices, aged on cedar chips."  "Milk stout" = creamy stout.  Some spiciness.

4 Calling Birds -- 11% ABV -- This is the "fourth verse" of The Bruery's Twelve Beers of Christmas beers.  Dark brown color.  Its a spicy dark ale.  Pairs really well with the fig on our cheese plate.  Good holiday beer. 

Autumn Maple -- 10% ABV -- Orange-yam color.  Brewed with yams (17 pounds actually), and has a yam-my flavor so its a little different than a pumpkin beer, but its a good fall beer.  Its brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, and maple syrup.

Oude Tart 7.5% ABV -- Red color.  This is a sour beer and tastes really fruity.  Brian says, "Smells and tastes like wine...[it's a] kick in the face."  The Bruery describes it as a "Flemish-Style Red Ale aged in red wine barrels for 18 months.  Pleasantly sour with hints of leather, dark fruit and toasty oak."


Overall, most of The Bruery's beers are on the sweeter side, except for the few that are sour.  At anywhere from $9 to $12 for a bottle the size of a wine bottle, their beer is pricey, but its also a lot stronger than most beers and the flavors are more complex.  The nice thing about The Bruery's beers is you always know its going to be quality.

Tustin Brewing Company -- Groundwork Coffee Porter and Pom Bomb

I reviewed Tustin Brewing Company before so check out that entry for reviews on their main beers.  Kiki and I went with our friends Brian and Jenn to TBC for some tasting and some hanging out.  Apparently, TBC is a meeting spot for a University of Michigan fan club, and Michigan vs. Illinois was in progress when we showed up -- the place was packed.  We lucked out to get the last table available.

The largest group of Michigan fans in Orange County

Brian and Jenn

Hard at work with 33 Beers

Groundwork Coffee Porter and Pom Bomb

Groundwork Coffee Porter

This one was interesting.  Its dark black like coffee.  It smells like coffee.  And it tastes like coffee.  Some porters have some coffee tones, but this was truly coffee turned into beer.  It sounds kind of gross, but it really wasn't bad and I kind of liked it.  The coffee flavor made it really bitter, but it had a light body and a pleasant lingering aftertaste.  Not something you would want to drink all the time, but it was a cool beer to try.


Pom Bomb (Pomegranate Hef)
 Pom Bomb was actually my first sour beer (long overdue).  It has a sour-fruity taste and a hazy-straw color.  To me this one seemed more like a cider and didn't really taste like a beer.  This beer also had a light body, and a really long linger.  Pomegranate is generally not my favorite fruit (mostly because of the seeds), but I really liked this beer.

Newcastle -- Winter IPA

Thanks to my main-man Brian for giving me a couple bottles of Newcastle Winter IPA.  Newcastle is really only known for making one beer: Brown Ale.  Their Brown Ale is a malty and watery brown that has mass appeal.  I admit that I went through a Newcastle phase for a while, but then I decided that its flavor was really not that interesting and I'd save it for only drinking every once in a while.  Newcastle's website, like Stella and Guinness, puts a lot of emphasis on how to pour it and making the perfect pour.  That's great, there are better ways to pour beer than others, but if the flavor isn't there, then pouring can only do so much.  Given that Europeans surprisingly know even less about beer than Americans, I guess its no surprise that the focus is on pouring than on quality.  Newcastle is owned by Heineken International, which owns 125 breweries in 70 countries.

Winter IPA, is a limited edition.  The limited editions are available in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and Phoenix, and throughout California, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  But, coming in January 2012 6- and 12- packs of the limited editions will be sold nationwide.  Besides the Newcastle Winter IPA, the limited editions also will include: Newcastle Summer Ale, Newcastle Werewolf, and Newcastle Founders Ale.

Newcastle's claim: "Our recipe echoes the style of 18th century India pale ales, which were subtly higher hopped than British pale ales.  This brew has a seductive malt, caramel and zesty character which accompanies a balanced and creamy finish."

In actuality: this beer is not very hoppy for an IPA.  If the bottle didn't tell me that this was supposed to be an IPA I would have no idea because there is so little hop taste.  The flavor is mostly malty with distinctive caramel flavor, and with a lightly spicey aftertaste which I suppose is why they call it a "winter" beer.  Overall the body is watery and light.  Usually with a winter beer you expect it to be heavier and darker, which this is not, and with an IPA you expect it to be hoppier, which this is not.  Similarly to Sam Adams, they tried to make a different style, but they did not stray very far from their bread and butter recipe.  Its not that I hate this beer, but Newcastle should have made it more distinctive.  If you really love Newcastle you'll probably like this beer.  Otherwise, its ok and easy drinking, but if you want a winter beer or an IPA this is not the one for you.

Stone Brewing Co. -- Imperial Russian Stout

Another beer courtesy of the beautiful Kiki.  One of Stone Brewing Company's most popular beers (after their Pale Ale and Arrogant Bastard) is their Imperial Russian Stout (IRS).  FYI, I recently reviewed a Stone collaboration.  Previously, I reviewed the Belgo Barley Wine (that review gives you some Stone history), and the Double Bastard Ale.  I've toured the Stone Brewery, but that was before creating this blog, so I'll have to go back and make another entry.

Imperial, besides being a Costa Rican brewer, means that its an extreme beer.  An extreme stout means it's going to have more malt and more alcohol.  The bottle and the website say that this beer is: "Brewed in the authentic historical style of an Imperial Russian Stout, this ale is massive.  Intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate, this brew goes where few can -- and fewer dare even try.  The style originalted from Czarist Russia's demand for ever thicker English stouts."  Wikipedia basically says the same thing, that Catherine II of Russia had a brewery in England brew strong dark beer. 

As for this beer, at 10.5% ABV this beer is almost as strong as wine.  It's 52 IBUs if you're into knowing that kind of thing.  When you pour it and look at it, this beer is dark like diesel fuel.  When you smell it, you know its a stout.  IRS has a thick, heavy, yet smooth, body.  The dark burnt roasted malts stay on your tongue leaving a long aftertaste.  It's mostly incredibly malty, but there are subtle hops that add complexity.  The aftertaste reminds me of dry cocoa.  Kiki likes the aftertaste and says it, "Tastes like a milk shake."

This was the 2011 classic release.  What Stone means by "classic release," is that they started brewing a "Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout" and people were worried that IRS would never be brewed again.  Some people even said that IRS was their favorite beer ever made.  Stone responded by continuing to brew the IRS that they had always brewed before going Belgo.  The difference with the Belgo is that there is more anise and oak flavors, which gives it a little of a banana flavor and it is slightly more bitter.

One thing that makes IRS a cool beer, is that its ready to drink now; however, if you're really an enthusiast you can save it and let it age for several years.  Stone recommends that if you age it, you keep it at cellar temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Overall, I give this beer two thumbs up (for a stout its really good and it stands out), and I'm not alone since Beer Advocate gave it an "A."

Boston Beer Co. -- Samuel Adams Harvest Collection -- Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Irish Red, Bonfire Rauchbier, Black Lager, Octoberfest, Boston Lager

Now that its November 4th and I've already received an email ad from BevMo for Sam Adams Winter Collection, I guess its time to finish up the Harvest Collection.  The beginning of  last month we had people over (same night as the Bacon Maple Ale) and we picked up this Sam Adams Harvest Collection 24-pack at Costco for about $20.

I feel like Samuel Adams beers, brewed by Boston Beer Co., need no introduction.  In case you don't know, Boston Beer Co. is the largest craft brewer in the county.  Actually, since Anheuser-Busch was acquired by In-Bev (sold out if you will) that leaves Boston Beer Co. as the largest American-owned beer company.  Its so big its even traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Anyway, not many people know the name "Boston Beer Co." but "Samuel Adams" is a huge brand name so they're smart to market all these different beers under the Sam Adams name.  With that said, and the wild success of the Boston Lager, they also don't stray too far flavor wise from the Boston Lager taste.  Each of the style of beers in the harvest collection is distinct enough, but they're all fairly malty and light in body like the Boston Lager.

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Box's claim: "This ale has a subtle spice note complemented by real pumpkin and a distinct roasted malt character."

Not as spicy as KBC Pumpkin Ale.  Its like a cross between a darker version of regular Sam Adams and a brown ale with a little pumpkin flavor.  Its malty and a little bitter.  If you're looking for a pumpkin ale this one is pretty good.

Samuel Adams Irish Red

Box's claim: "This ale has a distinct caramel flavor, balanced by a pronounced hop bitterness."

Reddish-brown in color.  It has a caramel and malty flavor.  This one is more bitter than other Sam Adams beers and has more of a linger.

Samuel Adams Bonfire Rauchbier

Box claim: "This ale is a dark malty, smoked brew with deep caramel and toffee notes."

Dark brown in color and officially very smokey flavored.  This is like drinking a malty-campfire.  In three words: malty, toffee, and burnt.  I thought it was interesting to say the least.  It's different, definitely the most different in the group from the Boston Lager, so I think its worth trying.

Samuel Adams Black Lager

Box claim: "This beer is smooth and malty with a deep roasted character and dry finish."

This is black color and tastes to me like a porter.  It tastes like dark roasted malts, has some burnt flavor, and a very short linger.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Box claim: "This ale is brewed with five varieties of malted barley for a big, rich flavor."


More malty and more like an amber ale with caramel flavor.  Its fuller in body and less hoppy than a normal Sam Adams.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Box claim: "This beer is full-flavored with a balance of malty sweetness contrasted by hop spiciness and a smooth finish."

Reviewing regular Sam Adams Boston Lager is almost like trying to review Budweiser because its so prevalent across the U.S.  For those who don't know or who want it put in perspective, its a light copper color and it's balanced - light hops, but a little more on the malty side.  It's not an amazing beer, but its better than a lot that is out there, and for many (unfortunately) its their only exposure to craft beer.

Kiki made my pumpkin drink pumpkin ale.  Her's is eating the little pumpkin.  Sense a theme?

In conclusion, a Sam Adams collection is a good way to play it safe with craft beer.  It's generally good, not-too-mind-blowing, it's usually pretty reasonably priced, and if you're having a party it will appeal to the masses.

Bruery / Elysian / Stone (Stone Collaborations 2011) -- La Citrueille Celest de Citracado

La Citrueille Celeste de Citracado (which translates to The Heavenly Pumpkin of Citracado) is a Stone Brewing Co. collaboration with The Bruery and Elysian Brewing.  Kiki picked up a few bottles at Bev Mo for $2.99 each.  Its pretty pricey for a beer that's only a 5% ABV and a 12 oz bottle.  Anyway, Stone has done a number of collaborations and tends to have a new one every few months.  This particular collaboration beer was brewed on 9/15/11 and released on 10/17/11.

They even have a video with the brewers

What the bottle tells me: this was brewed with rye malt, the pumpkins were grown on Stone Farms, The Bruery got the yams and suggested the fenugreek, there is no cinnamon, clove, nutmeg or allspice in the beer.

Fenugreek?  Wikipedia tells me that is an herb and spice and is common in curries.  Its also often used in flavoring for artificial maple syrup.

Lemon verbena?   I actually know what it is because my parents-in-law have a whole bunch of it growing in front of their house.  Its a leafy plant that has leaves that smell like lemon oil.  Its great for teas and for adding lemon flavor to cooking, but it seems out of place compared to the other ingredients.

The beer: the color is really dark brown, and as you can see, its so dark its almost black.  The bottle bills this beer as "ale brewed with pumpkin, yams, toasted fenugreek, lemon verbena, and birch bark."  To me it tasted like an Arrogant Bastard with spices, yams, and pumpkin.  Its full body, bitter, malty, and hoppier than most fall beers.  Definitely not your typical pumpkin beer.  Its interesting, its a cool collaboration, but not something I'd want to drink very much of.