Black Orchard - The Bruery

BeerAmbassador

Arizona

3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

So I went to the store the other day looking for a Bruery beer, mostly because I knew next to nothing about them and have been hearing a lot of positive things on BA lately. I chose Black Orchard because of their lower priced bottles this one seemed interesting to me. I haven't had a good dark wheat beer in a while. Unfortunately I should have done a little more research first. Had I known that this was a retired beer with no date on it and 5.7% ABV I might have thought twice and picked up one of their other beers. That being said, I don't think this beer was bad per say, just probably past it's time. If you look back at early reviews they are pretty favorable and the recent ones seem to be a little more on the negative side. So I am going to try and take that in to account when I talk about this beer, no sense in penalizing the brewer because I bought the beer months after it's prime.

Beer pours a three finger tan head that dissipates kind of quickly. Not much lacing or foam left on top. Carbonation seemed a little bubbly and fizzy much like a Coca Cola. A bit of concord grape on the nose along with roasted grain and a touch of spice. There is a decent amount of complexity here. Flavors follow suit, but unfortunately there is not a lot of integration between the malt and the alcohol. It actually tastes a little hot to me, which is strange because it is only 5.7% ABV. Mouthfeel is not what I look for in a beer like this, too coarse and fizzy, not the creamy mouthfeel you want in a Belgian style beer. Overall this was not a very impressive beer and I don't think I will be able to finish the 750, but since it is a retired beer obviously not meant for aging, that's not really their fault. I will definitely try again with The Bruery.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 04:31:03 | More by BeerAmbassador

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-12-2013 16:13:03 | More by coldmeat23

brheuer

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +25%

03-24-2013 21:58:12 | More by brheuer

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +11.1%

03-23-2013 22:30:49 | More by Sparky44

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

03-20-2013 01:04:50 | More by orangesol

ehammond1

California

3.53/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Bottle (2008)

Thanks for sharing this with me, Alucard4!

(Aged for 4+ years)

This one's a gusher! Be ready!

Very dark brown but not quite black in color. Lots and lots of visible carbonation--a huge, persistent, small-bubbled head. Leaves the glass messy with irregular stick. Pretty enough.

Earthy aroma along with some definite citrus zest and some very mild banana and clove characteristics. This doesn't smell nearly as old I would have imagined it would, though there's a bit of musk character to it--it actually comes together somewhat nicely.

The flavor is similar to the aroma, with brown banana bread crusts combining with earth, citrus zest, some very mild funk, and spice character.

Medium bodied with high carbonation.

I never though I would get to try this one. Happy for the opportunity, though once is enough.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 23:07:10 | More by ehammond1

DarthKostrizer

California

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

03-02-2013 07:06:33 | More by DarthKostrizer

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

03-01-2013 15:21:28 | More by t0rin0

largadeer

California

2.75/5  rDev -23.6%

02-27-2013 21:25:26 | More by largadeer

mactrail

California

2.79/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Brewer says this is a "Belgian style ale with spices, wheat, and oats." Sounds like a great style but tastes like dishwatery home brew, the dark style. There is a hint of spoiled fruit, and overall it is just too suspiciously bitter. Plus it kept foaming insistently out of the beautiful green champagne bottle. I would give it an "A" for effort, but it is just too tough to drink.

From the 22 oz bottle bought at Baron's Marketplace on Point Loma Drive. [transcribed from notes; tasted October 28, 2008]

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 05:04:16 | More by mactrail

Azrael

3/5  rDev -16.7%

02-09-2013 06:06:07 | More by Azrael

AlexFields

Tennessee

3/5  rDev -16.7%

01-11-2013 22:21:13 | More by AlexFields

Sixofsigmas

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

10-04-2012 21:55:48 | More by Sixofsigmas

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +25%

10-04-2012 21:14:04 | More by TheMultiYeast

stevefinny

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

09-06-2012 01:57:25 | More by stevefinny

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.1%

07-11-2012 15:00:55 | More by JohnK17

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.65/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up some bottles of this at Sun Devil Liquors in Tempe, seems like the only place that ever keeps this on the shelves (including Bruery Provisions).

Pours a light black, dark brown color, but not the kind of thickness black of a stout, or even a porter. Mild 2/3" head on it, a lighter brown color to that even. Complex aroma, sweet, coriander, anonymous other spice notes, mild citrus rind, green apple, etc. . .

Mild tartness, average sweetness, miniscule cocao powder like notes, throw maybe a unique or underutilized type of fruit aspect to the tang that is barely cognizable. Pepper/peppercorn notes also present. Just when you think it won't get any more complex, another descriptor comes to mind because of the tastebuds sensing things in waves with this beer.

I think its pretty good stuff, definitely different. A good bottle to break out for someone who has had a lot of different beers, as a dark wit is probably not something most of us come across every day.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 20:25:56 | More by Beerandraiderfan

h2opunk182

New York

4/5  rDev +11.1%

06-14-2012 00:13:53 | More by h2opunk182

eawolff99

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

06-12-2012 20:12:02 | More by eawolff99

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A-black with a thick light tan head

S-very strong scent of plums and red grapes. Slight scent of burnt chocolate.

T-comes in with a simply wonderful taste of dark fruits and cocoa beans. The after-taste is strong of dark roasted coffee beans. What a unique and complex taste. 

M-medium creamy carbonation with a creamy finish

O-well this is quite an interesting beer. I cant think of any style that suites this beer. It's so unique and the flavors are so...bold. 

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 04:42:54 | More by AdamBear

vr6corrado

California

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-04-2012 15:43:47 | More by vr6corrado

JasonB

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-02-2012 16:45:46 | More by JasonB

muskiesman

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

04-22-2012 22:02:45 | More by muskiesman

xnapshot

Mexico

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

04-18-2012 03:54:55 | More by xnapshot

2beerdogs

California

4/5  rDev +11.1%

04-15-2012 21:24:49 | More by 2beerdogs