The Wanderer - The Bruery

SpeedwayJim

New York

3/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Big thanks to Sam for this one. A long time want of mine... and now my 900th review! 750ml bottle into Torst stemware. Shared with schen9303.

Pours a foamy, light cream colored head with poor retention. Beer is a dark, cloudy rust. Stringy and spotty lace with no cling. Thin, filmy legs. Average.

Nose is tart cherry, jammy sweetness, a touch of oak, acidity, and some leather. Aromatic. Good fruit character.

Opens tart cherry, acetone, crushed red fruit, and a mellow, sour soy sauce. Some leather and woodiness in the middle. End is more acetone, vinegar, and sour red fruit. Aftertaste of some barnyard funk and more woodiness. So harsh!

Light bodied with ample carbonation. Prickly and fizzy in the mouth and goes down like acetone. Very harsh. Messy, bubbly finish with a lingering, filmy aftertaste. Not the best.

Just like almost all of the Bruery's other sour ales, this one has turned almost completely into vinegar and acetone. The fruit is present but is very muted against present harsh flavors. The intense carbonation doesn't help matters. I wouldn't revisit this one and given the asking price on this one, I REALLY wouldn't revisit it.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:04:05 | More by SpeedwayJim

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.55/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Hefty head. Dark ruby body. Surface bubbles is all that's left after a few minutes.

Smell - Cherry aroma. Very malty. A little bit of vinegar in the aroma. Not terribly complex.

Taste - Vinegar is much more intense in the flavor. Cherries and a strong caramel malt. Not really sweet, at least, but malty. Acetic sourness in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Good body, but maybe a bit heavy. Decent carbonation and nicely tart.

Overall - Sufficiently soured, but it's just a cherry sour. Cherry and vinegar. Hardly anything interesting about it. Too much acetic acid for me to really enjoy it. I would take a true Flanders Red over this.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 12:44:05 | More by Alieniloquium

Arbitrator

California

3.58/5  rDev -19%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at City Beer Store today. Reviewing while my tiny, tiny notes are still half-legible.

Thanks goes out to nerd for buying me a glass. Thanks, Mike.

A: Pours a very murky maroon body that glows with a faint reddish tint when held to the light. Head is beige in color. Retention is moderate; it leaves a collar on the beer and some scattered foam on top. I must say, if it weren't for the head, it would look like pond water.

S: Tart red cherries, oak, acetic sourness up front. Mild presence of brown sugar and what seems to be bourbon (interesting...). Some vanilla, as well.

T: Tart red cherries and some other kind of fruit. Raspberries? It adds a nice element of flavor. Oak is quite forward, with brown sugar and vanilla coming later. It tastes like there may be some bourbon in this beer, but with the cherries and oak in the way, I can't tell. It's definitely on the sweet side -- which is good, because it cuts some of the acetic flavors. But it's also bad, because it makes the beer feel muddled and undeveloped.

M: Mild acetic burn in the finish. It becomes more pronounced by the end of the glass, but it's not developed enough to be harsh. With age, that might change. It's lightly puckering up front, but not enough to dry out the palate.

O: Pretty good. Reminds me of an American interpretation of a Flanders Oud Bruin. I wonder how Marron Acidifie compares to this.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2011 21:54:49 | More by Arbitrator

paytoplay

California

3.63/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Was good on draft. Much like marron on draft. I did have maron out of bottle and was much better. maybe it's the same with this. la folie comes to mind. maybe somewhat like a consecration. Just didn't Wow me, glad as tracking down a bottle for myself looks very difficult. some vanilla oak, nice sourness. wood flavors. some red fruits. maybe time in bottle would also benefit.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2011 00:22:03 | More by paytoplay

Madirish76

California

3.7/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on Tap at Bruery 3rd Anniv. party.
A: It was a cloudy Ruby/Amber color with good lacing and a frothy diminishing off white head.

S: Not too much there from the fruits, mainly a mild funk. I expected a little more from this.

T: I have to admit i am beginning on my journey with sours, but this wasn't bad. It had a nice meld of fruit and funk. The most pronounced was the tart raspberries.

M: This had good carbonation and a medium body. I thought it was very lively and bubbly...almost effervescent.

O: Overall, I thought it was a decent sour. It has mild funk, not enough to scare away newbies, but enough to clearly let someone know this isn't another fruit forward beer for girls.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 06:19:00 | More by Madirish76

illidurit

California

3.73/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle shared at the January 2012 Santa Cruz tasting at Sante Adairius. Pours a muddy amber color. Sugary acidic aroma, vinegar and alcohol, fruits about to turn. Taste is similar, rather acetic, approaching Flanders territory. Cherry is the most evident fruit, with lesser notes of other berries. Sugary, oaky and a You little boozy. Basically what you’d expect from a Bruery sour.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 08:29:05 | More by illidurit

Sean9689

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle thanks to Mike (nerd) at DLD 2012. You hag!

A - Pours a darker reddish/brown color, off-white head, thin collar, spotty lace.

S - Fruit-forward, some tart acidity, oak, light vinegar (in a good way), hint of citrus. Reminds me of a Flanders Red or something similar to that style.

T - Dark sour cherries, fruits, oak, medium acidity, currants. Alcohol is well-hidden at 8%. Again, could possibly be called a Flanders Red. Finish is cherry and oak tartness.

M - Medium body, good carbonation, dry oak finish.

O - One of the better Bruery sours I've had in recent memory, but didn't exactly kill it for me. I would have again for sure, but wouldn't actively seek out this beer for what it commands in the "trading world". Good, not great.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 17:12:09 | More by Sean9689

womencantsail

California

3.9/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at The Bruery

A: The pour is a rather familiar hazy dark amber color with a small khaki head.

S: Somewhat acetic with a big time berry and fruit aroma. The blackberries really stand out, but there is a nice cherry undertone to it as well. A mild malt character that makes the beer sort of reminiscent of an Oud Bruin.

T: A nice hit of blackberry and cherry up front, as well as some other dark fruits. Mildly acetic, but overall nicely tart. Plenty of oak and perhaps even some red wine flavor.

M: Medium in body with a medium carbonation, though maybe it could have used a bit more.

O: A nice beer. Not amazing, but another example of the Bruery sours getting better.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2011 22:56:16 | More by womencantsail

jrallen34

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Chris for sharing this one with us... pours a dark brown with a bit of read to it, murky, an ok tan head... the nose has lots of cherries, oak, lactic tartness a bit of bready malt... the taste is sour cherries mostly, this is a very acidic a touch too much for me, vinegar, not bad... pretty good

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 14:50:35 | More by jrallen34

afksports

New York

3.93/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Blind Tiger in the West Village. Who knew this would come to NY?

It's a ruddy reddish brown, and it has a lovely tannish head on top at the start of the pour. That quickly goes away and leaves no clue that it's carbonated except when I shake it up.. Just looks like a red and brown still liquid.

Fortunately, the smell is way more inviting. It's complex, sweet, and features strawberry, cherry, wood, and there's jo trace of the 8% alcohol. That fun sensory stimulus stays through the taste of the Wanderer, as it's a sweet and tart and sour combination. It's rounded well, acidic, with sweet hints of vanilla and even water. The more it warms, the better it gets.

The beer feels fine going down, nothing to complain about because the carbonation come through on the way down. Plus this brew is pairing great with my grilled cheese right now. Overall it's a solid beer. Probably not worth the hype, but certainly good for a lunch break.

Now... Humulus Lager before returning to work?

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2011 19:17:24 | More by afksports

scottfrie

California

3.95/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks again Jeff.

A: Pours a murky rust color with a decent light tan head. Wispy lace.
S: Tart dark fruits, red fruits, and a bit of funk. I get some barrel notes as well.
T: Very tart flavors, super sour with a bit of acetone and funk. Tannins and dry red fruit skins, wood, and some straw, earth, cocoa powder and herbal spices fill my palate. This is definitely tart.
M: Dry and tart mouth, medium body, smooth carbonation.
O: If I had this blind I could tell this is from the Bruery, it just has that sharp taste. This was a good sour though with a definite acidic red berry flavor. Thanks again Jeff.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 05:29:02 | More by scottfrie

Gobzilla

California

3.98/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured brown in color with reddish highlights and a very thin head that left very little frothy lacing sticking to the glass.

S: the cherries with blackberries were noticeable on the aroma with oaky, slight vinegar, funky, and oaky notes.

T: the oaky funkiness was more potent on the taste alongisde the cherry blackberry flavor, hints of acidic vinegar and hints of citrus on the backend.

M: the brew was medium in body with a fari amount of carbonation which had a fruity, funky, oaky, mild acidic, and slight sour bite finish.

O: it was really solid all around even drank good and was really glad to this offering available on sour sunday.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 03:01:44 | More by Gobzilla

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by drabmuh. Thanks Matt!

A bit of a gusher...The beer is hazy, appearing a dark brown / orange hue with a sizable off white head.

Cherries, berries, funk. This beer is very tart. Wow. Pucker. Alrighty then.

The beer is medium to full bodied. Alcohol shows itself more as the beer is allowed to warm. Highly acetic.

While I am extremely grateful to taste this rare delicacy from The Bruery, this one is not among their top offerings, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 21:49:49 | More by Huhzubendah

t0rin0

California

4.03/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at City Beer. This is one of their 5th anniversary beers. Also available in the bottle. This is pretty much a Flemish beer but I'm calling it American Wild Ale as it's not really Flemish. From what I was told by the City Beer employees this beer is a blend of barrel aged beers from the collection housed at the Bruery. It's been aged on cherries and blackberries.

Pours dark red/purple, hazy, low off-white (sort of a redish stain to it) head that doesnt lace the glass nor does it last. Kind of ugly actually.

Aroma is involved to say the least. Cherries for sure (more as it warms), some vinegar, caramel malts, a hint of oak, some (very) light funk, and even a bit of roast. Mostly just cherries and blackberries though.

Flavor contains all the same components as the aroma but it's a bit too sweet and underattenuated. I suspect in a year or two the berries will ferment out. I also catch a little bit of what seems to be bourbon behind the berries, vinegar, chocolate, and lemon. Good but could use some time, assuming the vinegar doesnt take off.

Body is medium and oily, medium/high CO2 levels. Quite good.

Ƭίcƙ.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2011 19:42:26 | More by t0rin0

jethrodium

California

4.03/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the City Beer Store 5th Anniversary Party. Pours a dark brown with a very small light tan head that has good retention and leaves light lacing on the glass. Looks quite cruddy in the glass. The aroma is huge fruit. The blackberry and cherry both come through strongly. Some light bourbon, oak, and acetic notes come through as well. The taste is sweet with big fruit. A lot of berry come through (blackberry, raspberry) as well as the cherry with a good tartness. Light bourbon notes come through in the taste as well. The finish has a bit of an acetic burn to it. Medium body. Medium carbonation. Overall, quite an enjoyable beer. I look forward to trying it in the future to see how it is as the fruit fades a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 23:16:03 | More by jethrodium

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to nerd for sharing this one at DLD 2012.

Pours a nice moderate brown color with a good off-white head and a bit of lacing. The nose brings a good bit of fruit along with a bit of acidity; perhaps a touch of acetic, though not nearly as much as with other Bruery sours I’ve had lately. Flavor is similar with a nice acidity. Body is medium with good carbonation and a dry, puckering finish. Pretty good for an American sour.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 21:46:29 | More by Thorpe429

AgentZero

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to largadeer for bringing this one to Chicago and Sean's 30th Birthday Extravaganza! Been wanting to try it for a while.

A - Murkey brownish/red beer. Small head that didn't stick around.

S - Caramel, brown sugar, some tartness, berries. This one has a somewhat distinct vinegar note to it, although it's not unpleasant.

T - Tannic notes, and the vinegar gives it something of a vinous quality. Cherries and blackberries are a nice touch, more complimentary than dominating.

M - Medium bodied, lower carbonation.

O - Liked this one quite a bit, wouldn't say it is world class, but quite enjoyable and worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 15:37:55 | More by AgentZero

beagle75

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft service into a stemmed tasting glass at The Bruery tasting room in Placentia.

A: Slightly hazy, dark amber color with a few off-white bubbles clinging to the periphery of the surface. No lacing remains on the glass.

S: Restrained but balanced, with oak and fermented dark fruit. There is a suggestion of acetic acidity, like wine that has just started to turn. No alcohol is detected.

T: Begins off-dry, with slightly aromatic wood and fermented dark fruit that is modified to the point of being unidentifiable. Sourness is of moderate intensity, leaning more toward a lactic quality on the palate. Oak makes a bigger contribution in the latter half as flavors dry out a bit and the early fruit dissipates. A dry, lactic and acetic tang lingers in the finish, leaving the palate ready for another taste. No alcohol is detected.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, comfortably acidic and lively on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: While not a specialist in sour ales, the Bruery does make some good ones, and the Wanderer is no exception. Oak and fruit amendments drive any malt character to the shadows, where it deftly influences sweetness but does not add any graininess. More approachable than Russian River's marquee wild ales, it probably lands nearest to Supplication in appearance and feel--but with advancing sweetness that places sour in retreat.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2011 00:39:51 | More by beagle75

kbutler1

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle. Pours a cloudy, caramel copper color with a tan head that collars around the glass. Very rich aroma greats the nose with notes of fruit (raspberry and cherry) and some mild acetic notes. Light mouthfeel. The taste is really nice and is similar to the nose. You get a sweet fruit flavor backed with a low/medium level of sourness. Some caramel as well. This is on the sweeter side of a sour but is rather enjoyable and easy to drink. Glad I was able to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 13:33:39 | More by kbutler1

billshmeinke

California

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at collaboration.

Murky amber orangeish color. Off white head.

Smells of minerals grain and vinegar. Some dark berries.

Lots of vinegar up front. Again dark berries, cherry too. A nice mineral quality as well plus some light oak and some acidic notes.

Puckering medium bodied acidic.

Well done Bruery quite a tasty American sour.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2011 22:02:09 | More by billshmeinke

NorCalgrowler

California

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at city beer at CBS 5th Anniversary Release

A - dark brown to mahogany color with about 1/2 inch of tan head that disappears quickly

S- definitely tart cherry and vinegar come through. Also hints of oak

T - does have a bit of sweetness to it which I dont mind in a sour but acetic tones are still there. Both berries come through well at the finish

O- sours are not my favorite style by any means but this one is more than enjoyable (and tolerable)for even sour beginners not used to the tartness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2011 13:57:45 | More by NorCalgrowler

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Auburn to brown appearance, mild head ring to it. Soft sour notes, seems more like a flanders than an american wild, pronounced woody notes to it. Had that funky thing that blackberries seem to produce that isn't the most agreeable to me, but the cherry allowed it to still be enjoyable.

Taste, sour, earthy grittiness to it. Seemed very similar to Marron Acidifie with the vinegar. A little bit of cherry with blackberry. Some caramel I'd guess. On the lower ebb of sour flavor for the Bruery. Did hide the alcohol quite well, a nice development. Pulled a little coconut out of this one later on.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2011 21:25:34 | More by Beerandraiderfan

HopHead84

California

4.2/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

5/29/2011

Double pour from a bottle into a snifter at The Bruery's third anniversary.

A: Murky reddish brown with a fleeting small head.

S: A pleasant blend of blackberry and cherry, sweetness and tartness simultaneously. The cherry is really vibrant. Moderate vinegar character. 

T: Sweet and tart blackberries and cherries. Moderate vinegar flavor but not too much acidity. Plum and fig, with a little caramel. Nice fruit profile. Evident oak with a bit of vinous character. Finishes with much fruit, both sweet and tart, and a lower level of acetic acidity.

M: Medium in body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is smooth.

Overall: A nice sour from The Bruery. Great fruit profile.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2011 20:13:17 | More by HopHead84

mdfb79

New York

4.2/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 01/07/12 notes. Had at the DC RB tasting thanks to MrChopin (RB); thanks Kevin. 750ml bottle into a tulip.

a - Pours a hazy dark orange-brown amber color with two inches of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sour raspberries and sour blackberries, tart dark fruits, oak, fruity malts, and vinegar. Nice and sour here, really loving the nose.

t - Taste follows the nose. Sour raspberries, cherries, and dark fruits, light oak, vinegar, and fruity malts. Not quite as sour as the nose was, but still good.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Easy to drink, not super dry.

o - Overall a very good wild ale; hoping they brew this one again this year since I'm in the reserve society now. Nose is very sour and it is very easy to drink. Would like to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 00:40:28 | More by mdfb79

kscaldef

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Epic Bruery sour/wild tasting, 3/4/2012

Pours a murky red with a nice head. Cherry and blackberry on the nose. On the tongue, it's very tart, and I pick up cherry and strawberry flavors. Medium carbonation. One of my top beers of the tasting.

3.5,4,4.5,4,4

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 03:30:41 | More by kscaldef