Otiose - The Bruery

mjohnson17

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from 2012 bottle into teku,
Roughly 1 year in the cellar

A: Rich brownish red with a fluffy off-white head. Carbonation is apparent from rising bubbles.

S: A tinge of sour on the now, but mostly vanilla and oak.

T: Tart up front. Disappointingly no guava in the taste, but I assume that it's faded with a year on this bottle. As it warms up lots a warm vanilla and tobacco. The barrel characters really shine nicely in this beer.

M: Like most The Bruery beers, great mouthfeel. Loads of fizzy carbonation without overpowering. Smooth, barrel character leaving a fruity tart aftertaste.

O: I really enjoyed this beer. At first I was expecting more tart along the lines of Oude Tart but with a year in the cellar this beer has really transformed into a nice oak aged sour with refreshing tartness but still lots of barrel character, esspecially as it warms up. The tobacco and vanilla and oak take over nicely.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 20:28:19 | More by mjohnson17

Rinkor16

California

3.94/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed with my 2 brothers and sister-in-law.

A: A dark brownish red with very little head around the edge.

S: Smells of fruit and a little funk. Not quite sure what fruit...

T: Fruity and then instantly tart. The Guava isn't really noticeable. I can't quite pick it out.

M: Medium bodied with the right amount of carbonation.

O: I enjoyed it. I wouldn't seek it out, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 18:06:10 | More by Rinkor16

Beaver13

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle. Pours dark reddish amber with a creamy off white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet and sugary acidic sourness with some fruit.

The flavor is sweet sugary malts with some fruity tartness. There's quite a bit of acidity and some wood and some mouth-puckering sourness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, a nice sour. A little too sweet for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 05:40:10 | More by Beaver13

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.83/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a nondescript dark brown with a fairly thin head. Not much to look at.

Nose is a mix of dark sweet fruity malt (plums maybe?) and bright acidity. Hints of maple and ketchup.

Taste opens fruit and wood, fades to a more pure sourness, ends fruity again with some yeastiness. Fairly dry and woody in aftertaste. Overalls an excellent mix of sourness and sweet fruit.

Feel is rich, creamy, well carbed, good.

Good beer! Simar to La Folie but less good.

7.8/10

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 02:26:23 | More by AlexFields

ngeunit1

California

4.28/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown red with a finger of frothy tan-khaki head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Sweet caramel malts, guava, vanilla, oak, sour cherries and other dark fruits, funky Brett and other yeasts, some lactic acid.

T - Sweet caramel malts, guava, sour cherries and other dark fruits, oak, vanilla, brown sugar, funky Brett, lactic acid, bit of booze.

M - Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sour, sweet, warming finish.

D - Great sour brown ale. Nicely balanced and the guava is a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 04:01:02 | More by ngeunit1

jvillefan

California

4.64/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: A deep hazy brown that has a tinge of ruby to it. There is a very white lacy head.

S: There is a sour apple estery aroma. There is both sweet and sour aromas present.

T: Incredibly complex flavors. There is a sharp sour flavor that starts this off. There is some fruit flavors of grapefruit, guava, and grape in the middle. To finish it off, there is a sweet caramel malt flavor present.

M: A thick silky smooth body with a ton but pleasant amount of carbonation.

O: Great beer. Worth getting and trading for.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 03:53:08 | More by jvillefan

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a dark cloudy oude brune color with massive head that took a few minutes to calm down.

S: Scents of lactic signature tart Bruery yeast with brown malt and champagne finishing yeast

T: Lactic sourness. Wow, this is more sour than I had expected and filled with the familiar sour guava sweet flavors mixing with oak barrel and wild yeast. Guava seed and pulp flavors really are predominant mixing with the oak barrel and lactic brett blend. I pick up tart cherry , sweet vomit and tropical mixed drink along with oak and brown malts. Really the brown ale is hardly showing its face through the fruit and yeast. This is basically what I had expected except more in my face than desirable.

M: Very highly carbonated with a light body.

O: Overall its a nice sour brown ale. Typical of Bruery sours, it has that metallic twang and oak flavor. I would prefer oude tart to this on first comparison, but will have to revisit oude tart soon to confirm this. Guava is a great flavor, but perhaps there is too much in here is my first thought.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 18:52:34 | More by alpinebryant

harrymel

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Thanks Brian and Athena

Brown with blood rose tones. Smells like lemon, guava (turns out it has it in the beer), light vinegar. Tart, quite tart and some cherries, some lemon and a little white vinegar. Thin with cloying character and dry finish. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 07:06:28 | More by harrymel

scottfrie

California

3.69/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Snifter, reviewed from notes.

Pours a cloudy dark raisin brown color with a very short lived light brown head that faded into a thin but long-lasting collar. I get dark fruits, vanilla and lightly tart notes of berries and acid on the nose. The carbonation is soft but very frothy on my palate. Acid bites at my tongue but the mouthfeel is buttery and greasy. Full body. Flavors follow the nose with the addition of red fruits and a bit of apple. I thought this was nothing special but it’s not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 16:43:25 | More by scottfrie

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml, spring '12
HF Wine Glass

A: Pours murky reddish hued brown color. Initially got nearly a full finger of light tan head. Leaves some sticky lacing all over glass on the swirl. Not a bad looking brew.

S: Getting that fruit character, but not sure its Guava. Actually pulling some tart cherry akin to a Flanders Red but less sour. Some caramel malt sweetness is there too. Maybe a touch of Balsamic vinegar like character too?

T: Some Flanders like tartness up front. Maybe not quite as tart, just like what I smelled. The malt bill is there in the middle of the mouth. Pulling some of those caramel like sweet notes. Meshes well with the light sourness of the brew. Leads to the typical dry finish. But it's not bone dry. This beers 8% ABV is really hidden. Drinks really easy.

M: Medium bodied. Nice carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 14:24:16 | More by inlimbo77

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Big thanks Trxxpaxxs for a free bottle. Can't beat that price.

The beer pours a deep dark brown with a quarter inch of a dense tan head and a generous amount of lacing and murky looking sediment. The beer is quite effervescent and maintains a thin blanketing of head throughout drinking. The beer's nose is funky with lots of strong fruity esters and acetone and equally potent notes of a distinct guava. The taste is dank and sour with a hefty malt bill to bring balance and drinkability. It's really an impressive beer with initial sweetness, that's not distinctly guava, which changes as it trickles onto my palate and becomes this dry, tart beastly sour. The beer's %abv is not even a factor, almost completely masked by the beer's potent sourness. I'd place this beer as having a medium body with great fruit and sour characteristics that finishes super dry. I really enjoyed this beer and don't think I'd hold onto another bottle long enough to see how it ages...

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 04:33:16 | More by ThePorterSorter

kojevergas

California

3.45/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; I've had good sours from The Bruery and I'm in the mood for the style.

Not paired with food. Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a four finger khaki colour head - a bit thin - of nice cream and good retention. Body colour is a dark caramel-brown. Nontransparent; opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. A typical appearance for the style; there's nothing unique or special.

Sm: Fermented pineapple, tropical fruit esters, brown sugar, and traces of sourness. Too heavy on the pineapple. Kind of off-putting. An above average strength aroma.

T: Tart sourness hints on the climax. Caramel and fermented tropical fruit comprise the foundation. Little bacterial/wild yeast notes. Not particularly puckerworthy on the sour side of things. A weird medicinal note in the third act accompanies some acidity. Any oak is minimal. Balanced but underwhelming; I expect more complexity and subtlety in a sour. Some mellow malty notes in the late second act help guide it, but the backbone just isn't there.

Mf: A bit creamy. Coarse and tingly. Overcarbonated. Wet. Good thickness. Acidic.

Dr: Drinkable for its well hidden high ABV. It's quite pricey though. I wouldn't get this again; there are far better sours to be had at this price point - even from the same brewery. I'm glad I tried it, but it just doesn't bring the sourness and tartness as much as I'd like.

B-

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 00:13:50 | More by kojevergas

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured in bruery snifter. The brew appears a dark brown with 3 fingers worth of thick khaki head. Some ruby clarity is noted when held to the light. A bit of patchy suds of lace stick to the glass and a swirl brings back a finger.

The smell is cheesy and funky with some fruited element that are minorly tropical along with earth and soft almost vanilla or caramel grain.The malt backing provided a nice contrast to the fruit and tart smell. As it warms up, acetone starts to poke through with hints of nail polish remover.

The taste has some caramel and vanilla sugar traces almost like figs, dates and molasses before getting sharp with lemony lactic acidity. There is a bit of lingering roast element almost a bit like bready grain towards the back. I think this brew has a very nice depth of compexity and despite having acetone in the nose, it is hidden pretty well in the flavor.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. A pretty nice brew overall. There is just something about the dark burnt sugary quality of this brew that really plays well with the sharp acidity. The alcohol is masterfully hidden making this efforlessly drinkable. I find some Bruery sours to have an awkward amount of vinegar, this one does not have that which might be why I enjoyed it so much.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 14:47:08 | More by stakem

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750mL bottle poured into taster - thanks pat

Dark amber-brownish color with thin layering of white head on top, fades into a few traces of film and lacing.

Stark sourness in the nose with funky yeast and tropical fruits. A bit of oaked wine, warming alcohol and earthiness. Hints of acid and vinegar.

Intensely sour on the tongue with acidity and hints of malt vinegar. Guava and tropical fruit add a touch of sweetness, but the beer remains pretty aggressive on the palate. Red wine, oak, hint of leather. Finishes dry and slightly rough.

Lighter medium body, high carbonation, extremely bubbly and full on the tongue. This one was a bit of a miss for me - a little too harsh and abrasive in feel and balance.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 13:14:28 | More by xnicknj

beagle75

Iowa

4.03/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a tasting glass.

A: Hazy, medium brown color with over one finger of persistent cinnamon-tinted foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass.

S: Floral and sharply oaky. Weak yeast funk is present but depth is lacking overall. No alcohol is detected.

T: Begins dry, with oak, rye, cured tobacco, and moderate tartness. The middle turns toward the sweet as ripe generic fruit takes over. Wood is reasserted in the finish as other flavors become austere. No alcohol is detected.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, balanced on the palate for the style, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: A respectable American wild ale, apparently inspired by Flanders-style sour beers but special in its own right. Oak outpaces fruit in all sensory categories, with the smell being the least developed. Flavors are much cleaner and focused on barrel and sour qualities, rather than brettanomyces complexity. This beer is as unapologetically original as Russian River's sour ales, and just as well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 16:58:35 | More by beagle75

jsanford

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark brown with a fizzy ivory head that settles to a thin ring and very wispy haze. Definitely smells like a Bruery beer, exhibiting their signature house funk, oak, sour fruits (doubt I would have guessed "guava", but ok), a touch of dark malt, and some vinegar. Taste is just as bracingly sour, with more vinegar and tart tropical fruit, more signature Bruery yeast, a touch of citrus, and a moderately roasty malt profile. Mouthfeel is crisp, with a medium body, ample carbonation, and a dry, puckering finish. Pretty intensely sour, honestly. Overall a neat sour, really pleased to try something so unusual.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:57:25 | More by jsanford

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Bruery tulip. Pours a fairly-dark brown color with a decent light tan head. Nose has a bit of guava an some slight acidity. Flavor pushes more acidity along with guava and light earth. Light and very dry. Much better than Sans P., IMO, but still not a huge winner.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:53:16 | More by Thorpe429

merc7186

New York

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I has this beer poured from a bomber into a snifter glass.

A: Amber/Brownish Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Minimal Lacing

S: Red Plum, Burnt Caramel Malts, Mild Dark Cherry

T: Red Plum, Dark Cherry, Caramel Malts

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Sour, Mildly Bitter

Overall, a pretty even sour, not too sour but not under soured...nice balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 02:47:40 | More by merc7186

claspada

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a mahogany color with a large, fizzy and frothy off-white head that leaves some spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with generic tart fruitiness with underlying toasted/caramelized brown maltiness. As it warms I can detect some darker fruits including light fig and there is also a light oak, acidic and lactic presence in the background.

The tastes begin pleasantly oak a malt heavy, with a definite acetic, malt vinegar flavor joining soon after. As it warms I get some tropical and dark fruitiness, but a real secondary flavor compared to the generic sourness and brown malt flavors.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with medium frothy carbonation. The finish has a balanced acidity and is quite easy drinking for being 8.2% ABV.

Overall this was a quality sour which I would purchase on a semi-regular basis due to the quality balanced flavor profile. Many people just want their beers super sour and do not enjoy the malt playing a factor but I am one that appreciates a quality malt backbone in any beer regardless of style. Reminds me of a toned down version of Marron Acidife from the same brewers.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 15:17:21 | More by claspada

sweemzander

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks to Chris for sharing!

(A)- Pours a dark burnt sienna-like brown color. Produced a small cap of white froth. Good lacing.

(S)- A deep raisin, prune, and spicy oak acidity. Tiny hints at vanilla. Very very dry.

(T)- Similar to the smell. a nice spicy oak and dark fruit vinegar acidity combo.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Subtle tartness, but a definite dark fruit/oak/vinegar profile similar to a Flanders style.

(O)- Another solid sour by the Bruery. As I mentioned earlier, quite Flanders-like in style with a good profile. I think that in comparison to Marron Acidifie, Marron is a bit better if comparing similar beer profiles.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 14:52:37 | More by sweemzander

MasterSki

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Jason or Chris - thanks to whomever it was. Served in a Hill Farmstead tulip.

A - Light tan foam settles to a thin cap, thicker collar, and a few specks of lace. Murky dark brown colored body.

S - Smells a lot like a Flanders Oud Bruin, with malt, oak, and lactic sourness dominating. There's some nebulous fruit pulp in there, but I'd never guess guava from the aroma. Alcohol isn't apparent at all - would have guessed maybe 6%.

T - Again, a good amount of malt sweetness, with a brown ale profile that featured nuts, lightly toasted grains, and perhaps a hint of milk cocolate. Lactic acidity and oak abound, with some light tropical fruit flavors in the periphery. Not very acetic for a Bruery sour.

M - Smooth, medium body, with moderate carbonation. Dry and tannic finish, and well-hidden alcohol.

D - This is a pretty nice beer, and it's a step in the right direction for the Bruery sour program. It's nothing mind-blowing, but it's an enjoyable American spin on the Flanders Oud Bruin style. I'd drink this again, but I probably wouldn't actively seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 21:46:59 | More by MasterSki

oline73

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: Pours a murky dark brown color with over a finger of off white head. The head sticks around pretty well and leaves some lace on the glass.

Smell: A bit lighter than most sour browns I've had. Definitely getting the tropical fruit and oak. I'm getting a mild funky with a touch of vinegar as well.

Taste: Follows from the smell with more tropical fruit. The guava is very nice with the sour notes. The oak is prevalent as well with some vinegar like sourness. The finish is fruity, oaky, and slightly funky.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with carbonation on the milder side with an extremely dry finish.

Overall: I was impressed by how well the tropical fruit went with the dark sour notes. The oak was quite good as well. I'm glad I have a few more of these stored away.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 18:12:51 | More by oline73

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Also shared with rudzud since the bible tells me so.

Nice creamy 1/2 finger head, fades semi slowly with nice head, hazy cola murky brown slight reddish sediment laden beer.

Nose great Flanders red, dark caramel malts, slight reddish. Great sour malt, tart fruit, some sour cherry and tart guava, little tart berry, and just a bit of funk. Just a touch of vanilla oak.

Taste starts light brown malts again, caramel reddish toasty, great sour malts, tart fruits, sour cherry, light soured guava, little raspberry even. Nice oak, toasty and vanilla, little brown sugar like sweetness, dusty oak, cherry vanilla caramel flavors, nice acidity, and little booze. Finish is a bit flemmy and acidic, nice lingering sour fruits and oak.

Mouth is fuller to med bodied, decent carb and soft booze, nice acidity.

Overall very nice, great tart sour fruits, nice vanilla dusty oak, nice malt balance to the sour fruit, good acidity, very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 12:55:19 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared with JLindros thanks to our rs membership.

A - Poured into a standard Kate the Great tulip a hazy chestnut brown hue that is quite dark with a one finger head that leaves a nice thin blanket.

S - Aromas of delicious guava notes. Mmmmm so freaking good and inviting with lots of sour barrel notes.

T - Taste is delicious with lots of faint fruits, namely cherries, with faint guava notes. Delicious sour tart barrels with tons of barrel vanilla. This is delicious. Super lightly sour and invitingly delicious.

M - Mouthfeel is very nice for the style and superdrinkable for the style with nice light puckering notes.

O - Overall I really enjoyed this beer. Glad I have extra bottles damn the bruery can make good sours!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 22:59:53 | More by rudzud

russwbeck

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear, dark brown pour with about a finger of off white head. Active bubbles raise up through the liquid.

S: Big sour hit with a boozy undertone. The guava is very noticeable, which I hadn't expected. I very much enjoyed the sour Guava Grove from Cigar City, so I'm excited about how this smells.

T: The taste continues the aroma, but is bolstered by a much stronger brown ale characteristic than I expected. The roast at the very end of the taste is a strange, but interesting addition to an American Wild Ale. Aggressive acidity with a nice guava hint. The booze is still noted, but the melody of flavors hide it well.

MF: Medium body with a high amount of carbonation. The sweet and sour mix is deliciously drinkable. So sour it makes your mouth ater.

O: This was very nice. Another reason I'm glad I'm in the Reserve Society. Bruery is doing American Wild Ales right.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 23:59:35 | More by russwbeck