Fruet - The Bruery

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.95/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

750mL bottle from Luekens Liquors (on line). 31.99. No bottling date but it is their 2012 Anniversary beer. Served in a Terrapin snifter.

Pours a beautiful deep murky brown with a quarter finger dark cream head. The head maintains a nice ring around the beer and actually leaves a spot or two of occasional lace. It's a beauty.

Wow! It's rare that a beer smells so great even as the cap is coming off. An explosion of bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee and rich dark fruits. Every whiff reveals more that I want to come back for. Fantastic.

Holy crap! My nose wasn't lying. The flavors deliver and then some. Layers of bourbon, vanilla, brandied dates, toffee, caramel, raisin, earthy oak, sweet cashews, toasted grains, faint citrus peel and of course a bit of booze. My description can't possibly do justice to the myriad of outstanding flavors going on. As in the nose, every sip reveals more that I can enjoy. No doubt there is alcohol in there but it goes down incredibly easily for such high abv.

Wonderful syrupy heavy feel with just enough carbonation to keep it from seeming dull. The booze has a nice tickling burn towards the back of the tongue. Sweet boozy toffee finish.

Outstanding in every aspect. By far the best old ale I've ever had and one of the 2 best beers I've had from The Bruery. So rich and complex. Is it expensive? Sure, but I've been happy with plenty of beers a third of the price that aren't nearly a third as good. Well worth the expense in my opinion and I'm thrilled to have another to lay down for a while.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 03:02:14 | More by ThickNStout

Doogermeister

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-16-2013 05:26:43 | More by Doogermeister

carteravebrew

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-14-2013 14:01:51 | More by carteravebrew

Ayelikebeer

Illinois

5/5  rDev +12.1%

06-11-2013 01:34:16 | More by Ayelikebeer

AOShabaz

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +6.5%

06-09-2013 20:36:11 | More by AOShabaz

shehateme

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +12.1%

06-09-2013 20:35:48 | More by shehateme

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hefty, rich, and a complex long sipper.

Presentation: 750 ml brown gold waxed and capped brown bottle. Label with an intricate Bruery emblem in gold, ocher, and brown. It offers a small description of the brew, and anniversary context, with thanks to supporters. Back label has cellaring, and serving notes. Shows bottling year (2012), bottle number (01151), and Alc. by. Vol. (15.5%). Served in a snifter.

A - Deep dark brown pour with deep burgundy edges, fair if short lived head, faint surface memory with a small memory ring and little lacing.

S - Rich nose, complex bourbon, molasses, vanilla, caramel fruitiness…

T - …which unfolds assertively exposing the complex barrels, plenty of boozy wood, bourbon, fruit, hints of charred oak, chocolate and coffee. Plenty of caramel, butterscotch, notes of fruit...

M - Full body, with medium/light carbonation, creamy with some stickiness… It lingers long in the palate.

O - Long complex sipper, it is great on a small dose, and might get a bit overwhelming/tiring in a larger dose. Still quite a treat...

Notes: This might be the best of their anniversary brews that I've tried so far, or might be in a year or two. Coton hit my spot right away and is now a memory. Cuir was nice but I felt it was asking for time, we'll see how that one ages. Fruet has almost the immediate complexity and roundness. It could do with a bit of more time but it is quite memorable if pricey.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 16:28:32 | More by Daniellobo

mojiboo02

Illinois

5/5  rDev +12.1%

06-08-2013 13:45:08 | More by mojiboo02

Tyler1tiger

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-08-2013 01:43:44 | More by Tyler1tiger

savagepm

Colorado

4/5  rDev -10.3%

06-06-2013 01:26:26 | More by savagepm

bird22

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.5%

06-03-2013 05:01:18 | More by bird22

POTABLE83

New York

4.25/5  rDev -4.7%

06-02-2013 14:17:47 | More by POTABLE83

Brew33

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +6.5%

06-01-2013 13:43:16 | More by Brew33

laminam

Washington

5/5  rDev +12.1%

05-29-2013 22:01:53 | More by laminam

JamLand

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-29-2013 03:17:25 | More by JamLand

Damian

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from a 1 pt. 9.6 fl. oz bottle purchased at Craft Beer Cellar
Served in a snifter

Review #775

Poured out an incredibly dark brown with a very thin head. No lacing.

The aroma was amazingly complex. Tons of dark fruits, butterscotch, toffee, caramel, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, oak and a slight smokiness too. It almost seems like there is a different aroma I pick up with each sniff. There is definite alcohol presence as well.

The taste was intense. Decent amount of bourbon and boozy flavors which then carried into the butterscotch, toffee, caramel and molasses. Tons of dark fruits; dates, figs, plums and raisins. A decent amount of vanilla and just a touch of oak as well.

The body is full and the mouthfeel is rich and creamy. You can smell, taste and definitely feel the alcohol, but it's not overwhelming despite being so strong.

Overall, an amazing beer and well worth the steep ($35) price of admission.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 01:54:26 | More by Damian

LSMroz

Illinois

5/5  rDev +12.1%

05-28-2013 14:01:30 | More by LSMroz

Justinsosmart

California

5/5  rDev +12.1%

05-28-2013 03:33:35 | More by Justinsosmart

HaveUSeenMyCellar

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.5%

05-28-2013 00:48:20 | More by HaveUSeenMyCellar

brentk56

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a burnt caramel color with a rather modest head that fades quickly to a ringlet; leggy, with spots of foam sticking to the chalice

Smell: Bourbony-aromatics, with caramel, brown sugar, plum, vanilla, cashews and maple

Taste: Booze-laden Bourbon, bringing a range of flavors, including caramel, plum, maple, vanilla, cashews and piney hops; after the swallow, there is a brief alcohol burn, with all of the flavors noted up front re-appearing in the finish

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: I have had mixed experiences with some of the Bruery's high ABV offerings but this one is the real McCoy; lots of complexity and a very impressive mouthfeel (some of the earlier Bruery efforts were flat)

Thanks, aslamm75, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 23:52:21 | More by brentk56

claspada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -10.3%

05-26-2013 16:38:09 | More by claspada

Momar42

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-25-2013 04:00:36 | More by Momar42

3rdto1st

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-22-2013 17:16:29 | More by 3rdto1st

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -4.7%

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Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-21-2013 19:04:54 | More by Beerandboards