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Fruet
The Bruery
- From:
- The Bruery
- California, United States
- Style:
- Old Ale
- ABV:
- 15.5%
- Score:
- 99
- Avg:
- 4.47 | pDev: 7.38%
- Reviews:
- 148
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 07, 2023
- Added:
- Apr 23, 2012
- Wants:
- 208
- Gots:
- 386
Unlike previous anniversary beers, ALL Fruet is 100% bourbon barrel-aged.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ehammond1:
Reviewed by ehammond1
4.8/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.8/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Bottle (2012)
Windmill Farms
San Diego, CA
Liquified caramel and toffee in a glass with a moderately-sized (surprising!) dark brown head that fades away relatively quickly to become a thin ring atop the beer. Leaves irregular spots and long splotches of stick down the glass. A gorgeous barrel-aged old ale.
Lots of caramels and melted toffee candies collide in the aroma, along with chocolate covered cherries and raisins, rich butterscotch; compelling, integrated, rich bourbon and barrel, with a very mild vanilla presence, and just a hint of alcohol warmth. Staggering.
Sweet toffees, caramel, raisins, bourbon, alcohol warmth, and oak combine for a supreme drinking experience. This is rich, coating, complex, evolving, and simply delicious. I'm not sure I've had a better example of a barrel-aged old ale.
Medium-full body with a coating, creamy, yet low carbonation. Appropriately rich and decadent.
Perhaps The Bruery's best barrel-aged beer yet (that I've had the pleasure of tasting).
Dec 26, 2012Windmill Farms
San Diego, CA
Liquified caramel and toffee in a glass with a moderately-sized (surprising!) dark brown head that fades away relatively quickly to become a thin ring atop the beer. Leaves irregular spots and long splotches of stick down the glass. A gorgeous barrel-aged old ale.
Lots of caramels and melted toffee candies collide in the aroma, along with chocolate covered cherries and raisins, rich butterscotch; compelling, integrated, rich bourbon and barrel, with a very mild vanilla presence, and just a hint of alcohol warmth. Staggering.
Sweet toffees, caramel, raisins, bourbon, alcohol warmth, and oak combine for a supreme drinking experience. This is rich, coating, complex, evolving, and simply delicious. I'm not sure I've had a better example of a barrel-aged old ale.
Medium-full body with a coating, creamy, yet low carbonation. Appropriately rich and decadent.
Perhaps The Bruery's best barrel-aged beer yet (that I've had the pleasure of tasting).
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by hopley from Massachusetts
4.41/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2012 bottle, nicely aged, great beer, but pour that last little bit of the bottle into a shot glass, swish it around a little, and chug for nice shot of insulin…!
Dec 07, 2023Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Had this from a bottle in 2013.
A: pours brawnish body with no head or retention and lacing.
S: strong alcohol smell with some roasted toffee smell
T: strong roasted, sweet caramel taste with a burnt toffee aftertaste; excellent, to say the least
S: smooth and very full bodied; nice mouthfeel
D: excellent feel and taste combo; wow! Unbelievable beer...wow!
May 10, 2022A: pours brawnish body with no head or retention and lacing.
S: strong alcohol smell with some roasted toffee smell
T: strong roasted, sweet caramel taste with a burnt toffee aftertaste; excellent, to say the least
S: smooth and very full bodied; nice mouthfeel
D: excellent feel and taste combo; wow! Unbelievable beer...wow!
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.71/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2012 brew... so 8 years in the cellar. Poured from a wax topped bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Hazy/opaque caramel brown pour. Thin off-white head leaves a ring of lacing. A bit of sediment at the finish.
S: Fruit and booze. Sugar and sweets... the nose hits you hard.
T.F: Thick and sweet. Caramel and brown sugar mixed with cherry, fig, raisin, and plum. Boozy... but for a 15.5% behemoth this went down super easy. Not as strong bourbon character as expected, but that could be the age. Just a whiff of vanilla and some oak. Mostly fruit and dark sugars and it's absolutely delicious. Super sticky on the tongue... complex and warming.
O: Absolutely outstanding, and held up amazingly given the age. Delicious beer... if you see a bottle floating around then grab it!
Mar 15, 2020L: Hazy/opaque caramel brown pour. Thin off-white head leaves a ring of lacing. A bit of sediment at the finish.
S: Fruit and booze. Sugar and sweets... the nose hits you hard.
T.F: Thick and sweet. Caramel and brown sugar mixed with cherry, fig, raisin, and plum. Boozy... but for a 15.5% behemoth this went down super easy. Not as strong bourbon character as expected, but that could be the age. Just a whiff of vanilla and some oak. Mostly fruit and dark sugars and it's absolutely delicious. Super sticky on the tongue... complex and warming.
O: Absolutely outstanding, and held up amazingly given the age. Delicious beer... if you see a bottle floating around then grab it!
Reviewed by iebforever from California
4.49/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Stashed in back of fridge but still had layer of dust on it. Dark brown opaque in color, tan head dissipated quickly. Dark fruit and malty sweetness in the nose after the beer warms. Sweet dark fruit (prune, fig, raisin) and brown sugar in flavor. Alcohol is evident but well hidden by body of the beer. Impressed with how well this beer held up and aged. Not the vanilla notes I expected from bourbon barrel aging, but tis beer did not disappoint.
Dec 27, 2019Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.67/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.67/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2012 vintage; drank 1/17/17 @ California Split.
Opaque purple/brown appearance.
Minimal khaki head; no lace.
Brandy, marshmallow, raspberry & mild oak notes in the nose.
Smooth, thick mouthfeel.
Marshmallow, caramel & raspberry flavors up front; cognac & oak notes on the finish.
An incredible amalgam; this has aged beautifully.
Mar 25, 2019Opaque purple/brown appearance.
Minimal khaki head; no lace.
Brandy, marshmallow, raspberry & mild oak notes in the nose.
Smooth, thick mouthfeel.
Marshmallow, caramel & raspberry flavors up front; cognac & oak notes on the finish.
An incredible amalgam; this has aged beautifully.
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.94/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.94/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very rich, and sweet from bourbon and malts. Well aged. Must be shared by multiple people because what it is. 2012 version bottle. The rest to tender meat.
Jan 21, 2018Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A: Poured into a snifter to a deep brown with a finger of light tan head that fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of toffee and caramel with some fruity notes along with a nice hit of bourbon barrel goodness with some oak and vanilla
T: Taste is toffee and caramel with oak, light chocolate, vanilla, dark fruits and hints of raisins. Swallow is more oak, toffee, vanilla, caramel, and fruitiness.
M: This beer is thick and chewy on the palate with a very nice level of carbonation and a dry finish.
O: Ho-ly shit. This beer is off the chain. I can't put into words how amazing this beer is tasting. Great base beer, nice and well integrated barrel notes and it all plays so well together it should be illegal. If you have one of these still you owe it to yourself to drink it.
Aug 12, 2017S: Smells of toffee and caramel with some fruity notes along with a nice hit of bourbon barrel goodness with some oak and vanilla
T: Taste is toffee and caramel with oak, light chocolate, vanilla, dark fruits and hints of raisins. Swallow is more oak, toffee, vanilla, caramel, and fruitiness.
M: This beer is thick and chewy on the palate with a very nice level of carbonation and a dry finish.
O: Ho-ly shit. This beer is off the chain. I can't put into words how amazing this beer is tasting. Great base beer, nice and well integrated barrel notes and it all plays so well together it should be illegal. If you have one of these still you owe it to yourself to drink it.
Rated by Kevinpitts from Illinois
4.35/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had with 4 years age on it. Typical awesome old ale from the Bruery. Ages like magic.
Dec 30, 2016Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.74/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Cracked this from fridge temp into Bruery tulip. It's now 4 years old. Pours a very dark brown with almost no carbonation. Smell is very heavy on toffee and dark fruit. I'm getting plum, raspberry, blackberry, candy, and maybe a hint of maple. Taste follows the nose, but now lots of bourbon. A bit of a alcohol burn and lots of caramel. This is so smooth. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Amazing.
Dec 15, 2016
Fruet from The Bruery
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
770 ratings
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