5 Golden Rings - The Bruery

DoubleJ

California

3.78/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the source itself, on to the beer:

THe fifth part of the twelve days of Christmas, this is a golden colored beer with soapy whitehead on top, retaining decently and leaving a few dots of lace. The aroma spells spiced, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and Bruery house yeast. Taste has a fun pineapple think going, delivering a sweet and tart flavor. Clove and sugar hit, some booziness adds a peppery spice which has a jagged enough edge. 5 Golden Rings keeps on hitting the theme, but some time in the cellar would be recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2013 03:29:50 | More by DoubleJ

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Had a goblet at Liberty St. Tavern for $6.50. A pineapple Belgian? I figured coming from the Bruery, it'd be worth a shot. In hindsight, I don't recommend this one. The pineapple flavor upfront tastes interesting and unusual, but it grows too strong as the beer warms. It's contrasted by by a too-dry spicy finish that comes off astringent. Kudos to the brewers for hiding the high alcohol, but the feel and flavor balance is off.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2013 21:17:36 | More by tempest

ehammond1

California

3.1/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

A hazy, cloudy dark orange and gold with a thin near-white head. Leaves the glass dotted with spots of stick. Appropriate and pretty enough.

Lots of authentic, juicy, even spicy pineapple character in the aroma, along with a distinctive, Belgian, tangy, perhaps sulfuric yeast character. The aroma also presents some fusel alcohol notes.

The flavor is sweet, earthy, and very pineapple forward, along with lots of fusel alcohol harshness. It's not a very drinkable beer. There's some white fruit element as well (apple, pear), along with sweet honey biscuit and some very faint black pepper. Interesting, but not particularly drinkable or enjoyable.

Medium bodied with high carbonation.

One of The Bruery's weaker offerings of late.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 19:45:50 | More by ehammond1

vkv822

Oregon

3.48/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on-tap @ Belmont Station.
from notes.

Deep golden with a thin, craggy white head.

A good bit of spice comes through in the nose. Cinnamon and ginger predominately.

More ginger and cinnamon upfront with some clove and light fruit/tropical notes in the finish.

Medium body, low carbonation.

A unique take on the style, the spices are an enjoyable/well done addition.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 06:34:50 | More by vkv822

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice thick head that leaves a blanket of lace. The liquid dark gold with an orange hue. Appropriately cloudy.

Plenty of "warm" spice aromas, such as cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper. Notable alcohol.

Very true to the style. The body is chewy and the carbonation high. Lots of alcohol throughout. Lots of Scotch qualities. Plenty of lightly toasted pale ale malts. Oily finish with a long fortified liqueur aftertaste.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 17:07:43 | More by smcolw

ThePaleRider

California

2.85/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Had on tap at Toronado in San Diego.

A - Cloudy orange in color with absolutely no head. Obviously no lacing as the beer had no head, but a very pretty color indeed.

S - Belgian yeast, candy sugar, apricots, and granny smith apples. Smells very fresh and alive.

T - Very tart, almost bordering on a sour ale without the berry flavors you'd be used to. Very dry finish. Lots of sour apple, reminds me of a sour jolly rancher. Way too tart and dry! Not impressed in the slightest.

M - No carbonation at all. Leaves a lot of after taste.

O - Just a strange flavor. Strange blend of sour ale and Belgian ale that doesn't really work well together.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2012 07:59:48 | More by ThePaleRider

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

Another Bruery beer. Why do I do this to myself. At least I only got a sampler.

Bright, golden yellow pour, clear, or nearly so, with a moderate foamy head that receded to a ringlet and left a few dots of lacing on the glass. Lots of sweet fruit in the aroma, like canned fruit cocktail, almost; distant floral hop quality. Sweet taste, almost sickeningly so, again like fruit cocktail, complete with pineapple, pear, peach, cherry, some banana esters in there as well; notes of light clovey spice and corriander, with a touch of vodka-like booze that was more tasted than felt. Light-medium body, a bit sticky with sweetness, and just kind of messy all over. Not really sure what they were going for, nor am I sure it will hold up for another 7 years.

But I got the vertical going anyway, for whatever reason.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2012 04:06:10 | More by Rifugium

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Max's yesteerday. The beer pours a bright gold color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is rich and sweet, showcasing considerable tropical fruit (lots of canned peach and maraschino cherry for instance), vanilla, honey and light butter. The flavor profile replicates the nose, but this beer is so sweet, it's almost nauseating. There's a hint of underlying bitterness on the finish, but it's not nearly sufficient to counter and buoy the sweetness in this beer. Mouthfeel is quite full, and the finish is long and cloyingly sweet. Drinkability is dreadful. I was unable to finish even the small sampler glass I purchased.

An interesting beer, but much too sweet IMHO. Cannot imagine what I would do with a full bottle of this stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 18:27:32 | More by johnmichaelsen

ElSid

California

3.35/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The Beers of California

#32

On-tap at the Bruery

A: Golden orange with a good amount haze, but minimal foam.

S: Mostly grainy with notes of peachy pineapple sweetness and banana peppery spiciness. Alcohol warmth becomes more noticeable as the beer settles.

T: Follows the nose with a grainy breadiness which builds to a peach and apricot fruit sweetness with hints of funk, barnyard, and unpleasant mold. Somewhat leathery ending with a straightforward peppery, banana finish with hints of nutmeg and moderate warming alcohol.

M: Good lacing on the glass with medium body and mouthfeel, but minimal carbonation.

0: The palate feels a bit old and worn. I was hoping for more spice notes. Essentially a Belgian touted as a Christmas ale but lacking in overall spice complexity leaving the holiday spirit out of this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 05:36:34 | More by ElSid

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-slightly hazy golden color with a small white head and minimal lacing

S-tropical fruit, bready malt, spices, herbal notes, hints of sweetness

T-bready malt and grain, pineapple, spices, slightly sugary, some herbal flavors

F-medium body with light to moderate carbonation, smooth and slightly slick

O-an interesting ale with pleasant flavors which I think will improve with some aging

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2012 03:08:56 | More by MDDMD

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.65/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a brilliantly gleaming gold with amazing clarity. A 3/4" top of virgin white head on it, really makes for one looker of a beer. Aroma was massively boozy. Like huge. Some spice accoutrement, nutmeg, ginger, coriander, clove.

Taste, egad man, did I just drink gasoline? This is the hottest beer I've ever drank from the Bruery, and I've had some of their 19.5% stuff. Difference here, there doesn't appear to be much in the way of malt heft into this one, it looks like it has a rather mellow and light body from the color. I really could not, no matter how much I tried, get into this beer to taste any secondary aspects of the beer, it was just fire in the mouth of an alcohol burn. If you restrain yourself, you can pick up light orange peel and sweet notes.

Of any of their beers meant to be drank years from now, this one really did leave the impression that I don't want to touch it for a long time. I'll adjust my score upon subsequent tastings, but the first one just came off as fire water and not much else.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 19:28:14 | More by Beerandraiderfan

FosterJM

California

3.9/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1612th Review on BA
Draft to Snifter

@TheBruery

App- A very buttery looking golden color with a good bit of shimmering highlights around the edges. A small off white head was there and then feel to only a couple dots of cling around the glass.

Smell- A good amount of aromatics on this one, but didnt do it for me. It was too buttery. Howevery, the pineapple and deeper citrus aroma filled the nostrils. The spices were leaning towards nutmeg note. A bit more alive than the others in the series.

Taste- For a spiced golden it was good. Wasnt as good as the other in the series like the aromatics, but the flavor with the different fruits is quite nice. A bit more golden vs dark and spicy as the others but it seems to work. Still young, but flavorful.

Mouth- A bit of a solid medium body with a similar carbonation level. A bit thick and spicy. The residual citrus and nutmeg are nice, but just need to develop a bit more IMO.

Drink- I think the idea is there and this will develop nicely. Solid beer that has potential to age nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 19:29:25 | More by FosterJM

Halcyondays

California

3.48/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at The Bruery,

A: Pours goldenrod with a small cap of white head. Good head retention, some lace.

S: Pineapple, estery malt, ginger, sugar cane.

T: Sweet sugar cane, bready malt and pineapple. The pineapple flavour is quite good, but the overall malt taste is fairly cloying. Still a good taste overall.

M: Full-bodied, soft carbonation, cloying at times; this beer really needs a couple years to dry out.

O: A solid effort, but not as good as the last 3 fresh. Age this one for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2012 23:48:31 | More by Halcyondays

GilGarp

Colorado

3.86/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

750 ml capped bottle served cold into a goblet on a cool rainy night in early June.

Five Golden Rings is a bright golden amber with thin white head.

Aroma is sweet like tropical fruit and slightly spicy like the yeast character in a saison or tripel.

Flavor is sweet up front with the pineapple making itself known. It follows with a surprising kick of spices and herbs. I get pepper, clove, coriander, and maybe some rosemary and mint. It finishes with another unexpected twist: tartness. It's a little like a wild yeast but also a bit tannic like a dry wine.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated. A complicated beer but fairly easy drinking. The alcohol is there but it's sneaky the way it creeps up.

Overall an interesting beer. I bought two more to cellar so it will be interesting in a few years time to see how it's mellowed, hopefully.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 01:49:54 | More by GilGarp

sweemzander

Illinois

3.11/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750mL bottle poured into a snifter.

(A)- Pours a hazy golden orange color. Subtle white froth.

(S)- Definite hints of the ginger and cinnamon with a slight clove-like twinge to it. An underlying sweetness meets fig and honey.

(T)- Quite spicy yet sweet at the same time with obvious pineapple citrus meets a simple golden ale.

(M)- A good carbonation level meets quite a sweet fig and pineapple candy profile. The spiciness of this pretty much goes everywhere on the palate.

(O)- A bit simple yet I think this was completely over-spiced. Would be very surprised if this would even last til this pseudo-vertical is completed.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 20:08:58 | More by sweemzander

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a very slightly hazy medium to dark golden yellow in color with some light amounts of visible carbonation and just a hint of orange + copper highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy dark beige head that reduces to a couple of medium sized patches of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of pineapple and candi/brown sugar over some slightly more moderate aromas of Belgian yeast and spices - cinnamon, clove, and ginger stand out.

T: Similar to the smell, the beer starts out with some initial sweetness from the pale malts, candi/brown sugar, and pineapple juice. After the initial sweetness there is a touch of tartness from the pineapple along with the notes of the Belgian yeast and the spices - cinnamon, clove, and ginger become more pronounced as the beer warms. Minimal hints of the alcohol as the beer warms up in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. There is a light amount of acidic prickliness and just a touch of dryness in the finish.

O: Like the other beers in the 12 days of Christmas series, this is a solid and enjoyable offering - the initial aroma of the beer just after opening the bottle reminded me a lot of pineapple upside down cake. I like the sweetness of the pineapple, the spiciness of the ginger, and the slight dryness. Easy to drink as the alcohol was relatively well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 03:09:56 | More by dbrauneis

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

This pours as a decent golden color with a white head on top. The retention is thin, no lacing on this one. The smell of the beer is a little fruity, boozy and spicy. The taste of the beer is loaded with spice, very Christmassy, not really the greatest tasting beer in my opinion. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, decent carbonation and smooth drinkablity. Overall this beer isn't the greatest. I just wasn't impressed with some of the flavors it had. It's an ok beer but I just don't care for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 02:56:53 | More by Knapp85

chinchill

South Carolina

2.44/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

5 Golden Rings poured lightly hazy from a bomber bottle. Amber in color, with a small but durable off-white head. Vinegar (or similar) in the very sour aroma: smells like a good marinade ... or a bad beer. Well, the taste is similar and no better. There is some pineapple and ginger in the very tart taste. Medium bitterness.

O: brewer’s description sounds wonderful; the beer is not. Hard to drink despite some attractive aspects.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:45:19 | More by chinchill

dtivp

West Virginia

3.28/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a hazy golden amber with a two plus finger egg shell white frothy head that recedes very quickly into a thin ring with moderate lacing.

Aroma of tart citrus fruit , spice and some alcohol after the swirl.

Taste dominated by the pineapple, hints of sweet banana, ginger and the booze is not hiding.

Mouth Feel medium body, light carbonation, sweet, sticky, with some alcohol bite.

Overall, the beer is a little over powered by the sweetness and then the alcohol hits you. Glad I tried it, not my favorite Belgian pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 20:52:21 | More by dtivp

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +25%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a tulip- pours a hazy golden yellow/orange color with one finger of bone white head, modest retention and lacing.

Smell is wonderfully tart- some funk, some citrus a bit of hops. Nothing complex, just a plain old good tart smelling golden ale.

Taste is a different story- pineapple juice comes through strong at the beginning and throughout. A slight hop bitterness after the initial pineapple note, which gives way to a slight funky yeast tartness, then back to the pineapple and candi sugar to finish sweet, but by no means sickeningly sweet.

Mouthfeel is very nice and different than usual- I'm ordinarily a big fan of prickly carbonation, especially with belgians, but this one works nicely without the pinpricks. Medium bodied, light carbonation, milky pineapple feel on the tongue. This is a wonderful brew and I felt that way from the first sip. I would recommend buying it if you find it- I plan on obtaining another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 23:57:26 | More by Hopdaemon39

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle, poured into wine glasses

A hazy golden yellow with orange through the core. A thin white head rises about one finger and then falls to a thin layer over the liquid. The nose is largely of pineapple spice cake. Spicy clove, cinnamon, honey, banana, ginger. On the palate, pineapple takes center stage. This really is a pineapple spice cake in liquid form. Ginger, clove, brown sugar, cinnamon. All coming in waves with pineapple right in the middle. The yeast adds a nice element of spice and fruity esters that help round out a fairly dominant flavor profile. Medium feel, a little slick. High carbonation that works with this profile. Overall, I found this to be an interesting beer. Definitely a risk, but it works. This beer is definitely out personal taste and whether or not you can stomach the spice and pineapple. I found it to be a tasty beer, but nothing that rocked my world.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 17:54:44 | More by ColForbinBC

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Split the bottle with angrybaboon.

Appearance: Hazy gold. Small tight bubbly collar. Vague wispy cap. Oily splotches of lace.

Smell: Floral. Pineapple juice. Tons of spice. Loaded with allspice, ginger, and cinnamon. Huge hit of The Bruery's Belgian yeast strain. Clove and some.serious spiciness. Pale malt sweetness. Some powdery yeast as well. So much pineapple. Almost like a dessert. Pineapple upside-down cake.

Taste: Straight up pineapple. Juice with a little bit of flesh. Tons of spice. Clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. A.good hit of spicy ginger as well. Sweet pale malts and some beastly Belgian yeast. Some banana as well. Something like cake in the sweetness. It is pineapple upside-down cake with Belgian yeast thrown in for good measure.

Mouthfeel: Slightly slick mediumish body. Moderate to high carbonation. A little wet.

Overall: It's a cake and it's a lie.

So much pineapple. And that's the best part.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:47:30 | More by Goblinmunkey7

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.09/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Consumed 4/6/13

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for sharing this beer

Appearance: Hazy, cloudy deep orange - some gold around the edges - off white head, fades to a little cap, leaves some streaks of lacing

Smell: Sweet and fruity - so fruity that this kind of smells like a bizarre cocktail - the pineapple is quite obvious, and it adds to the yeasty esters, including banana - clove, bubblegum, and some earth - the spices are quite potent, particularly cinnamon and ginger - basically, it smells too sweet and too spicy - booze is pretty obvious, too

Taste: Pineapples, cinnamon, ginger, and sugar - candied pineapples, bananas, clove, and bubblegum - cinnamon, ginger, and allspice add to the mix, and add to the sweetness - lots of sugar - lacking any malt character to back up the sugary spice booze blast - maybe this would calm down over time

Mouthfeel: On the full side of medium, low carbonation, sticky sweetness

Overall: I would happily turn these rings over to Sauron

I think I would rather use the rest of my glass to glaze a ham or something. This is way too sweet, way too spicy. Bleh.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:45:57 | More by angrybabboon

weonfire

Illinois

3.84/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - Golden, slightly hazy, 2" of light bubbly head that dissipates quickly

S - Carmel, biscuit, flowery

T - Initial: sweet pineapple, cinnamon, nutmeg and wow- plenty of spice. Finish: pumpkin and plenty of spice. Hop level is very low (1/10), 11.2 ABVs are non existent

M - creamy but not frothy, zero lacing, viscosity is low, thinner then hoped.

O - I will say this is a tough beer to accurately gauge from reading reviews. The beer solely depends on personal preference and what level of spice you like in your winter warmer (not Belgian strong pale ale). I personally find this beer a bit spicier than I would want but looking at the rating its receiving, it is FAR better that that. Flavors and spice pop and for 11.2 ABV- it is hidden extraordinarily. It believe it could use some aging or bitter hops to balance things out.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 01:40:01 | More by weonfire

rand

California

3.48/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 mL poured into snifter

Gonna pour one now, off first impression it needs some aging.

A: Dead-on apricot-orange in color, small fizzy head dissipates quickly without leaving a trace.

S: Tropical fruit and pastries anchor the bouquet, with ample alcohol volatiles delivering the aromas. The added pineapple is prominent, and it blends nicely with natural yeasty esters and holiday spices.

T: Bold fruity notes in the front of the palate - the pineapple is there but it's not as prominent as in the nose as the Belgian bacteria do their magic. Still there's lots of pineapple and the brew is sweet; fruitcake-sweet, with cinnamon and clove drying things out a bit. The booze comes on strong mid-sip, joined with a phenolic tone that carries to the finish. Hops aren't a major player, which might have helped balance out the sweet aspects. Finishes long and sweet.

M: Chewy and viscous...could've used more carbonation to clean the sugary residue.

I actually liked this more as it warmed. My first impression was a little on the negative, and it's a flawed beer, but there are some tasty aspects. I could see this improving over the years.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 06:11:01 | More by rand