The Bruery

claspada

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Average size wrap around L-shaped bar with some tables and bar stools surrounding. Gets crowded on the weekend when I was there which was slightly unfortunate but such is life with such a vastly growing brewery.

They had all the classics on draft, some one-off saisons and other randoms as well. They do various rare beer flights. Unfortunately they offer so many special beers for the Hoarder's Society (not even to the RS) which they don't advertise but my trustee gave me the downlow and hooked me up with numerous pours of SitRye Peaches and Bois Variants flights.

Bar service is filtered through a cashier style format, which I did not like particularly but makes the process fair and streamlined so it has it's pros and cons.

Overall, as a beer geek you must visit if in the area, especially if you know someone who can give you the special offerings to make the experience more worthwhile.

06-18-2013 21:41:38 | More by claspada

mrcraft

California

4.23/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | $$

First off, The Bruery makes world-class beers. My review is based on my experience with their tasting room.

I had a very high expectation of this place, and unfortunately, my experience was lackluster at best.

The space is modern, clean, etc., but I felt the servers/bartenders were standoff-ish. I saw some of them reading books which I found to be very unprofessional.

The prices are reasonable for the pours you receive. The tasters are probably even a better value, but you don't get to choose their better beers.

I'll most likely return to try their other beers, and hopefully, the service is better during my next visit.

05-14-2013 05:46:54 | More by mrcraft

tourdot

Wisconsin

4.84/5  rDev +10%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

My BA friends took me and my gf to The Bruery on a Saturday afternoon and we joined a full tap room of people enjoying some great brew. Though the place was packed, service was quick. The tap room is relatively small but has tables and you can buy bottles and glassware to go. My buddy is a preferred member and hooked us up with the following flight: Bois virgin, Bois Oak, Bois Bourbon, Bois Brandy, and Bois Rye along with Melange 8. Long story short, EXTRAORDINARY! The place was jumping with great vibes and the beer selection was awesome..VIP or not. I would suggest visiting if you are in the area.

05-13-2013 04:35:48 | More by tourdot

Braz

Washington

4.02/5  rDev -8.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | $$

Was so stoked to get to go to this place while vacationing. Place is definately an operating brewery as it smells funny. Lots of seating. Have pre made sampler lists that you hand the server or you can write in five of your own selections. Samplers of five are typically around seven to ten dollars. Great beers, high quality and quirky selections. Tours of brewery available from what I understand but I didn't partake. Place is pretty self service so if you just sit at a table, you're not likely to get waited on. Good overall experience.

05-08-2013 04:53:08 | More by Braz

josephwa

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +13.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

My wife and I were extremely impressed. The Bruery is top notch! The beers were stunningly good and the atmosphere is great. The bartenders and staff were fast and very helpful. They had so many fantastic beers on tap! We tried over ten beers that we thought were fantastic! The price was right regarding the beer flights, $1-$2 per beer was a very nice surprise. The trip to The Bruery is well worth it!

05-07-2013 14:51:57 | More by josephwa

Narfish

California

4.46/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The Bruery is the one truly world-class brewery in the Los Angeles area (aside from Craftsman, which doesn't have a taproom and doesn't bottle). Their beers are mostly Belgian-inspired and always complex, but mostly accessible; aside from the Humulus, they don't really brew hop-forward beers, though they do have an extensive roster of sours that are unequaled in SoCal. The Bruery's taproom is newly remodeled and very pleasant, and you can get tasters of a bunch of beers that are impossible to find elsewhere. Only thing that would improve it is food service - though they do bring in a food truck most nights. This is a no-brainer if you have the time. And make sure to pick up some of their rare bottles while you're there.

01-06-2013 23:26:12 | More by Narfish

taxman714

California

4.6/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

The Bruery was a staple for the enculturation of my appreciation for a real craft brew. It seemed like every local brewery in California was so hard-headed on developing the "next best IPA". The Bruery stated from the beginning of its operations that an IPA will not be produced from them, and so they seemed to direct their attention towards Belgiom style ales. Believe me, they make some of the BEST beers I have tasted in my craft beer addiction. I have tried Russian River, Deschutes, Firestone, and most CA breweries and by far, the beers produced out of The Bruery are second to none.

I have been going to The Bruery since they had a industrial looking, shabby tasting room, and fell in love from day one. Currently the tasting room is completely remodeled and fit for a mainstream tasting adventure. after touring the wineries in Temecula, The Bruery's new tasting room rivals some wine tasting rooms visited in Temecula. A little mainstream it seems, but I know the roots and appreciate all of what The Bruery is doing.

**A definite must for any beer enthusiast in Southern California.

12-04-2012 02:21:38 | More by taxman714

UCLABrewN84

California

4.23/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I visited The Bruery yesterday for the Black Tuesday benefit. The tasting room shares a space with the brewery itself and is fairly small overall. There are a few seats around the counter, some picnic type tables, and a few upended barrels to put stuff on as you stand around. They have some barrels up on racks around the tasting area which was pretty cool. Service was good even though it was muggy and crowded inside the space. The quality of all the beer was great but I wish they had a bit more of a selection in their official tasting room. Prices were reasonable $6 for a 4 oz. pour of Black Tuesday and $8 for 5 tasters and you get to keep the glass. Overall, this is definitely a cool place and I will be back whenever I am in the area.

06-19-2012 02:15:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

drewone

California

4.23/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Always a fun stop - depending on when you come can be very mellow small crowd or very crowded.

Really like that you are right there in the brewery next to all the equpiment with even some barrels (even they have decreased since they leased there new barrel aging warehouse).

Only serve Bruery beers - so the qulaity is generally good.

Service is average - no complaints.

Selection varies widely - I've stopped in and found amazing selections of rarer beers and also stopped in to find only there most standard beers being served - they send out a nice email detailing most of what they will be serving that weekend. Not all selections are available in growlers. Also have bottles to go - sometimes different bottles than what is at provisions, sometimes the same.

Almost always have one food truck or another parked out front - quality varies with truck but I've enjoyed a few.

Reasonable value - esp if you get the 5 tasters where you get to keep the glass. You can also buy additional tasters for a dollar. My favorite way to experience the tasting room (partially because of the driving and some of their beers are strong).

All and all a favorite stop of mine - also kid friendly which is always a bonus and close to provisions.

03-19-2012 04:44:07 | More by drewone

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -9.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Visited the Tasting Room on Sunday and its a very good one. About a 45 minute drive from where I was in Santa Monica. About a half dozen of their beers on tap. Lots of bottles, including some specials, including the 3 melange which I gladly bought for WomenCantSail and another Bruery reserve member. None of their brewers about this holiday weekend. Very friendly though not as fancy as say Avery's tasting room. Good time, reasonable prices. No guest taps, thats over 13 minute drive to Bruery Provisions.

01-18-2012 05:53:09 | More by northyorksammy