The Bruery Provisions

the-bruery

In a slight change of course, The Bruery will not be opening a cafe. Instead it will be a bottle shop and tasting bar.

Here is the info, straight from the source:
“This summer, The Bruery plans on opening The Bruery Provisions, a boutique bottle shop in Old Town Orange that specializes in craft beer as well as artisan wines, cheeses and charcuterie. The Bruery Provisions hopes to provide the ideal destination for anyone looking to learn about and purchase an assortment of specialty beers from across the United States and beyond. Not only will patrons be presented with a great selection of beers and cheeses to take home, there will also be a small tasting bar where beer and wine flights will change sporadically from week to week. Certified Cicerones (read: beer sommeliers) will staff the store and lead customers on detailed samplings, helping them understand what flavors they sense and what beers they might enjoy taking home to share. As Cicerones, the staff members are experts on pairing beers with food and cheese, so you can be sure to bring the perfect bottle to your dinner party along with a bit of insight.”

The Bruery turns two

I am heartily impressed by the people at the Bruery. They improved on their 1st party! They changed up to 4 sessions. Capped admittance. Added an auxilliary bar for the “strong” stuff, and it worked beautifully.
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Here is the before beer BBQ courtesy of Beachwood BBQ
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I had the following beers:
Oude Tart
7 Grain Saison
Humulus Rice
Einer’s Folly
and…
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here is the view out of the bottle…
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I also had the Coton – barrel aged style with the lovely Liege waffles and choco bacon
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News from The Bruery

If you like joining clubs and getting special benefits…
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“Memberships on Sale Soon!
The Bruery Reserve Society is a revered group of beer enthusiasts who wish to gain access to the most esoteric beers The Bruery has to offer. In this inaugural year, we’ll be offering 400 memberships to the Reserve Society. Reserve Society members will have first pick at special releases. There will be releases that will only be available to Reserve Society members. As an inaugural member, you’ll also have the first right of refusal to join in 2011.
Reserve Society registration will begin in person on Tuesday, October 27th at 6 PM. In person registration will continue during tasting room hours (Friday & Saturday, 4 PM – 10 PM, Sunday, 12 PM – 6 PM). Registration through our website (www.brueryprovisions.com) will begin Friday, October 30th. The registration period will close on December 31st, 2009, or when all memberships have been sold.
Cost: $195
Benefits:
– At the time of signing up, the first 250 to join the Reserve Society will receive Barrel Aged Partridge in a Pear Tree (only 290 bottles produced), White Oak, and Saison Rue. The last 150 to join will receive Barrel Aged Autumn Maple, White Oak, and Saison Rue.

– Reserve Society Zip Hoodie (available in early January)
– Reserve Society Zip Hoodie (available in early January)

– Entrance for two to the Reserve Society Initiation Celebration (scheduled for early January)

– Access to Reserve Society-only events (barrel tastings, release parties; additional charges may apply)

– Access to purchase special bottle release allocations (in person or through our website; allocations only for Reserve Society members. Bottle limits will vary from release to release.)

– Shipping of allocated beers (shipping cost not included, will ship only within CA)

– 15% off all tasting room and Bruery Provisions purchases (Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts)

– Access to special growler fills

– First right of refusal for 2011 membership
– A nifty Bruery Reserve Society ID card
Anticipated 2010 Special Bottle Releases:
– Oude Tart – Flemish Red
– Melange #1 – Flemish Red / Imperial Stout Blend
– Melange #3 – Barrel Aged Strong Ale Blend
– White Zin – Sour ale with Zinfandel Grapes
– White Oak – Blended Barrel Aged Wheatwine / Golden Strong Ale
– 100% barrel-aged Coton – Barrel Aged Old Ale
– Black Tuesday Imperial Stout – Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
– 100% barrel-aged 2 Turtle Doves – Barrel Aged Holiday Beer
– Perhaps a few other releases up our sleeves”

LA Beer Week – The Bruery & Matt Denny's

A glass of Snickelfritz
A glass of Snickelfritz

Yesterday’s installment of LA Beer Week was a chance to introduce the Bruery and their Belgian concoctions to another friend.

First up was the Rugbrod. A Danish winter warmer. Pours dark brown. Gets sweeter the more you drink. Taste wise this is a departure from the normal Bruery line-up. It doesn’t use the funky yeasts that I associate with the Bruery. Next was this years holiday seasonal, Two Turtle Doves. It has a really strong taste at first. Just hits the tongue. But then the flavors sort of melt away. Slight bourbon taste to it.
Autumn Maple was next and it was the winner of the day. Had a nice little fizz to it after a mellow sweet taste. This time around I think I noticed a certain starchiness from the yams. We also had the Orchard White and the Cuvee Jeune to contrast against the heavy malty beers. The Cuvee Jeune is one of my favorites. Lovely sour tang to it but it also has a lovely wine flavor to balance it out. The gang also took the short tour of the operations lead by Head Brewer Tyler. We got to hear about their current and future expansion plans. This place is growing by leaps and bounds.

Then we headed up the 57 to Arcadia for our first ever visit to Matt Denny’s. The German band was playing loud. The crowd was large but not packed and their was a selection of six or so German Oktoberfest beers. I had the Spaten version. It had all the hallmarks of the Okto style but it could have been a shade or two drier. A little to sweet for my taste. And sorry to say but the sausage platter that I ordered with it was pretty sorry for a sit down meal. I have had better Dodger dogs.

More reports to come!

Happy Anniversary

Today is my 10th Wedding Anniversary!! In honor of that momentous occasion, here is a list of 10 beers and breweries to mark each passing milestone.

1st – Papier from The Bruery
2nd – 2 Degrees Below from New Belgium
3rd – 3 Floyds Brewing
4th – #4 from Upright Brewing
5th – 5 Apostles Saison from Devil’s Backbone Brewing
6th – Six Points Brewing
7th – 7 Seas Brewing
8th – Vertical Epic 8-8-07 from Stone Brewing
9th – # 9 from Magic Hat Brewing
10th – Tenth Anniversary Ale from Allagash

Woodruff + Berliner Weiss =

…one of the weirdest beer tastes that I have ever had and I have had a few. The Bruery in Orange County has their Hottenroth Berliner Weiss on tap and they offer a traditional style serving with Woodruff syrup.

I asked the bartender what he thought of it and he said “Lucky Charms”. I was unbelieving. That is not a beer flavor to me but he was spot on. It tasted like freeze dried cereal marshmallows.

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I am still on the fence about how to review it. It was a light absinthe green. The aroma was faint but that Lucky Charm taste was pronounced without completely overpowering the beer. The tartness of the Berliner Weiss was very muted.

I may have to get it again to really come to a sound decision either for or against.