Or Xata
The Bruery

This cellared 2016 edition Or Xata really grabbed my attention. Maybe seven years is just the perfect amount of time for all the aromas and flavors to reach peak harmony. It had little pop when uncapped, so I wasn’t sure if I let this one sit too long. In a Brewery Terreux stemless tulip, it pours an orange tinged golden honey color that almost matches the bottle label. It was brilliantly clear with a small white head that faded quickly. The lactose richness, along with cinnamon and vanilla aromas, gesture toward a rich, possibly heavy, desert beer. But the mouthfeel is only moderately full and smooth, with mild carbonation adding a nice balance. The rich taste is balanced by spice and a clean rice malt lightness that would tickle any rice pudding lovers fancy. Overall, an outstanding desert beer as compared to the too often bland offerings typical of the blond ale style.

 

Golden body that is mostly clear with a full white head. Smells of strong vanilla cream, light cinnamon, sweet malts. Taste has the vanilla and distinct lactose leading by far, most powerful in the middle, rice is there right up front with malt, yeast and cinnamon in finish, light. Hint of booze as it warms. Feel is full and sweet, a patisserie beer more than horchata. Not sure if it is what it said it was going to be, but it is enjoyable. The wife liked it

 

 

Wow! I like Horchata and I enjoy a blonde ale, yet somehow I couldn’t imagine the combination. But the guys at The Bruery Store in DC suggested this and I’m sold. It captures the Horchata flavor incredibly well, but the tartness of the ale balances the sweetness. I wouldn’t drink several at once (especially at 7.2%) But what a treat!

 

Much more robust flavor-wise than most American Blonde Ales!!! I had this with dinner but it would be much better with snacks or by itself!!! Poured from a 16 oz can into a pint glass, this beer is an almost totally clear deep golden color with a bubbly white head. Head retention is about average but there is plenty of patchy lacing on the glass. Aroma and taste include some malt, cinnamon, and vanilla but the primary feature is the sweet milk/sugar or lactose. It is quite tasty even if it don't go with a lamb chop dinner!!!! Mouthfeel is rich and creamy with some nice vanilla and cinnamon spicing. The mountfeel benefits from some good carbonation, keeping it from being too much like a milk shake. This is unusual but quite good!!!

 

Very attractive glowing orange body. Smells like orange peel, cracker malt, with sweet floral hints. Taste is sweet- honey, orange cream, vanilla, just a hint of spice, and more orange cream. This is the closest beer to an orange cream soda I’ve ever had. It’s not bad, but a bit unbalanced for me— just a bit too much sweetness and a slightly artificial taste on the finish.

you got to give it credit for being different - not a lot of horchata being made in Ireland, you’d be shocked to learn i’m sure, so this is a pleasant change. I think cinnamon in beer is something i’m quite fond of now, it’s tasty in this anyway, not a lot going on the nose, mostly bready malt aromas, but it tastes quite nice, biscuit, cinnamon, vanilla, honey/honeycomb, caramel, feint bit of bitterness on the finish, light to medium bodied, light to medium carbonation, smooth, wouldn’t have a clue it’s 7+%, bonus points for standing out, but even still a nice beer

 

Canned 3/5/21

So, this a very oddly adjuncted blonde ale, coming off of a maple blonde ale last night that I was not a fan of very much. Arguably, the adjuncts here are even more out there, so I am a bit weary. However, it's The Bruery, and they've yet to disappoint me, let's hope this isn't gonna be their first time

Pours a mostly clear dark gold with 3 fingers of creamy white head that fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing

Yeah this one definitely smells strange, but it's not off putting by any means and actually quite nice, just spiced in a unique way. I'm picking up on aromas of cardamom, rice pudding, baked apple, sweet vanilla, and coconut milk

Oh wow, this is actually really good, and the adjuncts play nicely with blonde ale as a base and doesn't throw it out of balance. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting vanilla, doughy malt, honey, lemon rind and light floral hops. It really explodes on the swallow, bringing notes of creamed rice, earthy cinnamon, cardamom, caramel apple, toasted grain, bready malt, and a touch of pepper

A medium body pairs with very gentle carbonation, resulting in a rich and almost fluffy beer. Finishes off dry with a nice spice

Ok so this one was actually pretty damn good. I've never had actually horchata, but I'd love to try it. I'll definitely pick this one up again if I see it around

 

1 PINT 9.4 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a tulip glass
2017 Edition

This beer pours amber with golden highlights and a slight haze. It is topped with an inch of tan head that leaves some nice lacing.

The smell is cinnamon dessert. I get cinnamon and vanilla. The smell reminds me of a cinnamon roll.

The taste follows the smell. Cinnamon and vanilla. It has a cinnamon roll flavor more so than Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk.

Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel

Cinnamon forward beer are not my thing. This beer is pretty good, albeit old. I got it for half price. Seems about right.

 

 

Very nice! Poured from can to glass. Looks like a typical blonde ale with a soapy, expansive head that does down quickly. Aromas are attractive: bread and vanilla prominent, with some spice hiding in there. Flavor is somewhat reminiscent of apple pie, of all things: must be the crusty malt, creamy Vai, and cinnamon playing around. Creamy feel, very nice for a blonde. Would have again and again.

Pours a pleasant light copper color with a thin layer of head. Smell is very sweet, almost cloyingly so, with cinnamon clearly present on the nose. On the tongue, I can't get past the cinnamon. It's there at the beginning, middle, and end, making this beer a spicy one. Low carbonation, and medium bodied. A very different beer. Glad I tried it, but not one I'd be likely to revisit.

Pours a golden orange with slight haze - short lived bubbly white head.
Malty nose with notes of vanilla, bready/doughy, cinnamon and a slightly floral aroma.
Sweet caramel malt, cinnamon bread, somewhat floral/fruity on palate; vanilla and lactose sweetness.
Medium mouthfeel with prickly carbonation tingling tongue and leaving with a lingering malty sweetness - does build and becomes a little cloying - nonetheless an enjoyable drinking experience but suggest sharing the 16 ounce can.