Black Orchard | The Bruery

3.55/5  rDev -1.1%

4/5  rDev +11.4%

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

4/5  rDev +11.4%

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%

2/5  rDev -44.3%

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pulled from the cellar. If I knew it was no longer brewed I might've left down there!
750ml
A) Pours with a finger thick head then settles to about half an inch and keeps. Tan colored lacing across the top. Opaque body. Sticky lacing on the drink down.
S) Classic Belgian notes - yeasty, raisin. Roasted grains.
T) Smoky. Hints of coffee. Raisin.
M) Medium light body. Chewy. Alcohol warmth.
O) An alright brew. As the label says its a twist on a witbier, but the style is a Belgian Dark Ale. I would say it falls somewhere in between but closer to a witbier with some dark grains thrown in for coloring.

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3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

3.52/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Sloeber tulip glass.

Was it really necessary to bring race into this? Regardless, this stuff pours a dark black-brown topped by a finger or so of light khaki foam. The nose comprises dark fruits, clove, cardamom, light black pepper, a hint of cocoa powder, and a bit of toast. The taste brings in more of the same, with the fruits and spices trading haymakers against my tongue, all under the supervision of stronger bits of cocoa and toasted rye bread. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid-ish feel. Overall, imagine a witbier that had turned to the dark side in every way. You've got this here thing. It's pretty good, though not really something I'm gonna get very often in the future.

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3/5  rDev -16.4%

3/5  rDev -16.4%

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%

4/5  rDev +11.4%

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Bottle (2008)

Thanks for sharing this with me, Alucard4!

(Aged for 4+ years)

This one's a gusher! Be ready!

Very dark brown but not quite black in color. Lots and lots of visible carbonation--a huge, persistent, small-bubbled head. Leaves the glass messy with irregular stick. Pretty enough.

Earthy aroma along with some definite citrus zest and some very mild banana and clove characteristics. This doesn't smell nearly as old I would have imagined it would, though there's a bit of musk character to it--it actually comes together somewhat nicely.

The flavor is similar to the aroma, with brown banana bread crusts combining with earth, citrus zest, some very mild funk, and spice character.

Medium bodied with high carbonation.

I never though I would get to try this one. Happy for the opportunity, though once is enough.

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