Mélange No. 3
The Bruery

2011 Vintage

A: opaque; cola brown in color; with a fairly aggressive pour, a moderate tan collar that receded quickly to a thin collar; no lacing;

S: brown sugar, oak, and leather; boozy in the best way possible;

T: sweet throughout - no bitterness; brown sugar and boozy raisins all the way through the long aftertaste; some oak toward the finish;

M: medium bodied; almost no carbonation; dry finish; hides the ABV extremely well;

O: really good aroma and flavor - they’re both intense; the dry finish made the beer even better; wish I’d gotten to this bottle while there was still carbonation;

2012 Vintage
750ml bottle poured into a snifter

A- pours brown in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a thin ring around the glass

S- aroma is a bit muted up front. As it warms, notes of brown sugar, caramel, figs, raisins, light oaky bourbon, hint of leather

T- sweet malty notes of brown sugar, caramel and toffee up front, followed by dark fruit flavors of raisins, booze soaked figs and plumbs. Barrel starts to emerge, adding oaky bourbon, vanilla and a hint of coconut. The finish gives more sweet malty caramel and toffee, with a linger of barrel and dark fruit

M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly creamy into

 

Look - Pours a clear dark brown color with a head that disappears very quickly.

Smell - Smell is interesting, Dark fruit, molasses, bourbon, spice, malt. and wheat bread.

Taste - Taste follows the nose, with dark fruit, molasses, bourbon, spice, and malt.

Feel - Feels nice at 15%ABV. Good carbonation and nicely smooth.

Overall - A very good strong ale. One of the better ones I've tried.

 

 

 

 

Although a beer of this magnitude deserves a special occasion, there is no particular reason I've opened this other than I had forgotten I had it in storage and discovered how highly it's rated within the style. 750ml poured slowly and spaced out over several hours as to not get slammed by the high ABV%. Etched onto the bottle is "#100 10/28/13" and the label clearly states that this is the 2013 Edition at 16.8%. Cannot believe I'm drinking this at over 10 years old, especially after opening, pouring, and taking that first sip realizing it has survived and thrived. At this point it has fully warmed to room temperature and therefore the aroma is explosive. Brown bread, caramelized sugar, browned butter, wet wood, whiskey barrels, basically just the nasal hit of a barrel-aging room. Still quite boozy and extremely rich. Similar in the flavor with a heavy presence of buttery bourbon barrel and a warming booze presence in the finish. A bit sweet but also quite earthy throughout. A true sipper, this is almost not a beer but a spirit. Has aged gracefully and drank beautifully. The definition of the style and a masterful blend.

 

From the 750 ml bottle in a snifter via Bluejacket74! Cheers Brother!
This exceptional ale (17.7 2024 version) pours a murky dark blackish
red tinged brown with a decent head of khaki foam that settles to a thick
ring, thin swirling layer, and sports some light lacing and some mighty fine legs.
Nose of oak, bourbon, chocolate, toffee, brandy, and astringent booze. Flavors....
oh my. Oak dances about layers of bourbon, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, vinous brandy,
and a bevy of dark fruit including cherry, blackberry, and blueberry, and strawberry jam.
Mouth feel is medium, light carbonation, smooth, very warming, very inviting, and
finishing lightly dry.

Of note, warmth gives rise to fig and date notes.

Overall...a stunner again from the good Bru folk. Excellent
marrying of flavors with exceptional balance.

A HUGE thanks to Bluejacket74, this one makes my Birthday that much better!

Cheers

Mélange No. 3 pours a dark brown with a tiny head. The aroma is robust, with lots of bourbon and oak. The flavor is lovely, thick, and sticky, and it has a maple, oak, and chocolate flavor. Good feel. Overall, it is a very complex beer with lots going on. It's very "sophisticated" and a good sipper.

 

2017 version poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter. Subtly sweet. There is a slight tartness from the wheat wine I presume.

A 750ml bottle, 2017 edition, bottled on 1st February 2017. Poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: A cloudy brown colour with an orange tint and a one finger beige/khaki head that dissipates fairly quickly, while leaving some sparse spotty lacing.

Aroma: Sweet, caramel, toffee, molasses, bourbon, dark fruit, raisins, prunes, chocolate, oak, vanilla, with light coconut notes.

Taste: As you’d expect from the aroma, sweet, bourbon, caramel, toffee, molasses, chocolate, dark fruit, raisins, prunes, oak, vanilla, and a splash of coconut and orange.

Mouthfeel: Full to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.

Overall: An enjoyable sipper, with great aromas, but perhaps a touch too sweet for my palate.

Type: 750-ml. bottle
Reviewed as: American Strong Ale
Glass: Pure Project 16-oz. brandy snifter glass
Price: $15.00
From: From a Facebook San Diego beer trading group
Purchased: Dec. 29, 2020
Consumed: Jan. 8, 2021
Misc.: Bottled on Sept. 16, 2015

Picked this up from someone from a San Diego beer trading group when he was trying to get rid of some stuff. Bought this one for $15 and another for $10. The main reason I bought this one was that I had it twice before, giving each taster a 4.25 on Untappd (Nov. 8, 2015 and Feb. 12, 2016) at The Bruery in Placentia, Calif. Online description I found read “Mélange #3 is a blend of three bourbon barrel aged strong ales. White Oak Sap, a wheat wine, our Anniversary Series old ale and our imperial Stout, Black Tuesday, join forces in this luxurious strong ale that links some of the best characteristics of each of the contributing beers. Chocolate, dark fruits, oaky vanilla and rich toffee-like character reach through the bourbon veneer for an intensely satisfying quaff.”

Poured a very dark color with two fingers of frothy khaki-tan frothy head. Calm setting underneath with no noticeable head. Below average watery lacing. Bad retention. (Sight - 3.25)

Smelled leathery oak, boozy bourbon, crayon, caramel, toffee, milk chocolate, brown sugar, maple syrup, sticky molasses, dark fruit, date, cocoa and hints of coconut. Was getting most of that 17.3 pct. ABV. Much smoother out of the bottle. Got so much better as it went down. Crazy because probably started at a 4 and moved to a 4.5. (Smell - 4.25)

Unlike the nose, the taste was nowhere near 17.3 pct. ABV. Got chewy caramel, toffee, leathery oak, milk chocolate, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, sticky molasses, smooth bourbon, chocolate syrup, cocoa and some coconut. (Taste - 4.50)

Full body. Sticky texture. Soft carbonation. Long, smooth, warming finish. (Feel - 4.75)

Just another solid offering from The Bruery. Excellent. (Overall - 4.25)

4.34 | 96 | A

Generous BD gift from beer geek pals! No date on the label or etched in the bottle. Its15% which I believe puts it circa 2011 or so.
Look: well, Black and Tan. Very little head as expected.
Smell: butterscotch, toffee, dark fruit.
Taste: like the nose. Gonna steal my buddies take….caramel whiskey!