Créme Bruelay
The Bruery

Review: 2553
Name: Creme Bruelay
Brewery: The Bruery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: Barrel-Aged Barleywine
ABV: 15.9%
Canned: 12/20/2021
Date: 06 February 2026
I decided to dig into my cellar and pull out this beer. I am using a tulip glass at 54 degrees. The color is dark brown with rusty red hues, opaque, and chart at SRM 30. The pour created a frothy, airy one-fingered head with poor retention. The quick dissipation left nothing on top of the liquid. The appearance is straightforward, but the inviting color hints at the beer's depth and richness.
Nosing the glass, I smell bourbon, brown sugar, oak, figs, vanilla, dates, stone fruits, caramel, toffee, medium-roasted coffee, char, raisins, and molasses. Reassessing, I notice earthy, bready, dark toasted bread crust, and malty sweetness, which add depth to the aroma profile.
The flavors start with bourbon, raisins, caramel, toffee, medium-roasted coffee, molasses, light chocolate, figs, oak, and char. As I sip again, the malty sweetness, leather, brown sugar, dates, vanilla, bready notes, dark toasted bread crust, and earthiness emerge, creating a layered tasting experience.
The mouthfeel is slightly chewy, finishing warm. The body is medium-plus, with low carbonation.
Final Impressions: Creme Bruelay is a bold, aged barleywine with prominent bourbon, caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors. Its rich profile makes it a compelling choice for those who enjoy bold, aged beers.

750ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours chestnut brown in color with a hint of ruby hue, one finger foamy off white head reduces to a ring

S- malty and boozy nose with the base beer giving aromas of raisin, figs and brown sugar. Caramel and toffee emerge, along with vanilla beans. The barrel adds a peppery note along with bourbon

T- malty and sweet caramel and toffee up front is quickly followed by dark fruit notes of booze soaked raisins, figs and dates. Mid-palate brings out peppery oak and a hint of marshmallow cream. the finish is salty with dark fruits and oaky peppery bourbon barrel on the linger

M- medium viscous body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly syrupy into a warming finish

750 ml bottle into a snifter. Labeled a 2021 release, bottled 12/22/20, had 9/16/23.

Pours a semi opaque medium amber color, with a half inch foamy head and light foamy lacing. Aromas of vanilla, caramel, bourbon, marshmallow. Smells somewhat creamy and a little saline. Flavors of vanilla, bourbon, caramel, malt, marshmallow, a little salt. Has a creamy flavor. Smooth, a very good medium body, appropriately carbonated.

Focused, but delicious. The vanilla and caramel shine and there’s a solid barrel presence. Really enjoyable.

750 mL bottle into a snifter

Dark nut brown color, light viscosity for the style, effervescent. Tons of caramel and vanilla in the bouquet, with plenty of oak and booze. Flavors follow, but there’s a bit of cloying sweetness from the added dulce de leche…got a bit of a burnt sugar thing going on. Mouthfeel’s a little thin…needs a bit more velvety unctuousness for the flavors to really pop. Still, it’s the Bruery and if you’ve never had their beers you’d think this was something from another planet. Reviewing on a curve here…

 

On tap at the bruery. Pours a murky light brown. Nose is yeast, toffee, salted caramel, vanilla, marshmallow, and chocolate. Taste is similar to nose. Tons of salted caramel, chocolate, figs, raisins, vanilla ice cream, and fudge. Amazing!