White Chocolate | The Bruery
Brewed by:
The Bruery
California, United States | website
Style: Wheatwine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 14.75%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
The primary component of our "White Oak" ale is a 100% barrel aged wheat wine that we affectionately refer to as "White Oak Sap." Essentially a "summer" barley-wine style ale, but made with a wheat heavy grain base, White Oak Sap is aged in used bourbon barrels for nearly a year and comes out rich in flavors of coconut, honey, caramel and vanilla. To compliment the already rich flavors of the beer, we've added cacao nibs and vanilla beans to give this beer the delicate flavor of white chocolate...hence the name.
Added by womencantsail on 08-07-2012
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 150 | Ratings: 1,125
4.39/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750ml foiled and capped bottle into a Surly teku. Shared with schen9303.
The nose is out-of-this-world! Smells exactly like white chocolate syrup infused with bourbon. Deep, aromatic and boozy. Beer opens white chocolate, fudge, molasses and booze. Sweet and syrupy in the middle with loads of cocoa powder and vanilla bean. Finish is syrup, dark fruit, booze and more vanilla sauce. On point for sure. Body is full with low carbonation. Slick and oily in the mouth and goes down hot and oily. Sticky sweet finish.
There are a lot of "White Chocolate" beers out there but this Bruery offering blows them all completely out of the water. Never had a brew that tastes almost exactly what you'd imagine a White Chocolate beer to taste like. The vanilla is there, the chocolate is there, the booze is there and the flavor is incredible. Definitely worth having.
★ 861 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750ml foiled and capped bottle into a Surly teku. Shared with schen9303.
The nose is out-of-this-world! Smells exactly like white chocolate syrup infused with bourbon. Deep, aromatic and boozy. Beer opens white chocolate, fudge, molasses and booze. Sweet and syrupy in the middle with loads of cocoa powder and vanilla bean. Finish is syrup, dark fruit, booze and more vanilla sauce. On point for sure. Body is full with low carbonation. Slick and oily in the mouth and goes down hot and oily. Sticky sweet finish.
There are a lot of "White Chocolate" beers out there but this Bruery offering blows them all completely out of the water. Never had a brew that tastes almost exactly what you'd imagine a White Chocolate beer to taste like. The vanilla is there, the chocolate is there, the booze is there and the flavor is incredible. Definitely worth having.
★ 861 characters
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 vintage
L - Pours an amber body with a fizzy less than half finger head. No lacing or retention.
S - What's that, oh booze! Huge whiff of cocoa nibs and bourbon at the front followed by oak and vanilla. At the very back end, there is a teeny tiny acidic sharpness. Aside from the sharpness, the beer is really well balanced on the nose.
T - Sweet chocolate, caramel and malts in the beginning. Bourbon, oak and vanilla hits midway through. Straight forward taste here.
F - Thick bodied and low carbonation. Smooth/silky/velvety all the way around.
O - Such a rich and decadent beer. I definitely get the white chocolate taste The Bruery was going after. The 16.6% abv was pretty well hidden to make this an easy sipper.
★ 738 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 vintage
L - Pours an amber body with a fizzy less than half finger head. No lacing or retention.
S - What's that, oh booze! Huge whiff of cocoa nibs and bourbon at the front followed by oak and vanilla. At the very back end, there is a teeny tiny acidic sharpness. Aside from the sharpness, the beer is really well balanced on the nose.
T - Sweet chocolate, caramel and malts in the beginning. Bourbon, oak and vanilla hits midway through. Straight forward taste here.
F - Thick bodied and low carbonation. Smooth/silky/velvety all the way around.
O - Such a rich and decadent beer. I definitely get the white chocolate taste The Bruery was going after. The 16.6% abv was pretty well hidden to make this an easy sipper.
★ 738 characters
3.55/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A- Pours a deep amber to honey in color with little to no head in the glass. No lacing, but definitely some alcohol legs.
S- Hello booze! Huge bourbon and barrel scents hit the nose first, quickly followed by very sweet and boozey malts. I'm not sure I would call the overall impression white chocolate, but I would call it sweet.
T- On the tongue, this one follows the scent pretty closely. Big, boozy, and bourbon forward flavors hit the palate first. Sweet and chocolatey malts come next, and give somewhat of a white chocolate impression. The back end of the drink gives the vanilla flavor a prominent showing before the boozy flavors return to dominate and finish the drink.
M- Thick, heavy, and sticky, this hugely boozy beer is a very slow drinker. Between the booze and the heavy flavors, this one is just a beast to sit down and drink. I definitely recommend splitting this bottle with a friend.
Overall, this is your typical imperial style from The Bruery; it is huge, boozy, and a little overwhelming. I'm not entirely certain why it is called White Chocolate, because, even though it contains chocolate flavor notes, it just doesn't give the overall white chocolate impression. In the end, this is a decent beer, but nothing to write home about.
★ 1,261 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A- Pours a deep amber to honey in color with little to no head in the glass. No lacing, but definitely some alcohol legs.
S- Hello booze! Huge bourbon and barrel scents hit the nose first, quickly followed by very sweet and boozey malts. I'm not sure I would call the overall impression white chocolate, but I would call it sweet.
T- On the tongue, this one follows the scent pretty closely. Big, boozy, and bourbon forward flavors hit the palate first. Sweet and chocolatey malts come next, and give somewhat of a white chocolate impression. The back end of the drink gives the vanilla flavor a prominent showing before the boozy flavors return to dominate and finish the drink.
M- Thick, heavy, and sticky, this hugely boozy beer is a very slow drinker. Between the booze and the heavy flavors, this one is just a beast to sit down and drink. I definitely recommend splitting this bottle with a friend.
Overall, this is your typical imperial style from The Bruery; it is huge, boozy, and a little overwhelming. I'm not entirely certain why it is called White Chocolate, because, even though it contains chocolate flavor notes, it just doesn't give the overall white chocolate impression. In the end, this is a decent beer, but nothing to write home about.
★ 1,261 characters
4.66/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Pours a very clear, light red/gold with champagne-esque bubbles that dissipate very quickly. The smell is all chocolate up front with an acidic wine smell at the back. The smell has me anticipating something epic. The flavor is much like the description from The Bruery -- tons of white chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon perfectly balanced by the malty backbone and hop profile; followed up by a cider like aftertaste. The sweetness is minimal, which helps keep this drinking like a strong ale. The mouth feel is thin and dry like a white wine. The ABV isn't well hidden, but that's not a bad thing.
Overall, I'm surprised this brew doesn't receive as much love as all of their other brews. It is surprisingly complex for such a chocolate infused brew. This may be one of my favorites of theirs, and I've had a majority of them.
★ 838 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Pours a very clear, light red/gold with champagne-esque bubbles that dissipate very quickly. The smell is all chocolate up front with an acidic wine smell at the back. The smell has me anticipating something epic. The flavor is much like the description from The Bruery -- tons of white chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon perfectly balanced by the malty backbone and hop profile; followed up by a cider like aftertaste. The sweetness is minimal, which helps keep this drinking like a strong ale. The mouth feel is thin and dry like a white wine. The ABV isn't well hidden, but that's not a bad thing.
Overall, I'm surprised this brew doesn't receive as much love as all of their other brews. It is surprisingly complex for such a chocolate infused brew. This may be one of my favorites of theirs, and I've had a majority of them.
★ 838 characters
4.38/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice cognac Amber color. Aroma boozy, sweet and chocolaty. Flavor is rich white chocolate rich a little fattiness like real white chocolate. Has a smooth rich creamy body and overall I thought this was pretty cool. You can absolutely see the white chocolate in this beer.
★ 279 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice cognac Amber color. Aroma boozy, sweet and chocolaty. Flavor is rich white chocolate rich a little fattiness like real white chocolate. Has a smooth rich creamy body and overall I thought this was pretty cool. You can absolutely see the white chocolate in this beer.
★ 279 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from 2015
A: Poured into a snifter to a deep orange topped by a finger of dense white head that fades to a small collar around the edge of the glass with some lacing.
S: Smells of vanilla beans with a slight chocolate and coconut notes along with some hints of oak and bourbon. Very nice nose
T: Taste is light chocolate and vanilla with some oak and slight caramel sweetness. This is a very sweet beer on the palate. The swallow on this one is some oak with more vanilla and white chocolate flavors with a little coconut on the back end. Slightly boozy but hidden behind all the sweetness.
M: Thick and silky on the palate with soft but adequate carbonation and a dry finish from the ABV.
O: Overall a very sweet and decadent beer. This one is most definitely not infected and tastes great. Pretty high ABV at 16.6 but it carries itself well. Definitely one to try.
★ 886 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from 2015
A: Poured into a snifter to a deep orange topped by a finger of dense white head that fades to a small collar around the edge of the glass with some lacing.
S: Smells of vanilla beans with a slight chocolate and coconut notes along with some hints of oak and bourbon. Very nice nose
T: Taste is light chocolate and vanilla with some oak and slight caramel sweetness. This is a very sweet beer on the palate. The swallow on this one is some oak with more vanilla and white chocolate flavors with a little coconut on the back end. Slightly boozy but hidden behind all the sweetness.
M: Thick and silky on the palate with soft but adequate carbonation and a dry finish from the ABV.
O: Overall a very sweet and decadent beer. This one is most definitely not infected and tastes great. Pretty high ABV at 16.6 but it carries itself well. Definitely one to try.
★ 886 characters
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
My bottle was the 2015 version that came in at 16.6%. I didn't find it to boozy at all. Very rich and decadent, but fairly easy to drink. It was like a light barleywine if that was a thing.
Smells kind of odd. I have heard people mention beef jerky. I can see that a little. Almost like a teriyaki aroma. I think it is just the combination of some dark fruits along with maybe some coconut and charred smell from the barreling.
It actually tastes like white chcolate quite a bit. Very sweet with some cocoa hidden in there. I think it taste like cookie dough and marshmallows too. Also some distinct bourbon notes of wood and vanilla.
Very, very tasty beer.
★ 663 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
My bottle was the 2015 version that came in at 16.6%. I didn't find it to boozy at all. Very rich and decadent, but fairly easy to drink. It was like a light barleywine if that was a thing.
Smells kind of odd. I have heard people mention beef jerky. I can see that a little. Almost like a teriyaki aroma. I think it is just the combination of some dark fruits along with maybe some coconut and charred smell from the barreling.
It actually tastes like white chcolate quite a bit. Very sweet with some cocoa hidden in there. I think it taste like cookie dough and marshmallows too. Also some distinct bourbon notes of wood and vanilla.
Very, very tasty beer.
★ 663 characters
4.87/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This beer surpassed all expectations, this is my first Bruery beer and it was amazing. Huge vanilla on the nose and taste. Followed by nice smooth bourbon and an overall sweetness. I want more!
★ 195 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This beer surpassed all expectations, this is my first Bruery beer and it was amazing. Huge vanilla on the nose and taste. Followed by nice smooth bourbon and an overall sweetness. I want more!
★ 195 characters
4.74/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Wow. 2 hours after having a taste of Garage Brewings' Marshmallow Stout, we are now splitting this massive gem 3-ways.
Look- Looks a whiskey amber color. Head dissipated fairly quickly. Quite a bit of alcohol legs on this one.
Smell- Wow! Bourbon bomb with some chocolate notes. A lot of vanilla and some malt. Pretty much white chocolate. Good stuff.
Taste- Tastes like I dipped a Hersheys Cookies and Cream bar into a glass of fine bourbon. Quite sweet but if you were expected anything else than I don't know what to tell you.
Feel- A very slight alcohol twinge but that is to be expected. Very velvety and slick.
Overall- I feel like I am a kid being let loose in a candy store without any adult supervision. Going to cellar my second bottle for a year and revisit this. Looking forward to it.
★ 803 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Wow. 2 hours after having a taste of Garage Brewings' Marshmallow Stout, we are now splitting this massive gem 3-ways.
Look- Looks a whiskey amber color. Head dissipated fairly quickly. Quite a bit of alcohol legs on this one.
Smell- Wow! Bourbon bomb with some chocolate notes. A lot of vanilla and some malt. Pretty much white chocolate. Good stuff.
Taste- Tastes like I dipped a Hersheys Cookies and Cream bar into a glass of fine bourbon. Quite sweet but if you were expected anything else than I don't know what to tell you.
Feel- A very slight alcohol twinge but that is to be expected. Very velvety and slick.
Overall- I feel like I am a kid being let loose in a candy store without any adult supervision. Going to cellar my second bottle for a year and revisit this. Looking forward to it.
★ 803 characters
4.71/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Striking golden color, clean, and aromatic. Strong scent of butterscotch, boozy warmth on the first sip, but fades as you continue drinking. Decadent and sweet, but not syrupy. An absolutely amazing beer. Worth the $30 price tag.
★ 229 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Striking golden color, clean, and aromatic. Strong scent of butterscotch, boozy warmth on the first sip, but fades as you continue drinking. Decadent and sweet, but not syrupy. An absolutely amazing beer. Worth the $30 price tag.
★ 229 characters
4.4/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
poured into a snifter. dark orange brown, with a cola like head that quickly vanishes. leaves streaks on the glass that look like heat waves coming off a summer road.
smells of caramel, vanilla, bourbon and molasses
taste is bourbon, vanilla, caramel and malt.
extremely good beer. gets more complex as it warms. just great.
★ 336 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
poured into a snifter. dark orange brown, with a cola like head that quickly vanishes. leaves streaks on the glass that look like heat waves coming off a summer road.
smells of caramel, vanilla, bourbon and molasses
taste is bourbon, vanilla, caramel and malt.
extremely good beer. gets more complex as it warms. just great.
★ 336 characters
4.75/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
bourbon barrels for nearly a year and comes out rich in flavors of coconut, honey, caramel and vanilla. Strong white chocolate aroma...poured from a bomber into a 2 oz taster glass.
★ 181 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
bourbon barrels for nearly a year and comes out rich in flavors of coconut, honey, caramel and vanilla. Strong white chocolate aroma...poured from a bomber into a 2 oz taster glass.
★ 181 characters
4.29/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Opened a white chocolate bottled on 11/2015, poured into a tulip glass.
Look: A little lighter than I expected, poured a dark amber color, with no head.
Smell: Initially I noticed a slight smell of caramel mixed with alcohol, followed by brown sugar and vanilla.
Taste: At first I tasted a sweet boozy flavor, followed by the taste of oak, finishing with a very pleasant combination of vanilla and chocolate with an enjoyable alcoholic burn. As the beer warmed, the flavor of chocolate became more prominent.
Feel: Medium to full bodied, vinous and smooth
Overall: A sweet and somewhat boozy beer with a pleasant combination of vanilla and chocolate notes. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one will age over the years.
★ 731 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Opened a white chocolate bottled on 11/2015, poured into a tulip glass.
Look: A little lighter than I expected, poured a dark amber color, with no head.
Smell: Initially I noticed a slight smell of caramel mixed with alcohol, followed by brown sugar and vanilla.
Taste: At first I tasted a sweet boozy flavor, followed by the taste of oak, finishing with a very pleasant combination of vanilla and chocolate with an enjoyable alcoholic burn. As the beer warmed, the flavor of chocolate became more prominent.
Feel: Medium to full bodied, vinous and smooth
Overall: A sweet and somewhat boozy beer with a pleasant combination of vanilla and chocolate notes. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one will age over the years.
★ 731 characters
3.48/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Shared large 2014 bottle.
Pours slightly hazy, light orange-amber with a decent head.
Odd but not unappealing fruity and chocolaty aroma.
Tart fruit and chocolate flavor. Very tart. Subtle bourbon barrel effects.
Overall: unusual beer with an unusual mix of flavors.
★ 271 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Shared large 2014 bottle.
Pours slightly hazy, light orange-amber with a decent head.
Odd but not unappealing fruity and chocolaty aroma.
Tart fruit and chocolate flavor. Very tart. Subtle bourbon barrel effects.
Overall: unusual beer with an unusual mix of flavors.
★ 271 characters
4.7/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A - Deep, opaque, bright apricot orange body. Fine bone-white head pours a finger and a half high with ok retention and lace.
S - Holy shit. Creamy white chocolate ganache, toasted almonds, mellow honey, rich cream, and bold Madagascar vanilla beans.
T - White grapes, warm milk, smooth white chocolate, tart white peaches, vanilla milk, sweet cream, bright oak, cognac, and just a hint of soft milk chocolate.
M - Nice smoothness on a medium frame.
O - An absolutely fantastic wheatwine; the best I've ever had. The flavor profile that they build around the base style is brilliant.
★ 593 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A - Deep, opaque, bright apricot orange body. Fine bone-white head pours a finger and a half high with ok retention and lace.
S - Holy shit. Creamy white chocolate ganache, toasted almonds, mellow honey, rich cream, and bold Madagascar vanilla beans.
T - White grapes, warm milk, smooth white chocolate, tart white peaches, vanilla milk, sweet cream, bright oak, cognac, and just a hint of soft milk chocolate.
M - Nice smoothness on a medium frame.
O - An absolutely fantastic wheatwine; the best I've ever had. The flavor profile that they build around the base style is brilliant.
★ 593 characters
4.78/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
750 ml bottle, poured into a goblet
Appearance: Pours a beautiful, completely opaque, golden color, speckled with lots of orange highlights, and a quarter of a finger of white-colored head that quickly dissolved away into a thin lacing of foam that almost completely covered the top of the beer.
Aroma: Very aromatic, with lots of toasted malt, citrus, such as orange and a touch of lemon, and tons of chocolate. Such a unique smelling beer. Bright and inviting.
Taste: Wow! Delicious!! Lots of malt and wheat up front, bready and earthy, immediately followed by tons of vanilla bean, some pronounced citrus, almost a touch of sour, some candied sugar-like sweetness, nice hints of bourbon and oak, and finished by lots of earthy semi-sweet chocolate. Absolutely unique and delicious!
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and nicely effervescent as there’s quite a bit of carbonation to tickle the taste buds and lift the chocolate over the palate. With an ABV of 14.3%, there is a pleasant alcohol warmth on the palate.
Overall: This is an exceptional, totally unique and delicious beer. So many complex, layers of flavor. Bready, boozy, sour, sweet, outstanding.
★ 1,171 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
750 ml bottle, poured into a goblet
Appearance: Pours a beautiful, completely opaque, golden color, speckled with lots of orange highlights, and a quarter of a finger of white-colored head that quickly dissolved away into a thin lacing of foam that almost completely covered the top of the beer.
Aroma: Very aromatic, with lots of toasted malt, citrus, such as orange and a touch of lemon, and tons of chocolate. Such a unique smelling beer. Bright and inviting.
Taste: Wow! Delicious!! Lots of malt and wheat up front, bready and earthy, immediately followed by tons of vanilla bean, some pronounced citrus, almost a touch of sour, some candied sugar-like sweetness, nice hints of bourbon and oak, and finished by lots of earthy semi-sweet chocolate. Absolutely unique and delicious!
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and nicely effervescent as there’s quite a bit of carbonation to tickle the taste buds and lift the chocolate over the palate. With an ABV of 14.3%, there is a pleasant alcohol warmth on the palate.
Overall: This is an exceptional, totally unique and delicious beer. So many complex, layers of flavor. Bready, boozy, sour, sweet, outstanding.
★ 1,171 characters
4.14/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
thanks to tenderbranson for sharing this and stakem for procuring it. Enjoyed in a goblet from the bottle chilled.
The color is dark golden with thick haze bordering on amber with thin head that becomes beads with no lace, maybe legs sticking. The smell is strong with a smell of yeast and lots of malt some dried fruit type sweetness in the aroma with a wheat-like scent with vanilla and bourbon in the mix. The feel is creamy at first with sweet and tangy element with oak tannin and mild woody spice with slight yeast texture and moderately high alcohol mid palate with a semi-dry finish.
The feel leads to a nice flavor of wheat with strong vanilla and barrel character with the bourbon blended well in the taste with slight yeast spice and gentle alcohol increasing toward the finish. Overall this is a great barrel aged strong wheat beer with the vanilla quality enjoyable and the outcome achieves what the brewer was attempting to do well -very smooth for the strength with hardly any alcohol heat.
★ 1,009 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
thanks to tenderbranson for sharing this and stakem for procuring it. Enjoyed in a goblet from the bottle chilled.
The color is dark golden with thick haze bordering on amber with thin head that becomes beads with no lace, maybe legs sticking. The smell is strong with a smell of yeast and lots of malt some dried fruit type sweetness in the aroma with a wheat-like scent with vanilla and bourbon in the mix. The feel is creamy at first with sweet and tangy element with oak tannin and mild woody spice with slight yeast texture and moderately high alcohol mid palate with a semi-dry finish.
The feel leads to a nice flavor of wheat with strong vanilla and barrel character with the bourbon blended well in the taste with slight yeast spice and gentle alcohol increasing toward the finish. Overall this is a great barrel aged strong wheat beer with the vanilla quality enjoyable and the outcome achieves what the brewer was attempting to do well -very smooth for the strength with hardly any alcohol heat.
★ 1,009 characters
4.07/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into snifter. 2013 vintage.
A: Pours a clear caramel color with a fizzy and short lived white head that quickly faded to nothing.
S: Rich and sweet notes of vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate syrup, and bourbon with hints of leather, toffee, and slight caramel.
T: Vanilla and bourbon dominate the palate. Flavors of toffee, butterscotch, marshmallow and mild powdery chocolate follow. The finish is warming but not necessarily boozy. I get a hint of toasted coconut and sweet rock candy in the aftertaste. Bourbon is sweet and slightly spicy. Leather and mild tobacco in the aftertaste.
M: Full, thick body, tingly and fizzy carbonation, greasy and slick mouthfeel with a sharp punch from the carbonation. Booze is present and noticeable, but this beer is not hot or rough in any way.
O: Sweet and full of vanilla. Easy to drink for such a big beer, very delicious. Very mellow and complex flavors.
★ 907 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into snifter. 2013 vintage.
A: Pours a clear caramel color with a fizzy and short lived white head that quickly faded to nothing.
S: Rich and sweet notes of vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate syrup, and bourbon with hints of leather, toffee, and slight caramel.
T: Vanilla and bourbon dominate the palate. Flavors of toffee, butterscotch, marshmallow and mild powdery chocolate follow. The finish is warming but not necessarily boozy. I get a hint of toasted coconut and sweet rock candy in the aftertaste. Bourbon is sweet and slightly spicy. Leather and mild tobacco in the aftertaste.
M: Full, thick body, tingly and fizzy carbonation, greasy and slick mouthfeel with a sharp punch from the carbonation. Booze is present and noticeable, but this beer is not hot or rough in any way.
O: Sweet and full of vanilla. Easy to drink for such a big beer, very delicious. Very mellow and complex flavors.
★ 907 characters
1.43/5 rDev -65.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
Terrible. No white chocolate, no vanilla, no cocoa, no bourbon. Sour and tart. A huge disappointment. I've had an infected cacaonut and this wasn't as god-awful but it wasn't good. Most expensive drain pour I've had yet. It took me a long time to land this and it was beyond an epic disappointment. Given the choice of bein forced to drink this or my own urine, I'd pick urine. Uhh
★ 381 characters
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
Terrible. No white chocolate, no vanilla, no cocoa, no bourbon. Sour and tart. A huge disappointment. I've had an infected cacaonut and this wasn't as god-awful but it wasn't good. Most expensive drain pour I've had yet. It took me a long time to land this and it was beyond an epic disappointment. Given the choice of bein forced to drink this or my own urine, I'd pick urine. Uhh
★ 381 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle into snifter, 2012 vintage bottling. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/amber color with a small foamy white head with decent retention, that reduces to a thin ring fairly quickly. Slight spotty lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, golden raisin, pear, apple, toffee, bourbon, coconut, oak, honey, light caramel, light pepper, and bourbon/oak earthiness. Damn nice complexity and balance of pale malt, bourbon barrel, and vanilla/cocoa nib notes; with good strength. Taste of big milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, golden raisin, pear, apple, toffee, bourbon, coconut, oak, honey, light caramel, light pepper, and bourbon/oak earthiness. Slight amount of oaky bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, toffee, bourbon, coconut, oak, honey, light caramel, and bourbon/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity and robustness of pale malt, bourbon barrel, and vanilla/cocoa nib flavors; with an awesome malt/barrel balance and zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Light carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a smooth, fairly creamy, and slightly slick mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming present after the finish. Overall this is an awesome barrel aged wheatwine style. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of pale malt, bourbon barrel, and vanilla/cocoa nib flavors; and smooth to sip on slowly for the huge ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.
★ 1,556 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle into snifter, 2012 vintage bottling. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/amber color with a small foamy white head with decent retention, that reduces to a thin ring fairly quickly. Slight spotty lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, golden raisin, pear, apple, toffee, bourbon, coconut, oak, honey, light caramel, light pepper, and bourbon/oak earthiness. Damn nice complexity and balance of pale malt, bourbon barrel, and vanilla/cocoa nib notes; with good strength. Taste of big milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, golden raisin, pear, apple, toffee, bourbon, coconut, oak, honey, light caramel, light pepper, and bourbon/oak earthiness. Slight amount of oaky bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, toffee, bourbon, coconut, oak, honey, light caramel, and bourbon/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity and robustness of pale malt, bourbon barrel, and vanilla/cocoa nib flavors; with an awesome malt/barrel balance and zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Light carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a smooth, fairly creamy, and slightly slick mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming present after the finish. Overall this is an awesome barrel aged wheatwine style. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of pale malt, bourbon barrel, and vanilla/cocoa nib flavors; and smooth to sip on slowly for the huge ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.
★ 1,556 characters
4.5/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
this really is one of the most interesting and delicious beers ever made. i have had the privilege of enjoying ti a few times not, but have not gotten to write about it here until now. its a very special brew, tasting quite a bit like white chocolate, and while there has been some discussion about soured and infected bottles or batches or whatever, that has not ever been my experience. the base beer is amazing, but its almost hard to imagine the wheaty strong ale without the bourbon barrel and the additives. the bourbon character is immense here, sweet vanilla and oak and booze in nose and taste. the addition of vanilla in the process really picks up on the component of the bourbon, and the vanilla factor is consequently through the roof. the cocoa is raw and more of a cacao butter type than a chocolate in the traditional sense, giving further credence the name white chocolate. while its obviously a very strong beer, the alcohol never really gets in the way of the unique flavors, which i would say about most of these bruery strong ales. this is one of the more decadent and delicious ive ever had, so much vanilla, so nice as it warms. its luxurious and regal and i am thankful to have shared it with good friends. for me this is the final evolution of the style, i cant imagine this being improved in any way.
★ 1,326 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
this really is one of the most interesting and delicious beers ever made. i have had the privilege of enjoying ti a few times not, but have not gotten to write about it here until now. its a very special brew, tasting quite a bit like white chocolate, and while there has been some discussion about soured and infected bottles or batches or whatever, that has not ever been my experience. the base beer is amazing, but its almost hard to imagine the wheaty strong ale without the bourbon barrel and the additives. the bourbon character is immense here, sweet vanilla and oak and booze in nose and taste. the addition of vanilla in the process really picks up on the component of the bourbon, and the vanilla factor is consequently through the roof. the cocoa is raw and more of a cacao butter type than a chocolate in the traditional sense, giving further credence the name white chocolate. while its obviously a very strong beer, the alcohol never really gets in the way of the unique flavors, which i would say about most of these bruery strong ales. this is one of the more decadent and delicious ive ever had, so much vanilla, so nice as it warms. its luxurious and regal and i am thankful to have shared it with good friends. for me this is the final evolution of the style, i cant imagine this being improved in any way.
★ 1,326 characters
4.44/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
We had the infected batch and it was still very good.
It was the first bourbon barrel-aged sour I had had and it was strangely attractive to drink.
Thank god for the heavy bourbon, it really blended nicely.
★ 207 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
We had the infected batch and it was still very good.
It was the first bourbon barrel-aged sour I had had and it was strangely attractive to drink.
Thank god for the heavy bourbon, it really blended nicely.
★ 207 characters
4.45/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
White chocolate
A- pours a murky and hazy golden color with s small creamy white head that reduces to a film, leaving some lace behind
S- the aroma lived up to its name, pure white chocolate aromas with notes of toasted marshmallow, fresh cream, vanilla bean, oaky bourbon barrel, and cocoa nibs
T- slightly sweet up front with big notes of white chocolate, roasted marshmallow, cocoa nibs, oaky vanilla, a hint of bourbon and crisp wheat.
M- medium viscous body with low carbonation leads to a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a viscous finish
O- white chocolate notes are spot on, drinks like a sweet barrel aged barley wine, very good
★ 644 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
White chocolate
A- pours a murky and hazy golden color with s small creamy white head that reduces to a film, leaving some lace behind
S- the aroma lived up to its name, pure white chocolate aromas with notes of toasted marshmallow, fresh cream, vanilla bean, oaky bourbon barrel, and cocoa nibs
T- slightly sweet up front with big notes of white chocolate, roasted marshmallow, cocoa nibs, oaky vanilla, a hint of bourbon and crisp wheat.
M- medium viscous body with low carbonation leads to a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a viscous finish
O- white chocolate notes are spot on, drinks like a sweet barrel aged barley wine, very good
★ 644 characters
4.14/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Deep orange, thin white head, little lacing. Acceptable for 15% and Barrel Aged.
Aroma: Very rich and intense malt character of toffee, oak, and some cocoa nib.
Flavor: Pretty boozy up front. Lots of oaky tannins, and malt sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Lots of residual sugar to beef up the body, but thin thinned out by the booze.
Overall: Great beer, but I actually prefer White Oak for it's drinkability. The flavor is great in this one, but the heat makes it tough to put down.
★ 495 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Deep orange, thin white head, little lacing. Acceptable for 15% and Barrel Aged.
Aroma: Very rich and intense malt character of toffee, oak, and some cocoa nib.
Flavor: Pretty boozy up front. Lots of oaky tannins, and malt sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Lots of residual sugar to beef up the body, but thin thinned out by the booze.
Overall: Great beer, but I actually prefer White Oak for it's drinkability. The flavor is great in this one, but the heat makes it tough to put down.
★ 495 characters
White Chocolate from The Bruery
4.15
out of 5
based on 1,125 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Due South Brewing Co. snifter. 2015 Edition.
A- Pours a dark amber color with a 1/2 inch off-white head that retains a bit before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small center patch of sheer surface foam. Non-resilient lacing leaves tiny specs behind.
S- Rich, caramelly bourbon aroma with lots of vanilla and sweet milk chocolate held together by a blanket of oak.
T- So much going on in here. Notes of maple, malted milk balls, vanilla, bourbon and caramel. Truly creates the illusion of eating white chocolate fudge all with this boozy overtone that balances out the big sweetness. Nutty aftertaste.
M- Somewhat silky but with a sizable booze bite. Medium carbonation and a body leaning toward the fuller side.
O- Well I'll be damned, but they really made this taste like white chocolate. Though I don't actually like the taste of white chocolate as it's too rich for me, this bourbon-soaked approach to the flavor I can get down with. There's also plenty of oaky complexity to keep things interesting but this is certainly a slow sipper that I recommend sharing with friends. My first of the truly big Bruery beers.
★ 1,172 characters