White Chocolate | The Bruery
Brewed by:
The Bruery
California, United States
thebruery.com
Style: American Wheatwine Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.80%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
ABV varies by batch.
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.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,302 | Reviews: 205
4.06/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a 2017 keg aged by McK's in Daytona Beach
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a 2017 keg aged by McK's in Daytona Beach
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3.9/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2.59/5 rDev -37.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.25
Honestly. This is a weird beer. I don't know if the appeal is here. It is cloyingly sweet, and probably overly boozy. I got the white chocolate on the front, but there is a weird raspberry or fruity note on the backend that turns the whole thing off for me. Seriously, no.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.25
Honestly. This is a weird beer. I don't know if the appeal is here. It is cloyingly sweet, and probably overly boozy. I got the white chocolate on the front, but there is a weird raspberry or fruity note on the backend that turns the whole thing off for me. Seriously, no.
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4.3/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dull, semi-clear deep amber (which clears as the brew warms) with decent rising effervescence and no readily detectable particulates. The pour produces 2 fingers of beige, fine bubbled, foamy, somewhat lasting head that leaves motes and wisps of lace. Aroma is boozy wheat and honey with sweet fruity esters: apple, overripe banana, cherry, lemon, melon and possibly others I can't define; chocolate, vanilla, coconut and earth are in the background and I also detect a cereal and we'll defined sour hint. Taste is sweet, wheat with a biscuit hint and honey; fruity notes are numerous but are not as diverse as in the nose: dried apple, orange and lemon. Bourbon is detectable as is faint chocolate as is vanilla, toasted coconut and leather with spice and bitterness from the alcohol. Finishes semi-sweet, with a vinous dryness and pepper, but more heavily to alcohol and spice (the alcohol portion of which is probably responsible for the dryness). Aftertaste is fruity, alcohol spice & bitterness. Overall this is brew has a deep earthiness. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy bodied with low-moderate carbonation, thick with a syrupy, creamy feel with alcohol warmth & spice. The alcohol while easily detectable as warmth, bitterness and spice is not overly so for the high ABV.
1,281 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dull, semi-clear deep amber (which clears as the brew warms) with decent rising effervescence and no readily detectable particulates. The pour produces 2 fingers of beige, fine bubbled, foamy, somewhat lasting head that leaves motes and wisps of lace. Aroma is boozy wheat and honey with sweet fruity esters: apple, overripe banana, cherry, lemon, melon and possibly others I can't define; chocolate, vanilla, coconut and earth are in the background and I also detect a cereal and we'll defined sour hint. Taste is sweet, wheat with a biscuit hint and honey; fruity notes are numerous but are not as diverse as in the nose: dried apple, orange and lemon. Bourbon is detectable as is faint chocolate as is vanilla, toasted coconut and leather with spice and bitterness from the alcohol. Finishes semi-sweet, with a vinous dryness and pepper, but more heavily to alcohol and spice (the alcohol portion of which is probably responsible for the dryness). Aftertaste is fruity, alcohol spice & bitterness. Overall this is brew has a deep earthiness. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy bodied with low-moderate carbonation, thick with a syrupy, creamy feel with alcohol warmth & spice. The alcohol while easily detectable as warmth, bitterness and spice is not overly so for the high ABV.
1,281 characters
4.24/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Vintage 2017
A: Pours a bronze orange color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a small cap
S: Lots of chocolate, vanilla, and oak up front along with some bourbon and coconut. Quite in your face (in a good way)
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the vanilla and bourbon and then slowly picks up the chocolate and oak. Lightly sweet honey and caramel notes pop in and out. Alcohol is present but works well with the flavor profile, lends some light fruitiness, and doesn't show as nearly 13.8%. Finishes with lingering chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon
M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Surprisingly slim (not in a bad way) for such a massive beer
O: Definitely encapsulates bourbon and white chocolate. A great sipper that has done well with age (nearly 2 years on the bottle). Perfect for a holiday near the fire
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Vintage 2017
A: Pours a bronze orange color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a small cap
S: Lots of chocolate, vanilla, and oak up front along with some bourbon and coconut. Quite in your face (in a good way)
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the vanilla and bourbon and then slowly picks up the chocolate and oak. Lightly sweet honey and caramel notes pop in and out. Alcohol is present but works well with the flavor profile, lends some light fruitiness, and doesn't show as nearly 13.8%. Finishes with lingering chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon
M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Surprisingly slim (not in a bad way) for such a massive beer
O: Definitely encapsulates bourbon and white chocolate. A great sipper that has done well with age (nearly 2 years on the bottle). Perfect for a holiday near the fire
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4.11/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours amber, half centimeter of fine head.
Smells of vanilla, graham cracker, nutty.
Taste is chocolate, vanilla, slight bourbon, fruity notes on the back end.
Mouthfeel is thick and smooth. Bubbles are soft.
Overall, great riff on the strong ale/bw style. This is a really interesting beer, I'm not sure that I've had much like it. Though the price point is on the higher end, its much easier to justify when you're getting a unique experience.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours amber, half centimeter of fine head.
Smells of vanilla, graham cracker, nutty.
Taste is chocolate, vanilla, slight bourbon, fruity notes on the back end.
Mouthfeel is thick and smooth. Bubbles are soft.
Overall, great riff on the strong ale/bw style. This is a really interesting beer, I'm not sure that I've had much like it. Though the price point is on the higher end, its much easier to justify when you're getting a unique experience.
447 characters
4.64/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a slightly cloudy orangish amber with a thick white cap that recedes quickly and leaves minimal lacing. Aroma is chocolate, oak and bourbon. Flavor is rich caramel with chocolate, vanilla and bourbon. Feel is medium bodied with low carbonation. Overall a tremendous beer.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a slightly cloudy orangish amber with a thick white cap that recedes quickly and leaves minimal lacing. Aroma is chocolate, oak and bourbon. Flavor is rich caramel with chocolate, vanilla and bourbon. Feel is medium bodied with low carbonation. Overall a tremendous beer.
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4.25/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A-A nice hazy amber color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has abundant oak hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a pleasant oak flavor
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A well balanced barleywine beer with a gentle but strong kick
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A-A nice hazy amber color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has abundant oak hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a pleasant oak flavor
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A well balanced barleywine beer with a gentle but strong kick
245 characters
3.82/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
4.18/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pretty good for the first beer I’ve ever had aged in Bourbon barrels that wasn’t a stout. 2017 edition poured into my favorite Delirium Tremens themed snifter.
Beautiful light amber color, pretty good alcohol flavor with a delicious desert finish.
I still prefer stouts but this was a great introduction to the Bruery.
324 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pretty good for the first beer I’ve ever had aged in Bourbon barrels that wasn’t a stout. 2017 edition poured into my favorite Delirium Tremens themed snifter.
Beautiful light amber color, pretty good alcohol flavor with a delicious desert finish.
I still prefer stouts but this was a great introduction to the Bruery.
324 characters
4.2/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The beer pours a very nice white head with a creamy appearance. The beer itself is a sold medium amber gold that is clear. It looks really nice and has a good metallic hue to it.
The smell is absolutely fantastic. It has a good and soft cocoa note mixing with the vanilla that lasts through the whole thing and a bit of chocolate coming out underneath it all. There is a light acidic and sharp bitter lemon and citrus that is soft compared to the rest of the notes.
The taste is good. It has a fairly strong acidic and bitter citrus note. There is a light vanilla and cocoa note at the end but it's mostly the bitter citrus note that comes out.
The feel is good. It has a heavy body but feels lighter with a dry finish to it. The carbonation is fairly biting.
Overall, good but the cherry version is better in my opinion. Although, this will do in the summer.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The beer pours a very nice white head with a creamy appearance. The beer itself is a sold medium amber gold that is clear. It looks really nice and has a good metallic hue to it.
The smell is absolutely fantastic. It has a good and soft cocoa note mixing with the vanilla that lasts through the whole thing and a bit of chocolate coming out underneath it all. There is a light acidic and sharp bitter lemon and citrus that is soft compared to the rest of the notes.
The taste is good. It has a fairly strong acidic and bitter citrus note. There is a light vanilla and cocoa note at the end but it's mostly the bitter citrus note that comes out.
The feel is good. It has a heavy body but feels lighter with a dry finish to it. The carbonation is fairly biting.
Overall, good but the cherry version is better in my opinion. Although, this will do in the summer.
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3.58/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It doesn't look or smell like anything special, but the flavors are huge (and well-balanced): bourbon and vanilla with some caramel, oak, and sweet white chocolate. For such a big beer the booze is almost non-detectable. Impressive.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It doesn't look or smell like anything special, but the flavors are huge (and well-balanced): bourbon and vanilla with some caramel, oak, and sweet white chocolate. For such a big beer the booze is almost non-detectable. Impressive.
232 characters
3.76/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Had this beer on-tap at Capital Ale House - Innsbrook, poured into a snifter glass. Had a dark amber color and a hazy texture. There was a half inch of foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Not much lacing.
S: A big aroma of chocolate, malt, bourbon, vanilla, and honey.
T: Tasted of a good shot of bourbon (and the accompanying barrel), a nice bit of honey, some light vanilla notes, a tinge of caramel, lots of white chocolate, some wheat, and a hint of coconut. Like the aroma, the flavor's big and forceful, but definitely tasty. Kind of boozy (the ABV% was 16.6%), but definitely complex and likable.
F: A decent amount of carbonation with a sharp finish. Medium-bodied.
O: This is definitely not a beer for wimps. It's powerful and aggressive, but compulsively drinkable. Worth a look.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Had this beer on-tap at Capital Ale House - Innsbrook, poured into a snifter glass. Had a dark amber color and a hazy texture. There was a half inch of foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Not much lacing.
S: A big aroma of chocolate, malt, bourbon, vanilla, and honey.
T: Tasted of a good shot of bourbon (and the accompanying barrel), a nice bit of honey, some light vanilla notes, a tinge of caramel, lots of white chocolate, some wheat, and a hint of coconut. Like the aroma, the flavor's big and forceful, but definitely tasty. Kind of boozy (the ABV% was 16.6%), but definitely complex and likable.
F: A decent amount of carbonation with a sharp finish. Medium-bodied.
O: This is definitely not a beer for wimps. It's powerful and aggressive, but compulsively drinkable. Worth a look.
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4.25/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
White Chocolate from The Bruery
Beer rating:
4.17 out of
5 with
1,302 ratings
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