The Bruery's 2014 RS/HS Allocation Thread

Tart of Darkness with vanilla was definitely one two weeks ago. I liked it a lot.

 

Had allocations plus Grey Monday and Tart + Vanilla

-Boisfumes- too much smoke
-smooth criminal - eh
- Tumescence - best of the 3

 

The tart of darkness coming later in the year will have cherries and vanilla added

 

I was able to try the 3 new allocations, ToD+C/V and Grey Monday this afternoon. I have to preface this with a note that I have gone through several Old Ales recently and am sorta burnt out on the style at the moment. My problem, not the beer.

Tumescence: This one was very interesting. The smell was big bright Mango and some raspberry, but the flavor was quite different with some spice. Great saison flavors that were not heavy/sweet at all. Only had a taste so I am still not sure what all the secret spices are but I really enjoyed it. One of the guys behind the bar noted it will funk up nicely once the brett takes hold as well. That makes me think this one will have a great sweet spot where the fruit hasn't faded but the funk takes over a bit more and it will really get good.

Smooth Criminal: I really liked the blend. Again, I have hit a wall on heavy old ales but the blending of a lighter Saison really helped open this one up for me. Great, rich bourbon Bois flavor but doesn't quite finish as sweet/rich. The abv on this one is still high at 15% but the addition of Saison de Lente makes it much more palatable for me.

Bois Fume: Though it is an unpopular opinion I really like Rye Barrel Smoking Wood, but it is a challenge to get through a bottle with less than 3 people. Bois Fume was a nice mix of the sweeter Bois with the campy flavors of Smoking Wood. I had the same problem where I am burnt out on Old ale currently but again the mix worked really well. It both tamed down the heavy smoke and the highly sweet of SW and Bois though still beefy at 16.2%abv.

ToD+C/V: I missed this one last summer, so I was glad to see it pop up again. It turns out I really like the addition of Vanilla to sours. I had Cascade Lucky Charms once last year and was really shocked to see how well the flavor melded with a sour beer. The cocoa was noticeable but I think I would have rather gone without because there is already a lot going on in there. I always liked the original Tart of Darkness so I am pumped to see a variant bottled this time around.

Grey Monday: Still excellent. Drink it any and all times you can.

Was hoping to score and pick up my allocations this afternoon but nothing was on site yet so I will have to trek out there again tomorrow to get some Melange #9 for my B-day dinner. From what I have heard is quite exceptional. Bottle waxing was really fun too, if you have the opportunity I would recommend it. Only took like 20 minutes and you come out with some really cool bottles (I now have the fanciest gilded Mother Funker and cool blue waxed Rueze)

Cheers

 

Thanks for the in depth notes on the new allocations, it's quite helpful to have the context of why you're judging a beer a certain way, especially with something as divisive as Smoking Wood.

 

Has ToD with Cherries AND Vanilla been released before. Or are people getting them confused? I know ToD with just Vanilla has been around in the tasting room lately.

 

I should clarify my post, currently it is cocoa and vanilla (I can see c/v getting confusing). Not sure I ever saw cherry+vanilla on tap before.

 

Ahhh, makes sense. I'll be in the corner with my Dunce hat on. Either way I'm really looking forward too ToD Cherries & Vanilla.

 

June

http://www.thebruery.com/reservesociety/2014.html

 

Where do you find what's going to be on tap?

 

They post it weekly on the tasting room Facebook page, they email it to you if you sign up for their news letter, or on their web site under "Tasting Room"

https://m.facebook.com/TheBrueryTR

 

10-4, thanks!

 

In addition to what others said, if you have a smartphone, they keep their tasting room draftlist updated on the TapHunter app. The facebook page can be more up to date, but what they post on their website is just an embedded version of their TapHunter info.

 

http://www.thebruery.com/reservesociety/2014.html

Chocolate Rain Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Cacao & Vanilla January 1/7/14
Sour in the Rye Sour Rye Ale January 1/7/14
Tumescence Bottle Logic Collab - Saison w/ Mango, Raspberry & Herbs February 2/10/14
Bois Fume Blend of Anniversary ale and Smoking Wood February 2/10/14
Smooth Criminal Blend of Anniversary and Saison De Lente February 2/10/14
Filmishmish Sour blonde ale with Apricot March
Tripel Tonnellerie Barrel Fermented Tripel March
White Oak Blend of Mischief and Bourbon Barrel Aged Wheat Wine March
Rue D'Floyd Barrel Aged Imperial Porter April
Sucré 6th Anniversary Ale (Multiple Barrel Aged Versions) May
Couverteur Chocolate Dubbel June
Grey Monday Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Hazelnuts June
Sans Pagaie Sour ale with cherries (kriek-style ale) June
Smoking Wood Imperial Smoked Rye Porter - Bourbon Barrel Aged July
So Happens It's Tuesday Lower ABV version of Black Tuesday July
Oude Tart Flemish-style Sour Red Ale July
Tart of Darkness Sour Stout July
Cherry Oude Tart Flemish-style Sour Red Ale with Cherries added August
Mash Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine August
Mash & Coconut Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine with Coconut added August
Mystery Beer #1 Surprisingly Delicious September
Ignis Fatuus Pumpkin Porter September
Tart of Darkness
w/ Cherries & Vanilla Sour Stout with Cherries & Vanilla Beans added September
White Chocolate Barrel Aged Wheat Wine with Cacao nibs & Vanilla Beans September
Rueuze Gueuze-style sour blonde ale September
Black Tuesday Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout October
Black Tuesday - Rum Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Stout October
Barrel Aged
6 Geese-A-Laying Barrel Aged version of 6 Geese-A-Laying November
Mélange #3 Blend of 3 different Bourbon Barrel Aged ales November
Mélange #1 Blend of Black Tuesday and Oude Tart December
Oaked Old Richland Oaked English-style Barleywine December
Mystery Beer #2 Surprisingly Declcious December

 

To those who had their Melange#9 orders reversed, have you received a refund yet?

 

Not yet for me. Last time they issued a refund it took about 7-10 days to process (which is a while.) I would start calling next Monday at the earliest, definitely by the end of next week.

 

Any Hoarders had Melange #9 on tap this week and care to share tasting notes/thoughts?

 

I had it on Monday, it's basically SitR w/ Coconut. The White Oak Sap, coconut, and ginger is subdued, had to really let it warm up before it came through. The fruit in Kumquat and Peach is way more pronounced than the fruit in M9. I guess I was expecting the White Oak Sap to come through more on the front and the fruit to add to the finish. Still a great sour and cheers to the group that won at the blending session.