Session # 117 | The Bruery | Orchard White | 5.7% ABV
Witbier | Placentia, California | Rating: 82/100
It’s been a long time coming to have a Bruery beer on the show. It’s been an even longer time coming for us to even have a Bruery beer period. I’ve had several of their bottles sitting in my collection for a year or so, but I always seem to hold off on them for a special occasion. I guess today will be a special occasion because the Orchard White (a Belgian-style Witbier) is apparently better fresh. So here we go. As we busted the cap on this beer the insane effervescence began to push the beer up out of the bottle, forcing us to pour the beer before we really wanted to do so. Miles and miles of soft pillowy white head formed right up to the top of the glass letting us know this beer is Belgian through-and-through. The golden color is hazy but has enough bubbles screaming to the top that one might think this is a fine glass of champagne. The aroma is of Belgian yeast and…yep…LAVENDER! The taste is virtually the same and Tim pointed out its soapy character while I called out the insane amount of dryness. But the flavor was pretty much as we expected and the lavender (over time) began to wear out its welcome. So while not our favorite beer here at The Hopry, it’s certainly one we could see drinking again on the shores of southern California where it is made.
Up Next: Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock
Others: St. Bernardus Witbier, Southampton Double White, Ommegang Witte
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Zola Jesus “Sea Talk”
Thank you for your continued support. Please tell a friend…
Posted by Jon on October 22, 2010 at 11:16 AM
This was a drain pour for me. I couldn’t get through the bottle. Between the mouth feel and the taste it was like drinking a bottle of original flavor Listerine. I also had the same issue of the bottle being hot and some of the beer ended up on my counter. And just to be sure I didn’t get a bad bottle, I had this on tap at the brewery. It improved slightly, but still was not a good beer for me.
As to the Bruery’s beers I’ve tried I find their saisons and oude tart to be outstanding, but for the most part I could skip the rest. I do have a bottle of Cotton, which might make it on the tasty list and I haven’t tried Black Tuesday yet either or any of their other sours outside the Berliner Weisse. I would put the Bruery in the same category as Dogfish Head. I’m glad they are experimenting and some real gems do emerge, but for the most part their beers are “glad I tried it, lets drink something else.”
Posted by thehopry on October 23, 2010 at 8:19 AM
Hey Jon –
I’d say this beer was a bit better early on because it was a little colder. As we shut off the camera and went over to watch some football it warmed up and became way soapy. I think the base beer probably would have been great by itself, but lavender (which is drying already) became a little too predominent in the taste. Oh well…not a drain pour but I see what you’re saying…
Mark Starr
Posted by theReaper16 on October 22, 2010 at 11:36 AM
I’ve only had The Bruery’s two saisons — Saison Rue and Saison de Lente — and they were both pretty excellent. They too were very dry.
Posted by thehopry on October 23, 2010 at 8:05 AM
I actually have a bottle the Rue myself and will probably knock that one out in the next several months. Being a fan of Saisons, I have high hopes. Are you done with your book yet? COME ON!
Posted by theReaper16 on October 26, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Yeah… I wouldn’t look for that book to be done for a few years. There’s lots of travel that I need to do and lots of time to earn the money it will take to do that travel.
Posted by Bob From Indy on October 24, 2010 at 9:50 PM
A drain pour? Gimme a break man
Posted by Jon on October 26, 2010 at 1:31 AM
Yep, a drain pour. I realize that quite a few people out there like it and I’ll happily trade those people any free bottles I get for pretty much any other witbier out there. For me however it is an undrinkable beer. Tastes vary. (As the BA reviews of Creme Brulee stout demonstrates nicely.)