Thursday, July 30, 2009

Feeding The Beast

Black Tuesday has yet to be released, but we've already got next year's batch fermenting away and we're trying to make it even bigger and better than what's already been tasted by a lucky few. Tyler pried the lid off of the fermenter in order to feed sugars and nutrients to Black Tuesday and the beer eagerly ate it up while spitting up on him like a giant baby. Luckily, this baby will eventually grow into a 20% alcohol imperial stout for us all to enjoy in October of 2010.

For those who haven't had a chance to try Black Tuesday from our tasting room, here are a couple of the reviews it is already garnering from beeradvocate and ratebeer reviewers:

One of a handful of beers I could legitimately call the best I've ever had.
-Overlord, Beeradvocate.com

Absolutely amazing. Gets better and better the more you drink. Wow.
-Mspindler, Ratebeer.com

Among, if not the best Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout/Strong Ale that's out there. If they produce it every year as they say they will, this will be a stalwart in the Top 100. I predict a perch in the Top 10 once enough people get to try it.
-Alexd3891, BeerAdvocate.com


A big big thank you to those three drinkers and to all of our loyal fans who are giving us good reviews on their beeradvocate and ratebeer accounts as well as through their blogs, publications and word of mouth. When we read reviews like the ones above or hear people's compliments, it makes us all happy to be brewing beer and gets us excited to try new things. Thanks!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Oh Hoppy Day - Firkin Friday comes early this week!

Since this coming weekend is technically it's the first of August, and because we're so excited about releasing some new beers, we've decided to go ahead and have First Firkin Friday on the 31st of July.  We think you'll be happy we did.

We will be tapping our Humulus Lager for the first time this weekend.  Prepare yourself for this India Pale Lager brewed with 4 lbs. of hops per barrel and weighing in at 7.2% ABV.  This beer is all about the hops - the lager yeast allows the hops to be in the forefront.

Also, for your enjoyment this weekend we will have not one, not two, but THREE different casks to choose from.  Each will be a pin of our new Humulus Lager with wet hops, one version with chinook, one with cascade, and one with centennial.  Thanks to Hops-Meister in Clearlake for providing fresh organic hops!

In addition, we'll have 2 different pilot versions of Mischief, a Belgian style wheat golden ale on draft - let us know which one you like best!

Not to mention we still have Black Tuesday allocations available, so come down to try it out and reserve bottles for the October release.  

It's a big weekend at the Tasting Room - hopefully we'll see you there!


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Black Tuesday

Over 3000 pounds of malt in the mash/lauter tun for Black Tuesday, this is the most we have ever had in here!

Monday, July 27, 2009

And the winner is. . .

If you could please get a mental drumroll going, we're pleased to announce the winner of the Beer & BBQ Cooking Contest. 

Bill Hemphill and his Smoked Beer & Coffee BBQ!

It was certainly a tough decision, and we had some great entries.  After much deliberation (and one very tasty evening) we landed on this creative recipe that has excellent flavor and does a great job of incorporating Black Orchard as an ingredient.  

But his wasn't the only delicious dish that came our way.  Our runners up include -

Peter Bakulic
Ron Gordon
Ryan Clark

Be sure to keep an eye out for Bill's recipe at an Orange County favorite barbeque restaurant in the near future!

Thanks to everyone who entered and participated!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Black Tuesday makes for an exciting Friday @ the Tasting Room.

There have been whispers about it for months, now here's a little background about the infamous Barrel Aged Imperial Stout that you'll have a chance to try today at the Tasting Room.


On the final Tuesday in October of 1929, a shroud of darkness swept over America as the stock market crashed for the fourth day in a row, leading way to the Great Depression.  Now, 80 years later and in the midst of our own depression, on the final Tuesday in October of 2009 that darkness is returning in the form of Black Tuesday imperial stout.

First brewed on an early morning some time ago, before the sun had the chance to rise, this stout wreaked havoc so great upon The Bruery that the day lasted long into the new moon. Wort spills, mash clogs, skin burns, stock losses and near catastrophe forcedBlack Tuesday to be shut off from humanity, bound to rest in oak barrels for well over a year. Now, after sleeping through most of the modern depression, the The Bruery has no choice but to unleash Black Tuesday upon the world.

Created on that now infamously dark Tuesday at The Bruery, using 2,500 pounds of grain, more than double any of the usual recipes, along with several different forms of sugar, Black Tuesday has grown into a massive, flavorful imperial stout that weighs in at a robust 19.5% alcohol.   Aged in bourbon barrels for over a year, this midnight black stout is full of flavor: vanilla, burnt caramel, toasted oak, licorice, prunes and sherry-like oxidation.
 
In these trying times, when all investments seem to end in tragedy, there is surely no better way to spend your hard earned money than on a bottle of deep, dark, delicious beer whose 19.5% alcohol content and smooth, sweet finish will sooth the pains when your bank goes under, you lose your job and your portfolio dives further below zero.  Plus, it’s a perfect candidate for your beer portfolio and is likely to appreciate in value with age.
 
Black Tuesday is a perfect beer to share with friends and foes alike as we make our way through this modern economic struggle.


So, now that you know a little about Black Tuesday, come to the Tasting Room today to try it and reserve your bottles.  We'll have it on draft this afternoon AND we'll be selling allocations of it.  The pre-sale price is $25/bottle (as opposed to $30 upon release, provided that there is still some left) so now's a good time to invest! 

Please keep in mind that you do have to come down to The Bruery to get your allocation, we won't be able to accommodate phone or email orders for Black Tuesday.

Don't forget, White Oak and Papier are also pouring this weekend at the Tasting Room, so a special flight will be available of those three limited release beers.  

Also, this Sunday is the final date we'll be accepting BEER AND BBQ COMPETITION entries.  The eternal glory will go to only one of you, so get your recipes in!!  Deliver your printed recipe either in person at the Tasting Room or email your entry to stef@thebruery.com.  We can't wait to see what you've got.

See you at the Tasting Room!


Monday, July 13, 2009

Autumn Maple - A Photo Journal


ON SHELVES AGAIN, THIS AUTUMN.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Time to get Yammy!

It may only be July, but here at The Bruery we're already prepping for the fall...and you know what that means...AUTUMN MAPLE!!!

Our beer that is brewed in the Thanksgiving spirit, full of freshly roasted yams, molasses, maple syrup, fresh vanilla and god only knows what else is underway in the brew house. Tyler and Brian made it to work at 3 in the morning to get started with the roasting and are somehow still going strong. Not sure how much longer they'll last, especially since we'll be brewing several more batches in the coming weeks, but so far so good.

As much as I love the summer time, I can't wait for Autumn.

Yams roasting on the bbq.

A yammy wort flowing through the lauter tun.


Thursday, July 2, 2009

Barley wants YOU for Red, White, and Brue!


As you can see, Barley is very excited about the upcoming 4th of July celebration this Saturday at the Tasting Room.  

He wanted to me to remind everyone to come by between 11am - 4pm to enjoy some special festive beers we'll be pouring and some tasty snacks that Patrick will be grilling up for everyone (he's especially excited about the snack part). 

If you can't make it Saturday, remember it's also First Firkin Friday and there's always Stimulus Sunday!  It's a big weekend at the Tasting Room, so come down and celebrate Independence Day with some Bruery beer!