Aug 3, 2012

The Bruery White Oak

I don’t believe I’ve had a beer from California-based The Bruery that I didn’t like. Each one of their interpretations of Belgian ales (Saison Rue and Mischief), barrel-aging (the company’s anniversary series) and exotic adjuncts (Trade Winds) has provided a unique and wonderful drinking experience.

White Oak, a blended ale, is no different. Comprised of the brewery’s “White Oak Sap” (a wheatwine aged for a period in Bourbon barrels) and their hopped-up Mischief, the 50/50 blend delivers an interesting array of flavors to say the least. And a beer that I would happily purchase again.

Appearance

A not-so-clear amber in color, the brew rests with a large white cap that dropped gently to patchy surface lace.

Aroma

The scent of Bourbon wafting from the rim of the glass shouldn’t be confused with the 11.5% ABV, as there isn’t much of a boozy presence to the nose — it’s there, but not as potent as one would expect based on that ABV. After the initial hit of Bourbon we’re greeted with hints of wheat, yeasty esters, grassy hops, grain and a touch of wood.

Taste

The Bourbon presence on the tongue isn’t nearly as strong as it is in the nose, but it’s definitely in the mix. Vanilla, wood, wheat and Mischief’ hops fill the mouth with layers of flavor as the beer transitions to a chest-warming finish. The beer’s sharp carbonation gives it a lively character. There’s also a little something in there that caused my tongue to tingle with a slight numbness. As stated the beer is warming, but not overly so as many beers of this potency are.

Overall

White Oak is a little sharp for my liking. I personally prefer my wheat wines a little softer on the palate, but it didn’t detract from the overall appeal of this brew. The bourbon and wood presence on the wheatwine part of the blend is wonderful — I would love to try it un-blended.

I’m a big fan of the company’s Mischief, but not sure that it’s hop profile is ideal here. It’s hop bite wasn’t overly distracting, but I’m also not sure it added all that much either. In the end, White Oak is another great release from The Bruery and if I find it again, I will be setting a bottle or two aside for later enjoyment.

Rating: 3.75/5

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