The Bruery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Patrick Rue |
| Headquarters | Placentia, California , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Patrick Rue (founder) |
| Products | Craft beer, barrel-aged ales |
| Owner | Castanea Partners (majority stake since 2017) |
The Bruery is a brewing enterprise located in Placentia, California, established in 2008 by Patrick Rue. The brand name merges the founder’s surname with the term "brewery." Starting with an annual production near 2,500 barrels from a brewhouse of 15 barrels capacity, The Bruery has earned recognition for its innovative ales inspired by Belgian brewing traditions.
In May 2017, a majority ownership stake was acquired by Castanea Partners, a private equity firm based in Boston, signaling a strategic move to facilitate growth and broaden operations.
Products
The Bruery focuses on crafting experimental ales that utilize a proprietary Belgian yeast strain alongside distinctive ingredients such as coriander, bitter orange peel, and lavender, exemplified in brews like "Orchard White." Their "Pinotlambicus" blend features bacteria strains including Pediococcus and Lactobacillus combined with Pinot noir grapes. Central to their methodology is fermentation and aging in oak barrels, employing both bourbon and wine casks. Their lineup prominently includes robust bourbon barrel-aged ales with alcohol volumes ranging from 13% to 19.5% ABV, far exceeding average beer strengths.
One of their signature offerings is the bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout "Black Tuesday," which is released annually on the last Tuesday of October. The name references both the stock market crash during the Great Depression and a difficult day encountered during its initial brewing process. Black Tuesday is crafted by blending several oak-aged batches. Its inaugural release in 2009 featured an ABV of 19.5%, followed by an 18.2% ABV version in 2010. Variations include "Chocolate Rain," which incorporates cocoa nibs and vanilla beans.
Special release collection
Each year, The Bruery produces numerous limited-edition small-batch beers, many available only once. This series includes prominent selections such as Black Tuesday, Melange #3, and The Bruery Anniversary Ale Series. Among these is the acclaimed Oude Tart, which secured gold medals in the Belgian Style Lambic or Sour Ale category at both the 2010 World Beer Cup and the 2010 Great American Beer Festival.
The Bruery Provisions
In September 2010, The Bruery opened a retail outlet in Old Towne Orange offering beer, wine, cheese, charcuterie, and specialty food items for purchase and on-site tastings. The company closed this location in 2013 to focus solely on brewing activities and managing its reserve societies. Subsequently, the store reopened under the name "Provisions," operated by the nearby Haven Gastropub.