Introduction

Patrick Rue started off The Bruery in his kitchen, armed only with a powerful thirst and a desire to make craft beer so tasty and wild that it made people stop drinking. Rue built his own knowledge of brewing at the same time that he built a crew of passionate brew-meisters around him, eventually becoming a world-class, award-winning brewery along the California coast-line. The Bruery has no particular style that it aims for in its beers, choosing instead to let the flavours be their guiding light. They’ve relied on the starting point of many old-world recipes and styles, and then they’ve let their ingenuity and West-coast craft influence take them to where refreshing beer awaits. Dozens of beers are available in tall-boy cans from The Bruery, and the tasting room sports a dozen pulled directly from the tap for your tasting pleasure. Crack open a can and discover the secrets of a Californian legend. The Ruekeller: Dunkel is an old-school style Bavarian lager with a slightly sweet flavour of mild caramel, chocolate, and nuttiness. Serves well at 8°C and can cellar up to six months.

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How it looks

Pours a dark amber colour with a slightly murky body and low carbonation. A frothy head of caramel tinted foam pours from the can.

How it smells

Medium toasted grain and a dark, syrupy caramel aroma give this beer a heavy feeling on the nose. A slightly flowery note in the background helps to balance it out a touch.

How it tastes

The first impression of this beer is like chomping into a thick slice of spicy bread. But as the beer warms on the tongue and crosses the palate, you’ll pick up sweeter elements of molasses and sugar, but always held in check by the grains. The hops evolve on the palate, kicking the flowery element up and bringing in a touch of leafy bitterness. Together is all balances out to a taste like poppyseed loaf - sweet but grainy, and the flavours are well grounded.

Recommended food pairing

Dig into something light with a citrusy kick to help complement against the heavier, caramel drive of this beer. Ginger salmon with lemon rice would work.