The Bruery - "Or Xata" blonde ale

Today's beer I've actually had a few times, and think it's worth diving into. It's The Bruery's "Or Xata", a 7.2% blonde ale made with rice, with cinnamon and vanilla added. The name of the beer is a rough Nahuatl approximation of "horchata", a traditional drink made with milk and spices that's popular in Latin America. In fact, the beer is intentionally meant to mimic horchata's taste.

It pours a hazy yellow color, and produces thin white foam.

In the glass, it retains that yellow color. It's pretty cloudy when candled.

Interesting, this doesn't really taste like beer. It starts out with a crisp burst of vanilla and cinnamon, and develops into a deep, luscious flavor reminiscent of rice pudding. There's a definite subtle lactose / rice flavor in there, with vanilla on the finish and a long, lingering savoriness. Very interesting.

I'm pleased. It's light, as a blonde ale should be, but the pleasant addition of spices and flavors really make it delicious and add an unusual twist - I've often seen cinnamon and vanilla in darker beers like stouts, not blonde ales. Add in the fact it's made with rice and lactose, and you've got a much smoother, deeper, almost gritty flavor - kinda like horchata!

I got this for $13.99 (for a 750mL format) at Whole Foods in DC. But this, and other The Bruery beers, are readily available at most respectable beer stores (for example, I've seen this one in D'Vines, and I know Harris Teeter carries the brand.) I highly recommend this beer since it's so unusual.