The Bruery Adding Cacao Culprit Stout

Today brings big news out of The Bruery in Placentia, California, as the brewery prepares to release a decadent new barrel‑aged imperial stout that is destined to light up the craft‑beer world. This latest creation is Cacao Culprit, a bold, dessert‑leaning, high‑gravity stout aged in a blend of Four Roses Bourbon barrels and Elijah Craig Bourbon barrels, then finished with Ghana cacao nibs and Madagascar vanilla beans for maximum richness, intensity, and flavor saturation.

Fans of The Bruery’s Black Tuesday lineage, barrel‑aged pastry stouts, and big, sweet, adjunct‑driven imperial stouts will immediately recognize the DNA here. Cacao Culprit is engineered to deliver the full spectrum of Bourbon‑barrel character, deep chocolate complexity, and luxurious vanilla sweetness that The Bruery has become famous for.

A Dessert‑Forward Barrel‑Aged Imperial Stout Built for Maximum Flavor

Cacao Culprit begins with a massive imperial stout base, brewed to support layers of chocolate, roast, caramelized sugars, and dark fruit. After fermentation, the beer is aged in a dual‑barrel program featuring Four Roses Bourbon barrels and Elijah Craig Bourbon barrels, two of the most respected names in American whiskey. This blend infuses the stout with notes of:

• Toasted oak
• Warm Bourbon spice
• Caramel and toffee
• Vanilla and char
• Deep spirit‑driven complexity

Once the barrel aging is complete, The Bruery loads the beer with Ghana cacao nibs, known for their bold, bittersweet chocolate profile, and Madagascar vanilla beans, prized for their creamy, aromatic, high‑impact vanilla character. The result is a sweet imperial stout that leans heavily into dessert territory while still showcasing the depth and structure of its Bourbon‑barrel backbone.

A Massive 15.7% ABV Stout Designed for Sipping, Sharing, and Cellaring

Cacao Culprit “melts in” at a huge 15.7% ABV, placing it firmly in the realm of ultra‑big, ultra‑rich, high‑ABV imperial stouts. This is the kind of beer built for slow sipping, long aging, and special‑occasion enjoyment, a stout that rewards patience, temperature rise, and extended time in the glass.

Packaged in The Bruery’s Signature 12.7‑oz Bottles

The Bruery will package Cacao Culprit in its iconic 12.7‑oz bottles, the preferred format for many of its most sought‑after barrel‑aged releases. These bottles have become synonymous with limited‑edition imperial stouts, adjunct‑heavy dessert beers, and high‑gravity Bourbon‑barrel projects from the Placentia brewery.

Stay Tuned for Official Release Details and Full Tasting Notes

The Bruery will announce full release details, allocation information, and tasting notes soon. Given the combination of Four Roses barrels, Elijah Craig barrels, Ghana cacao nibs, Madagascar vanilla, and a 15.7% ABV imperial stout base, Cacao Culprit is poised to become one of the standout barrel‑aged stout releases of the year.

Expect a beer loaded with:

• Intense chocolate from Ghana cacao
• Creamy vanilla from Madagascar beans
• Deep Bourbon character from dual‑barrel aging
• A thick, sweet, dessert‑like stout body
• A long, warming finish befitting its 15.7% ABV

More details coming soon as The Bruery prepares to roll out this decadent, high‑impact addition to its lineup of barrel‑aged imperial stouts.

Label Text The Bruery Cacao Culprit:

“The ultimate chocolate heist. Cacao Culprit was caught red‑handed with Madagascar vanilla and a massive amount of Ghana cacao nibs. Aged in Four Roses bourbon barrels and Elijah Craig bourbon barrels, this viscous stout is thick, sweet, and deceptively smooth. Pairs perfectly with a smoked gouda grilled cheese. Resistance is futile.”

About The Bruery:

The Bruery is a craft brewery located in Orange County, CA, known for innovative, inspired, taste-forward beers that push the boundaries of what beer can be. Along with two Tasting Room locations in Orange County, and a store in Washington D.C., The Bruery runs three beer premium beer clubs: The Preservation Society®, The Reserve Society®, and The Hoarders Society®. The Bruery offers direct to consumer delivery across CA, DC, PA, VA, VT, ND, OH, and NH, along with national distribution in 29 states.

To understand what makes The Bruery truly special, you first have to understand how we started: just Patrick Rue in his kitchen with a thirst for knowledge and a passion for how interesting beer can be. It was his passion and insatiable curiosity that led him to open a brewery, build a team of world-class like-minded brewers and eventually earn the title of Master Cicerone. This unique combination of unwavering creativity, unquestionable expertise, and relentless innovation, drive us to craft beers that quite frankly, might change the way you think about beer.

Taste Over Style
This really sums up our brewing philosophy. We never shoot for a specific style, instead we let taste act as our compass. We take our inspiration from the culinary world, traditional beer styles, natural ingredients, vineyards and even junk food, but wherever that journey takes us – taste is our guide.

Like Nothing You’ve Ever Tasted Before

This is our promise, and our goal. Every time you open a beer from The Bruery, we love to see the wow on your face, and the “how’d they do that?” in your eyes. Ultimately we believe this experience just makes live a little bit more interesting. Our beers spark conversations, complement meals, and bring people together. They might even change the way you think about beer.

Where The Bruers Relax
Offshoot is what The Bruers drink when they’re off the clock. Nothing better to help you Relax, Escape, Retreat, or Coast. 

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