Last year, the team opened the Bruery Provisions in downtown Orange, a specialty market stocked with craft beer from around the world, wine, cheese and other foods. It hosts special events pairing beer with various accompaniments, like cheese, desserts and sandwiches. "With wine, there are a lot of rules on what you should pair it with," Rue says. "You'd never go to a wine dinner and get, like, a slider or sausage. Beer is more casual. But beer can also be very elegant."
On the company's third anniversary, having recently finished his 300th batch, Rue has a few projects brewing. Earlier this year, he and Rachel had their first child, Charlotte, and to celebrate, they brewed "Charlotte's Beer," a bourbon beer to be aged in dark, charred barrels until 2032, when she turns 21. He's working on another collaboration, a Japanese-inspired beer with rice and schimi togarashi (a spice mixture) that's fermented with sake yeast. He's also fiddling with grapes.
Kate Kohl Fancher
Patrick Rue holds a case of Marron acidifie at the Bruery in Placentia
Kate Kohl Fancher
Beer samples at the Bruery Provisions
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"We source them from some wonderful vineyards, typically in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County," he says, making final preparations for the party this weekend, which has a brewery list of 18 and counting. "The flavors can be an incredible combination."
After that, he's not quite sure. He often turns to his customers for ideas, with no shame and no ego. For its second anniversary, the Bruery posted a question on its Facebook page asking fans what they'd like to see in the upcoming year. The suggestions flowed: Belgian Malt Liquor aged in tequila barrels, a pairing of Dirty Beaver Juice Weekend and barbecue.
Best was the commentator who stated, "A cure for cancer, hunger and health care that works. I mean, shoot, look what you've done in just two years."
This article appeared in print as "The Brue-master: From a Placentia industrial park, Patrick Rue and the Bruery have revolutionized craft beermaking in Southern California."