The Bruery Tart of Darkness 375ML is an oak-aged sour stout brewed by The Bruery Terreux in Placentia, California, bottled at approximately 5.6–7.6% ABV depending on batch. Scoring a 95 in blind judging by BJCP panelists for Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, this release helped define the sour stout category and remains one of the most acclaimed examples of the style produced in the United States.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~5.6–7.6% (batch-dependent)  |  Origin: Orange County, California, USA  |  Style: Oak-Aged Sour Stout  |  Brewery: The Bruery Terreux

Production & Heritage

The Bruery Terreux is the wild and sour arm of The Bruery, based in Placentia, California. Tart of Darkness begins life as a traditional stout, then undergoes a distinctive two-stage barrel process: primary fermentation and souring take place in large oak puncheons inoculated with a proprietary blend of souring bacteria and wild yeast cultures. After this slow, active fermentation, the beer is transferred into a dedicated collection of used oak barrels — many of which previously held iconic Bruery beers like Black Tuesday and Cuivre — for extended aging. This layered approach marries wild fermentation character with bourbon-barrel complexity atop a dark malt backbone, distinguishing Tart of Darkness from single-vessel sour stouts.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sour cherries and roasted malt rise first, followed by waves of dark chocolate, oak, and sweet toffee. A subtle brett funkiness weaves through, carrying brandied fruit and lemony acidity beneath the roast.

Taste: The entry is a rounded molasses-like bittersweet stout character that quickly bridges into dark stone fruit, fig, and date. A tinny, funky tartness balances the sweetness at mid-palate, while tart plum, roasted coffee, and vanilla from the oak aging emerge as the beer opens up. The interplay between sour intensity and dark malt depth is remarkably well-integrated.

Finish: A light char note arrives alongside baker's chocolate and lingering sourness. The finish is dry and tart with persistent roast and oak tannin that slowly fade.

How to Drink Tart of Darkness

Serve at cellar temperature (50–55°F) in a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the complex aromatics. This beer is best enjoyed on its own, sipped slowly to appreciate each evolving layer. For cocktail-adjacent exploration: use it in a Black Velvet variation by topping with dry sparkling wine to amplify the tartness; try a Shandy-style blend with fresh tart cherry juice for a fruit-forward summer drink; or incorporate it into a Beer Float with vanilla bean ice cream, where the sourness cuts through the richness in a way traditional stouts cannot.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who collects barrel-aged releases
• Pairing alongside a multi-course dessert tasting
• Introducing an experienced beer drinker to the sour stout style
• Cellaring for vertical tastings across different batch vintages

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tart of Darkness taste like? Tart of Darkness delivers a complex blend of sour cherry, dark stone fruit, and fig layered over a roasted coffee and dark chocolate stout backbone. The tartness is assertive but balanced, finishing dry with baker's chocolate and light char.

How does Tart of Darkness compare to Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura? Both are oak-aged sour stouts, but Madrugada Obscura sits higher at 8.1% ABV with a Belgian-inspired profile and more pronounced sweetness. Tart of Darkness leans into aggressive souring with a lighter body, letting the wild fermentation and bourbon-barrel character take the lead over residual stout sweetness.

Is Tart of Darkness good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its layered complexity of tartness, roast, and barrel character rewards slow, contemplative drinking at cellar temperature in a tulip glass or snifter.

Where is Tart of Darkness made? Tart of Darkness is produced at The Bruery Terreux in Placentia, California, located in Orange County. The Bruery Terreux is the dedicated wild and sour production facility operated by The Bruery.

What foods pair well with Tart of Darkness? Dark chocolate truffles echo the beer's cocoa and roast character. Smoked brisket matches the oak and char notes. Blue cheese such as Roquefort bridges the sour and funky brett elements. Fig-and-walnut tarts mirror the stone fruit and nuttiness, while a rich mole sauce finds common ground in the beer's layered bittersweet complexity.

What sizes does Tart of Darkness come in? The standard release format is a 375ml bottle, which is The Bruery's preferred size for many of its barrel-aged and sour offerings.

Is Tart of Darkness worth the price? Tart of Darkness positions as a premium craft release, justified by its two-stage barrel-aging process, limited-format 375ml bottling, and consistently high critical scores including a 95 from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine and a 94 on BeerAdvocate.

Why Tart of Darkness?

Few beers have done more to legitimize the sour stout as a standalone style. The two-stage barrel process — souring in large oak puncheons, then extended aging in bourbon barrels that previously held beers like Black Tuesday — creates a depth of flavor that single-vessel sour stouts struggle to match. With a 95 from BJCP blind judging, a 94 on BeerAdvocate from over 2,500 ratings, and a 4.3 on Untappd from more than 10,000 reviews, Tart of Darkness has earned its reputation through broad critical consensus rather than hype alone. It stands as a benchmark release for anyone serious about exploring the intersection of dark malt and wild fermentation.