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The forecast is 100%.

Chocolate Rain began as a single cask of craft beer at the first Black Tuesday release event at The Bruery in 2009. For nearly two years, the legend and pent up demand for this revered imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels with cacao nibs and vanilla beans, continued to grow. In 2011, that enthusiasm was bottled up, wax-dipped and released exclusively to members of The Bruery Reserve Society.

The Bruery has since drizzled Chocolate Rain to members of its beer Societies over the years. In 2017, there’s not only a chance of rain in select circles. In fact, this March, it’s going to pour for all. Today, The Bruery is releasing details on the first ever public release of Chocolate Rain, taking place on Friday, March 24, 2017.

About the Beer

Chocolate Rain is a decadent bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, featuring cacao nibs from TCHO and fresh vanilla beans. Rich in chocolate, vanilla, oak and bourbon, it truly puts the “imperial” in imperial stout. The 2017 edition is 19.6% ABV. An ideal beer to share, it pairs rather well with cacao nib gelato, Sartori Peppermint BellaVitano cheese, roasted pecans, cocoa chili-rubbed tenderloin and a memorable song. Over a year in the making, each 750-ml. bottle is wax-dipped and retails for $39.99.

Public Sale Details

The public sale will take place on Friday, March 24 at or around 10:00 a.m. PT on TheBrueryStore.com and at our Tasting Rooms (The Bruery Tasting Room and Bruery Terreux Tasting Room) upon opening at noon. Special, limited edition merchandise will also be available. There is a three bottle limit per person. All sales are first-come, first-served.

Members of the company’s Reserve Society and Hoarders Society will enjoy early, guaranteed access – and the highest number of bottles available to them for purchase, at their Society discount – during an allocations period that begins on Monday, March 6. Members of the Preservation Society will enjoy guaranteed access to three bottles of Chocolate Rain (2017) starting on Tuesday, March 14. Space is currently available to join the Preservation Society if you don’t want to leave your acquisition of this limited release to chance on the day of the public sale.

Three Options for Getting Bottles in-Hand

1. Ship Within California

Any beer purchased by the general public on TheBrueryStore.com, including bottles of Chocolate Rain on March 24, must be shipped. Shipping is available (for an additional fee), only in California, through Golden State Overnight. An adult, 21 years of age or older, must be present to receive and sign for the delivery. The first 500 shipments from The Bruery will include a specially-selected chocolate from TCHO to pair with the beer.

2. Purchase Directly at the Tasting Rooms

Bottles will be available to purchase first-come, first-served at both The Bruery Tasting Room and Bruery Terreux Tasting Room upon opening at noon on Friday, March 24. Chocolate Rain (and other treats) will also be available on tap for in-house consumption.

3. Pickup for Society Members

Society members enjoy the perk of climate-controlled storage and pickup of online purchases from our Society Fulfillment Center. Reserve and Hoarders Society members have until February 28, 2018 to pickup purchases from the 2017 calendar year. Preservation Society members have until June 30, 2017 to pickup any purchases made during the first quarter of 2017, including Chocolate Rain (2017) purchased this March.

Consider joining the Preservation Society to enjoy these pickup perks and more. Membership includes a number of other benefits, including the First Quarter Preservation Society package, which will feature:

M ocha Wednesday (2017) – our bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout with coffee and cacao nibs.

A limited, experimental beer from The Bruery to be announced later this week (keep an eye on The Bruery Facebook page for the post.)

Beret with Peaches and Vanilla – an imperial sour witbier with spices aged in oak with raspberries, peaches and vanilla from Bruery Terreux.

Details subject to change.

About The Bruery

Founded in 2008, The Bruery is a small, innovative craft brewery located in Orange County, CA that is family-owned and operated with CEO, Founder, and Master Cicerone® Patrick Rue at its helm. The Bruery produces barrel-aged and experimental beers, while Bruery Terreux®, launched in 2015, focuses on fermenting beer with wild yeasts and souring bacteria.