The Bruery Mischief 4Pk

The Bruery Mischief 4-Pack is a Belgian-style golden strong ale brewed in Placentia, California, at 8.5% ABV, sold in a four-pack format. This bottle-conditioned ale earned a Gold Medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category, solidifying its reputation as one of the stronger American interpretations of the Belgian golden strong tradition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.5%  |  Origin: Orange County, California  |  Style: Belgian-Style Golden Strong Ale  |  Brewery: The Bruery

Production & Heritage

The Bruery operates out of Placentia in Orange County, California, and has built a devoted following for its Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged beers. Mischief is built on a grain bill of 100% domestic 2-row pale malt, which accounts for roughly 85% of fermentables, with the remaining 15% coming from added sugar — a technique borrowed directly from Belgian brewing tradition to lighten the body and boost drinkability despite the elevated alcohol. The beer is dry-hopped with Sterling, Summit, and Centennial hops, fermented with The Bruery's proprietary house Belgian yeast strain, and finished through 100% bottle conditioning, allowing natural secondary fermentation to develop carbonation in the bottle.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Floral hop character leads, followed by bright citrus peel, ripe melon, and a subtle peppery spice from the Belgian yeast. A light grainy sweetness sits underneath without dominating.

Taste: The entry delivers grapefruit and orange citrus alongside pine resin, transitioning at mid-palate into ripe pear and light tropical fruit. Peppery yeast phenolics and a faint clove note weave through, while a grainy malt sweetness and touch of caramel provide balance against the assertive hop bitterness.

Finish: Crisp and decidedly dry, with lingering grapefruit pith and earthy hop bitterness that slowly fades. The high carbonation from bottle conditioning keeps the finish clean despite the 8.5% ABV.

How to Drink Mischief

Serve Mischief in a tulip glass at 45–50°F to let the aromatic complexity open up; pouring with moderate vigor helps develop the characteristic Belgian head. The beer stands on its own without garnish. For food-forward pairing, treat it like a dry white wine — its carbonation and bitterness cut through richness effectively. A Belgian Beer Shandy works well with fresh lemon juice to amplify the citrus profile. A Mischief Michelada using hot sauce, lime, and Worcestershire leans into the peppery yeast character. For a simple Beer Spritz, combine a half-pour with sparkling water and a grapefruit twist to create a lower-ABV session serve.

Best For

• Introducing hop-forward drinkers to Belgian-style brewing traditions
• Summer cookouts where a strong golden ale with dry-hopped complexity outperforms standard lagers
• Gifting to craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate bottle-conditioned ales
• Cellaring short-term (6–12 months) to see how the hop character evolves against the yeast profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mischief taste like? Mischief delivers bold grapefruit, pine, and orange hop flavors layered over ripe pear and peppery Belgian yeast spice, finishing crisp and dry with lingering citrus pith bitterness.

How does Mischief compare to Boulevard Tank 7? Both are American-brewed Belgian-style golden strong ales at similar ABVs, but Mischief leans more heavily into American dry-hopping with its Sterling, Summit, and Centennial hop bill, while Tank 7 tends toward a more restrained, yeast-forward character with a sharper, drier edge. Mischief's bottle conditioning also gives it a different carbonation texture compared to Tank 7's force-carbonated profile.

Is Mischief good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the combination of complex hop aromatics, Belgian yeast character, and a dry finish makes Mischief a strong standalone sipper, best enjoyed slowly from a tulip glass at cellar temperature.

Where is Mischief made? Mischief is brewed by The Bruery at their facility in Placentia, located in Orange County, California. The brewery is known primarily for Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged beers.

What foods pair well with Mischief? Mussels and frites work naturally, as the carbonation and bitterness cut through the briny richness. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese complements the malty sweetness. Herb-roasted chicken mirrors the floral and peppery notes. Thai green curry matches the beer's spice and citrus profile. Lemon tart provides a dessert pairing that echoes the citrus hop character without clashing with the dry finish.

What sizes does Mischief come in? Mischief is commonly available in a four-pack format and has historically been offered in 750ml bottles as well.

Is Mischief worth the price? Mischief positions as a mid-premium craft ale, and its GABF Gold Medal pedigree, bottle conditioning, proprietary yeast strain, and 8.5% ABV represent genuine value within the Belgian-style strong ale category — particularly when compared to imported Belgian counterparts at similar or higher price points.

Why Mischief?

Mischief occupies a specific and appealing niche: a Belgian golden strong ale with unmistakably American dry-hop character. The 2016 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category validates what the beer does well — bridging two brewing traditions without compromising either. The proprietary Belgian yeast strain gives Mischief a house character that generic Belgian-style ales lack, while the Sterling, Summit, and Centennial dry-hop addition pushes citrus and pine aromatics well beyond what traditional Belgian examples deliver. Bottle conditioning adds a final layer of authenticity, producing finer carbonation and a living beer that subtly evolves over time.