What’s pouring at Black Orchid? Long-awaited north Modesto brewery has soft opening

From making beer on an apartment balcony to opening a brick-and-mortar brewery in north Modesto, one Central Valley family’s decade-long dream is finally reality.

Black Orchid Brewing, at 2101 Sylvan Ave., Suite 106A, opened its doors “softly” to the public on Friday, pouring the first beers from brand new taps at 2 p.m.

The three-day-long soft opening event was well received by the community, as well as other local breweries and businesses.

Facebook comments on Black Orchid’s posts regarding its opening raved about the “great beers,” “great atmosphere” and the owners’ “tenacity and commitment” to their dreams.

I’ve been following Black Orchid’s journey since Joffre Roberts III and his wife, Mia, and Roberts’ sister Tyanne Penado and her husband, Henry, planned to open in my hometown, Ripon. Though that didn’t work out, I was elated to hear the family was opening shop just a few miles down the road in Modesto.

I attended the first day of the soft opening and tried everything the place had to offer; I had waited a long time to drink this beer.

Right off the bat, I could taste the difference between Black Orchid brews and the bigger brand names. Black Orchid brews its beer with reverse osmosis water, making it smooth on the tongue with hardly any linger.

Henry Penado said they made a batch of beer with filtered water and a batch of the same beer with reverse osmosis water, and the quality of the beer brewed with reverse osmosis water was a clear winner.

The beers on the menu are: Dark Shadows (oatmeal stout- 4.5% ABV), Amber Waves (altbier, 5.4% ABV), Riverbank Breeze (kolsch, 5.2% ABV), Sunrise Wheat (hefeweizen, 5.2% ABV), Island in the Hazy (New England hazy IPA, 5.6% ABV) and a build-your-own seltzer option (orange, mango, vanilla, strawberry and lime mint flavors, 5% ABV).

Prices range from $7.50 to $8 for a pint.

The oatmeal stout had a toasted flavor. It’s like drinking a cup of coffee next to a bonfire. The altbier had a similar flavor profile, but lighter. The caramel aftertaste was my favorite part of drinking the altbier.

The kolsch was light, crisp and refreshing — perfect for casual drinking during the summer. The hefeweizen had a slightly sweet fruity flavor (banana maybe?), also good for summertime sipping.

Hazy IPAs are usually sweeter than I’d like, but Black Orchid’s was not. It had a citrusy aroma burst and was light and crisp.

I ordered a seltzer with a blend of strawberry and mango flavors. It was sweet, as you would expect, and did not have a lot of carbonation — if any at all. As a seltzer drinker, it was my favorite thing on the menu, and the customization option is super fun.

There is a good amount of seating in the brewery: around 12 tables, the bar top and a floating bar-like seating area against a wall.

Black Orchid’s grand opening celebration will be May 18 at 2 p.m. There will be food vendors, raffles and live music.

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