Black Tuesday - Samoa
The Bruery

Bottled on 10/4/2019; consumed on 6/9/2025

Pours an inky, jet-black body capped with a finger of pale, mocha-hued foam, receding quickly to a blank surface, minimal collar, and no lacing holding to the walls of the glass with any longevity.

Aroma opens with heavy char and booze, leaving toasted coconut tinged with maple underpinnings as a vanilla edge cedes to burnt cracker overtones on the back end of the bouquet.

Taste offers dark cacao brownie batter sporting a kiss of whiskey upfront; an oaky char follows through the mid-palate, while a distant hint of muted maple lingers on the tongue.

Mouthfeel brings a body on the lighter end of full along with a minimalist carbonation and dense, semi-creamy texturing characterized by ample, oaky roast and gentle char over the mid-palate, followed by a soft, slightly sticky, warming finish.

Softened adjuncts see the framework Samoa concept through despite over 5 years in the bottle, with a potent, boozy bite informing the quintessential Black Tuesday sensations.

Review: 2188
Name: Black Tuesday - Samoa
Brewery: The Bruery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 19.2%
Date: Unknown
I have several Bruery beers that I need to review, which will be a slog. I am using a tulip and serving the beer at 46 degrees. The pour created a frothy, foamy, one-fingered, light tan head with poor retention. I am not surprised; the ABV is high. The head did not leave any lacing or ring around the beer. The beer is inky black and opaque, charting at SRM 36. The appearance is average for this style.
As I bring the glass to my nose, a rich medley of coconut, bourbon, chocolate, and coffee with a hint of vanilla wafts up. The malt profile is robust, with toasted malt, roasty, chocolate, char, malty sweetness, bready, doughy, and caramel notes. A second nosing reveals the subtle hints of maple syrup, molasses, raisins, coffee, earthy, treacle, burnt sugar, and alcohol. The barrel aging adds a layer of complexity with bourbon, wood, and char. While it may not smell like the Samoa cookie from Girl Scout, it certainly smells delightful.
The Black Tuesday portion of the beer is a masterpiece, with the adjuncts adding depth without overpowering the brew. The Stout is a harmonious blend of roasty and toasty flavors, with hints of molasses, chocolate, coffee, figs, raisins, malty sweetness, and earthy notes, complemented by light floral notes. The barrel-aging enriches the beer with wood, bourbon, and char. The adjuncts, including coconut, maple syrup, vanilla, and graham crackers, add a unique twist. The beer concludes with a robust finish, featuring strong alcohol, burnt sugar, and a hint of soy sauce.
The mouthfeel is chewy, finishing tannic and warm. The body is heavy, and carbonation is medium.
I am slightly disappointed with this Bruery beer. I wanted it to taste like Samoa soaked in a barrel-aged stout. The beer was disjointed and did not have the balance the Bruery is famous for. I had high expectations for this beer, but sadly, they did not meet them.

 

 

 

A: Looks and acts like Black Tuesday.
S: Smells of coconuts, vanilla, and chocolate. Bourbon barrels, roasted malts and molasses are in the background as well
T: Taste is toasted coconuts, vanilla, oak, chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts. On the finish there's more toasted coconut, vanilla, chocolate, bourbon barrels, roasted malts and coffee with a touch of molasses.
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of medium. Carbonation is slightly effervescent and adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish due to the ABV.
O: This one is a little adjunct heavy but it's still quite good. Alcohol isn't hidden quite as well as some other variants but it's hard to hide almost 20% ABV.

Bottled 10/04/19. The ABV% of this is absurd. Starts super strong but really improves as it warms. It’s a massively complex beer with a ton of sweetness. I understand why they put it in small bottles. It’s a true dessert beer.

375ml bottle poured into a teku
2019 Vintage

A- pours black in color with a one finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a film floating on top

S- heavy aroma of caramel and toasted coconut initially, followed by chocolate and sweet maple. Oaky bourbon closes it out, adding notes of vanilla and enhancing the coconut. Booze burn on the nostrils

T- as with the nose, sweet caramel and toasted coconut open the flavor, followed by sweet chocolate and maple. Mid-palate brings out some barrel notes, adding oaky bourbon and vanilla. The finish is sweet, with caramel and coconut sticking around. Lingers of chocolate, oak, caramel and heavy booze

M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a slightly foamy mouthfeel that continues into a bold boozy finish that is felt all the way through the nostrils

O- the caramel and coconut shine on this treatment. My only complaint with this, and all other Black Tuesday is that they are so boozy.

 

 

 

 

I think this is a great beer - well balanced with nice coconut flavors and subtle sweetness. Surprisingly there is no real alcohol burn with all flavors beautifully integrated and a luscious mouthfeel.