Black Tuesday - Spicy Island
The Bruery

I think at the outset, our group thought this was going to be the worst of the bunch. Ended up being the favorite for a few.

Black Tuesday pours black. Revelation. Sad noises that it doesn't maintain any headspace, but given everything that goes into this, its understandable how it destroys that aspect. The aroma is bourbon barrel big time, but roasted malt second. After that, you get some pepper and pineapple nuance. Its unlike about any beer I've ever smelled.

The taste is actually an easier drinking Black Tuesday in some regards. The pineapple gives just an edge of sweetness that makes the massive beer more drinkable. The heat kick is nice and actually like salt, leaves you wanting more liquid to satiate the heat. Chewy mouthfeel appropriately with lower carbonation keeping this quite nice. Chocolate hits throughout but not on the Chocolate Rain level. Somehow despite all that there is a light drying effect.

This really is one of the best variants of Black Tuesday I've had.

Review: 2564
Name: Black Tuesday - Spicy Island
Brewery: The Bruery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 19.2%
Canned: 04 October 2019
Date: 25 February 2026
Decided to finish the night with a cellared beer. I drank a few of these when I first got them in 2020. I am using a stemless glass and serving the beer at 54 degrees. The pour created a frothy, foamy, one-fingered light tan head with average retention. The somewhat quick dissipation left chunks of lacing on the glass. The beer's overall appearance is average for this style, especially given its high ABV.
Nosing the glass, I notice roasted malts, chilis, char, bourbon, oak, anise, toffee, raisins, molasses, chocolate, medium-roasted coffee, leather, earthiness, pineapple, vanilla, bready notes, light floral notes, yeast, and caramel.
Sipping the beer, I taste roasted malts, bready notes, chilis, floral notes, herbal notes, raisins, bourbon, molasses, dark chocolate, anise, medium-roasted coffee, oak, char, leather, earthiness, pineapple, vanilla, bready notes, malty sweetness, yeasty, and caramel.
The mouthfeel is chewy, finishing velvety smooth, with a warm finish from the chilis. The body is heavy with low carbonation.
Final Impression: This is an awesome variation of Black Tuesday. The heat in the beer is not overwhelming, yet the pineapple gives the beer balance. The barrel aging adds depth, and the ABV is deceptively dangerous. Stellar beer, it has been one of my favorite variations thus far in the Black Tuesday line-up.

 

 

12.7 ounce bottle, 2024 edition, bottled 12/03/24. 16.9% ABV stated on label. Served in a Bruery Hoarders Society chalice, the beer pours dark brown/black with not quite an inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both decent enough. I like the aroma, the brew smells like roasted malt, dark chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, habaneros and some pineapple. I think the taste is pretty much like the aroma, but there's also some molasses, brown sugar, raisin and coffee flavors noticeable too. All the flavors are well balanced with no one flavor overpowering the others, but it does lean sweeter tasting in general. Chili pepper heat is noticeable but not strong at all, although it does kick in a little more as the beer warms. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's creamy and coating with a good amount of carbonation. I thought this was a good overall brew, definitely worth trying if you're able to!

A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger of light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of bourbon barrels, peppery heat, hints of molasses, roasted malts, chocolate, and some pineapple sweetness
T: Taste is sweet pineapple up front with some building heat, hints of oak, caramel and vanilla from the barrels with some molasses coming in along with some roasted malts chocolate, and coffee. On the swallow there's more pineapple sweetness, building peppery heat, woodspice, chocolate, roasted malts, and coffee with a little lingering oak.
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of medium while the carbonation is lightly effervescent. the high ABV ensures that this beer has a drying finish
O: Overall this was really well done. The heat isn't extreme and the pineapple adds a really nice sweetness to the beer. There's still plenty going on from the base beer as well.

 

3175ml bottle poured into a snifter

A- pours deep brown with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring around the edge

S- smells of chocolate, fudge brownies, caramel swirl, dried pineapples, raisins and figs. Not picking up any barrel

T- Pineapple makes an immediate presence up front, much more prominent than in the nose, it comes across as a candied dried pineapple. Mid-palate brings out sweet malty notes of caramel, chocolate, brownies, booze soaked raisins and figs. The finish gives more malty sweetness, booze, as well as some pineapple popping through

M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and finishes boozy and warming on the throat, from the habanero addition

O- surprised that the pineapple was able to stand out in such a strong beer, well done

Managed to get a short pour from Brews Brothers in Burbank (thanks guys!). This is dark with a slight khaki head. Smells of dark fruit and very little malt - it's "sweeter" than a thick stout might be. Raisin a bit. No wood on the nose.

The wood's in the taste: liquid malt and pineapple very forward, feel is sticky syrup but it's not tar. Very little ash or burn so proceed as if you're drinking a Lindt bar. Vanilla from the bourbon (presumably?) balances nicely with the fruit. These are real pineapples, not jolly rancher taste. It's not at all hot or boozy, even though it's 19%. Quite a feat gents. Chocolate, cold coffee, and grass - heat from the habanero is subtle and late, by no means overpowering or to be worried about. I keep saying it but very nice balance.

This is 2 years old and who knows how a keg/ cask got to Burbank. I never had the base beer (Black Tuesday) but the adjuncts here really blend well, everything is mellowed and because it's not boozy or overly thick it's quite an easy drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

375 mL bottle poured into a snifter

Dark brown with a half inch tan head

Nose: Pineapple dominates with a hint of habanero. Base Black Tuesday Is somewhat muted but comes through intermittently with raisin. Shades of a tropical cocktail here but not in a sweet/artificial way. Actually very pleasant.

Taste: Definitely less balanced than the nose - pineapple/habanero up front followed by bourbon-soaked raisin. Finishes quite sweet with lingering habanero (both heat and flavor).

Feel: Medium-light body with medium carbonation. Pretty smooth considering the abv.