Gray Monday
The Bruery
- From:
- The Bruery
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 20.9%
- Score:
- +3 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.44 | pDev: 1.8%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 20, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 10, 2020
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 3
NO SCORE
-
-
Double Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Vanilla Beans and Hazelnuts
Original release notes:
ABV: 20.8%
When it comes to big barrel-aged stouts, Gray Monday brings a sophisticated touch. This beer spent its first year in bourbon barrels before being re-barreled into fresh bourbon barrels, and a smaller portion into Speyside Scotch barrels. Treated with a blend of Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans and decadent hazelnuts, one could say this stout is an elegant splash in the glass.
2025 Release Notes:
ABV: 20.9%
This double barrel-aged Black Tuesday has lived a double life in both bourbon barrels and rye whiskey barrels, capturing a tapestry of singed oak and rich caramel flavors before being treated with scoops on scoops of rich hazelnuts and heaps of fresh Madagascar vanilla beans setting the stage for wonderfully boozy Nutella-reduction-like experience.
Sensory Profile:
Visual: Black with Tan Foam
Aroma: Nutty, Vanilla, Chcocolate
Taste: Roasty, Nutty, Vanilla
Mouthfeel: Dry, Roasty, Creamy
Original release notes:
ABV: 20.8%
When it comes to big barrel-aged stouts, Gray Monday brings a sophisticated touch. This beer spent its first year in bourbon barrels before being re-barreled into fresh bourbon barrels, and a smaller portion into Speyside Scotch barrels. Treated with a blend of Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans and decadent hazelnuts, one could say this stout is an elegant splash in the glass.
2025 Release Notes:
ABV: 20.9%
This double barrel-aged Black Tuesday has lived a double life in both bourbon barrels and rye whiskey barrels, capturing a tapestry of singed oak and rich caramel flavors before being treated with scoops on scoops of rich hazelnuts and heaps of fresh Madagascar vanilla beans setting the stage for wonderfully boozy Nutella-reduction-like experience.
Sensory Profile:
Visual: Black with Tan Foam
Aroma: Nutty, Vanilla, Chcocolate
Taste: Roasty, Nutty, Vanilla
Mouthfeel: Dry, Roasty, Creamy
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio
4.47/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12.7 ounce bottle, 2025 edition, bottled 05/09/25, 20.9% ABV stated on label. Served in a Bruery Hoarders Society chalice, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch or so tan head that didn't stay around for too long. Small amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like dark chocolate, roasted malt, bourbon, vanilla, hazelnuts, caramel and some rye whiskey. The taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some burnt/charred malt, dark bready and earthy flavors noticeable too. Good amount of barrel character. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's slick and rich with a moderate amount of carbonation. It's boozy, but with that being said it doesn't have as much of a boozy kick as I was expecting which makes this easier to drink. I liked this one a lot, definitely worth trying especially if you like The Bruery's bigger imperial stouts!
Sep 20, 2025
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota
4.32/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2017 release from a 750 ml bottle. This beer is served at room temp.
There's a bit of smoke upon opening the bottle. I did a bit of an aggressive pour and it did have a 2 finger tan head at most, that dissipated rapidly. I won't even bother holding this beer to the light, because there's no chance any light will shine through this pitch black colored beer. I may be crazy, but I was expecting it would look thicker when poured, but in a way, it looked like a porter while pouring.
As I was pouring, I was just hit with tons of barrel notes. As I get closer, I get so many strong aromas. Lots of dark fruit. Some coffee notes. Vanilla, caramel, toffee, chocolate also hit my nose. There's a slight roast nuttiness that also tickles my nose. So much barrel in this beer as well. I know I'm not describing it all well, but there's so much here.
The flavor is actually a bit mellow, but, probably from age. I get all I was describing in the aroma. There's a bit of chocolate. Dark fruit is very strong. Lots of vanilla and caramel. There's a slight nutty and earthy flavor from the hazelnuts.
The body is thinner than I was expecting from such a high ABV beer. This beer is very smooth feeling. I am surprised with the lack of burn here. For a 20% I would have expected a burn to tell me to slow down, but almost none there.
I've waited to pop open this beer because the high ABV has scared me off. It's delicious. I'd love to try it fresh, but would rather not do this size again.
Dec 31, 2023There's a bit of smoke upon opening the bottle. I did a bit of an aggressive pour and it did have a 2 finger tan head at most, that dissipated rapidly. I won't even bother holding this beer to the light, because there's no chance any light will shine through this pitch black colored beer. I may be crazy, but I was expecting it would look thicker when poured, but in a way, it looked like a porter while pouring.
As I was pouring, I was just hit with tons of barrel notes. As I get closer, I get so many strong aromas. Lots of dark fruit. Some coffee notes. Vanilla, caramel, toffee, chocolate also hit my nose. There's a slight roast nuttiness that also tickles my nose. So much barrel in this beer as well. I know I'm not describing it all well, but there's so much here.
The flavor is actually a bit mellow, but, probably from age. I get all I was describing in the aroma. There's a bit of chocolate. Dark fruit is very strong. Lots of vanilla and caramel. There's a slight nutty and earthy flavor from the hazelnuts.
The body is thinner than I was expecting from such a high ABV beer. This beer is very smooth feeling. I am surprised with the lack of burn here. For a 20% I would have expected a burn to tell me to slow down, but almost none there.
I've waited to pop open this beer because the high ABV has scared me off. It's delicious. I'd love to try it fresh, but would rather not do this size again.
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