Pistachio Mustachio
The Bruery

Review: 2498
Name: Pistachio Mustachio
Brewery: The Bruery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.3%
Canned: 1 September 2020
Date: 21 October 2025
As 2500 beer reviews near closer, I ponder back when I started this whole charade in 2006. Although I haven't dedicated all my time to this hobby, the drinking adventure, I am amazed to see where beer has taken me. I have traveled to Europe seeking beer, driven several hundred miles for beer, only to keep doing it again and again. I do enjoy the beverage, but prefer not to have a buzz. Beer has been a part of life, and, sadly, my kids associate me with beer. I have collected more beer than I know what to do with, and I'm currently tapering down that collection. As my thoughts linger while I enjoy this beverage, I am humbled to learn about this craft and look forward to 2500 more reviews.
I am using a tulip glass and serving the malty brew at 48 degrees. The pour created a dark brown, one-fingered, creamy head with average retention. The somewhat quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. The appearance is average for this style.
Nosing the beer, I smell dark roasted malt, leather, bourbon, oak, char, nutiness, vanilla, medium roasted coffee, chocolate, anise, floral, raisins, molasses, caramel, and earthiness.
I taste dark roasted malt, earthy, fudge, floral, light herbal, caramel, light char, bourbon, nuttiness, hint of smokiness, anise, leather, earthy dirt, molasses, raisins, and coffee.
The mouthfeel is coating, finishing warm and thick. The body is heavy with low carbonation.
Final Thought: The pistachio gets lost in the big barrel-aged stout. The vanilla does come out nicely and adds some depth to the beer. As I sit here sipping on this beer, I am hard-pressed to say this beer is so-so. The Bruery beers are amazing in their own right, but I think this one could have used a bit more refinement, maybe a different nut or something. I do enjoy a salted pistachio, but when I have to search for it, the stout's potency lessens the enjoyment factor for me.

16oz can poured into a snifter

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy dark khaki colored head that reduces to a ring

S- initially smells more like a RIS than a pastry stout; bold charred and roasted malt, burnt embers and dark chocolate. Undertones of coffee, caramel, vanilla and black licorice. Not really finding any pistacio

T- sweet chocolate fudge and caramel notes up front, along with a vanilla cream sweetness. Mid-palate gives some charred malt and coffee notes. The finish gives chocolate syrup and chocolate cake, with a sweet lactose linger

M- heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a thick and creamy mouthfeel that continues into a chewy, slightly warming finish

O- pistachio seems to have gotten lost in this one, otherwise a solid, bold pasty stout that isn't over cloying

 

 

 

A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer which is topped b a dense and slightly rocky two fingers of light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of nice roasted malts with some coffee, bourbon barrel oak, and some hints of vanilla
T: Taste is smooth roasted malts with some hints of chocolate and coffee, definite pistachios along with some smooth vanilla. Bourbony oak comes in toward the middle to back while the swallow brings more pistachio, chocolate, coffee, oak, and hints of vanilla
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of medium with a slightly silky feel. Carbonation is slightly effervescent while the beer has a drying finish due to the ABV.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer. It has good flavors and a nice amount of complexity. The vanilla definitely comes out a little better once the beer warms up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Black with a generous-sized foamy dark beige head that slowly faded. A very nice looking Imperial Stout.

Smell: Mild roasted malts and a hint of brown sugar and vanilla once it warms. A fairly subdued nose for an Imperial Stout that needs to warm a bit for the aromas to come through.

Taste: The taste profile features roasted malt notes, mild bourbon, mild brown sugar notes, and mild vanilla. The roasted malts feature prominently with the other elements playing a support role. The finish dries out featuring the roast malts. The beer has a mild alcohol presence.

Mouth-feel: Medium bodied with a generous level of carbonation. Nice body fitting for the beer.

Overall: A good Imperial stout. This beer is not a vanilla bomb and I'm not sure I picked up the pistachios but the beer has a nice taste profile and avoids being overly sweet or too reliant on the adjuncts for flavor.

creamy. sweet. not too sweet. pastry, though, indeed! i love pistachios! i loved Byzantine from Bottle Logic-such a shame with the infection but i got it before the infection!!! this one? this one is nice. surprised by the VERY mediocre ratings on untappd as i really like the flavors and lack of chemicals/funkiness that usually come with a lot of these. this is good!