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Black Tuesday
The Bruery
- From:
- The Bruery
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #36 - ABV:
- 19.5%
- Score:
- 100
Ranked #118 - Avg:
- 4.54 | pDev: 9.47%
- Reviews:
- 782
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sunday at 11:26 PM
- Added:
- Jul 18, 2009
- Wants:
- 3,256
- Gots:
- 2,041
Our infamous Black Tuesday is an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels for over a year. Rich caramel, toasted malt, vanilla, burnt wood and anise are just a few of the many flavors in this rich, decadent imperial stout.
2009: 19.5% ABV
2010: 18.2% ABV
2011: 18.3% ABV
2012: 19.2% ABV
2013: 18.9% ABV
2014: 19.7% ABV
2015: 19.9% ABV
2016: 20.3% ABV
2017: 19.5% ABV
2018: 19.5% ABV
2019: 19.4% ABV
2020: 19.3% ABV
2021: 18.9%
2022: 19.7%
2009: 19.5% ABV
2010: 18.2% ABV
2011: 18.3% ABV
2012: 19.2% ABV
2013: 18.9% ABV
2014: 19.7% ABV
2015: 19.9% ABV
2016: 20.3% ABV
2017: 19.5% ABV
2018: 19.5% ABV
2019: 19.4% ABV
2020: 19.3% ABV
2021: 18.9%
2022: 19.7%
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sweetbrew82:
Reviewed by sweetbrew82 from California
4.61/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.61/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
750 ML into a tulip/ Consumed on 10-28-09
Review #200!
P: Completely light-rejecting with barely a few stray bubbles on top, even after an extremely vigorous pour. All that was left was a micro-thin halo on top and some dark brown stains on the side of the glass. After a vigorous swirl, however, I was able to conjure up a 1/2 inch soapy head of dark cappuccino-colored foam. I was really hoping to see a big dollop of foam on top of this beast, but at 19.5% I guess it's understandable. The score reflects my slight disappointment in this department, though.
A: This is, undoubtedly, the best aroma from a RIS I've come across yet! The bourbon isn't at all boozy and messy like some of the other barrel-aged stouts out there. Instead, it's really refined and well-integrated into the rest of the profile of the nose. Other aromas bursting from the glass include: deeply roasted malts, chocolate fudge, maple, wood, vanilla, and dark fruits. Awesome!
T: The first sip reveals an impossibly deep roasted malt bill that just envelops you in its flavor. Oozing from all 20 of the malts supposedly present here is chocolate fudge cake, vanilla, caramel, molasses, leather, maple wood, and of course, bourbon. Much more dark fruits are in here than I expected to find that remind me of dates, figs, and black cherries that add yet more complexity. Once again, the bourbon isn't alcoholic and messy on the palate, but it does warm the back of the throat, chest, and belly with each and every swallow. Finishes sweet and leaves a sweet aftertaste that hangs on for an eternity. If this ain't a 5, I don't know what is.
M: The term "full-bodied" just doesn't do it justice. Black Tuesday is incredibly thick, glassy smooth, perfectly creamy, and absolutely chewy as hell. There is no liquid that has ever passed my lips that even comes close to feeling this incredibly viscous and oily.
Notes: After standing in line for 4 1/2 hours in a dark, cold, wind-swept alley to obtain this beer, I became increasingly skeptical if the beer could ever live to all the hype. As hard as I tried to find a chink in the Black Tuesday armor, the only thing I could come up with was the lack of head after the initial pour. Smells incredible, tastes phenomenal, and makes Goose Island Bourbon County Stout feel like a porter! As for its drinkability, the 19.5% is hidden so damn well that drinking an entire bottle is not nearly as cumbersome as it might sound in theory. No doubt it's a sipper to be reckoned with, but it went down much more easily than I thought it would. Two thumbs way up!
Jan 05, 2010Review #200!
P: Completely light-rejecting with barely a few stray bubbles on top, even after an extremely vigorous pour. All that was left was a micro-thin halo on top and some dark brown stains on the side of the glass. After a vigorous swirl, however, I was able to conjure up a 1/2 inch soapy head of dark cappuccino-colored foam. I was really hoping to see a big dollop of foam on top of this beast, but at 19.5% I guess it's understandable. The score reflects my slight disappointment in this department, though.
A: This is, undoubtedly, the best aroma from a RIS I've come across yet! The bourbon isn't at all boozy and messy like some of the other barrel-aged stouts out there. Instead, it's really refined and well-integrated into the rest of the profile of the nose. Other aromas bursting from the glass include: deeply roasted malts, chocolate fudge, maple, wood, vanilla, and dark fruits. Awesome!
T: The first sip reveals an impossibly deep roasted malt bill that just envelops you in its flavor. Oozing from all 20 of the malts supposedly present here is chocolate fudge cake, vanilla, caramel, molasses, leather, maple wood, and of course, bourbon. Much more dark fruits are in here than I expected to find that remind me of dates, figs, and black cherries that add yet more complexity. Once again, the bourbon isn't alcoholic and messy on the palate, but it does warm the back of the throat, chest, and belly with each and every swallow. Finishes sweet and leaves a sweet aftertaste that hangs on for an eternity. If this ain't a 5, I don't know what is.
M: The term "full-bodied" just doesn't do it justice. Black Tuesday is incredibly thick, glassy smooth, perfectly creamy, and absolutely chewy as hell. There is no liquid that has ever passed my lips that even comes close to feeling this incredibly viscous and oily.
Notes: After standing in line for 4 1/2 hours in a dark, cold, wind-swept alley to obtain this beer, I became increasingly skeptical if the beer could ever live to all the hype. As hard as I tried to find a chink in the Black Tuesday armor, the only thing I could come up with was the lack of head after the initial pour. Smells incredible, tastes phenomenal, and makes Goose Island Bourbon County Stout feel like a porter! As for its drinkability, the 19.5% is hidden so damn well that drinking an entire bottle is not nearly as cumbersome as it might sound in theory. No doubt it's a sipper to be reckoned with, but it went down much more easily than I thought it would. Two thumbs way up!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota
4.95/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.95/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Black Tuesday pours black with a small, long-lasting tan head. The aroma is sweet figs and bourbon. The flavor is big, bold, and hot but it blends in with all the dark chocolate notes and sweet bourbon notes. Good, thick body. Overall, just about a perfect stout. Huge flavors, and completely hides the 19.5 abv.
Jan 22, 2024Reviewed by Beers-es from Virginia
4.5/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap into an 8 oz snifter, pours pitch black, as per the name. Smell and taste feature a complex blend of raisins, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, oak and bourbon. The alcohol warms going down, but is very well hidden. Not overly thick or sweet. Outstanding beer.
Jan 15, 2024Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.37/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2021 vintage
Somehow I’ve had like 4 Black Tuesday variants but this is my first time trying thr base beer. I’ve wanted to try it for quite some time and never saw it around so I was surprised when it popped up on Tavour recently. Let’s pop this beast open and find out what it has to offer
Pours completely pitch black with a finger of creamy tan head that quickly fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
The nose is very bold, and surprisingly not even that boozy. I’m picking up on aromas of cocoa powder, raisin, vanilla bean, molasses, toasted oak, brown sugar, sweet bourbon, light roast coffee, burnt caramel, black cherry, and light leather
The complexity is dialed back in taste in favor of something more bourbon-forward, but it’s still damn good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting sweet bourbon, raisin, dark chocolate, molasses, charred oak, vanilla bean, black cherry, light brown sugar, and cinnamon. The swallow brings notes of charred iak, sweet bourbon, black cherry, molasses, dark chocolate, raisin, smoky tobacco, and vanilla bean
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes mostly dry with some heat but drinks significantly below its abv
This is a classic for a reason so I just had to give it a bump in the overall. Great stuff
Jan 15, 2024Somehow I’ve had like 4 Black Tuesday variants but this is my first time trying thr base beer. I’ve wanted to try it for quite some time and never saw it around so I was surprised when it popped up on Tavour recently. Let’s pop this beast open and find out what it has to offer
Pours completely pitch black with a finger of creamy tan head that quickly fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
The nose is very bold, and surprisingly not even that boozy. I’m picking up on aromas of cocoa powder, raisin, vanilla bean, molasses, toasted oak, brown sugar, sweet bourbon, light roast coffee, burnt caramel, black cherry, and light leather
The complexity is dialed back in taste in favor of something more bourbon-forward, but it’s still damn good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting sweet bourbon, raisin, dark chocolate, molasses, charred oak, vanilla bean, black cherry, light brown sugar, and cinnamon. The swallow brings notes of charred iak, sweet bourbon, black cherry, molasses, dark chocolate, raisin, smoky tobacco, and vanilla bean
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes mostly dry with some heat but drinks significantly below its abv
This is a classic for a reason so I just had to give it a bump in the overall. Great stuff
Reviewed by sjrider from California
4.46/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottle pour, 2021 edition - dark as used motor oil with short foamy khaki head leaving a ring of tiny bubbles. Nose is boozy barrel with dark stone fruit and hints of brown sugar, cocoa, and roasty malt . Taste follows with lingering oak and a bit of alcohol creep on the finish.
Jan 10, 2024Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio
4.47/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 version. Poured from bottle, the body is black with little head and lacing.
Aroma is a boozy delight. Sweet bourbon with notes of dark fruits, oak, caramel, and vanilla.
Taste thankfully follows nose as the booze is front and center. Despite this bourbon bring featured, it's never too hot despite the huge ABV. The booze is never hidden, but I would not had guessed anything near 20%. As it warms. a flavor arises that reminds me a bit of flat Coca Cola. Perhaps a wee bit of coconut. Delightful.
Mouthfeel is good, soft and pleasing, with just enough carbonation.
A very enjoyable stout that was still vibrant and powerful after aging for 7 years.
Jan 01, 2024Aroma is a boozy delight. Sweet bourbon with notes of dark fruits, oak, caramel, and vanilla.
Taste thankfully follows nose as the booze is front and center. Despite this bourbon bring featured, it's never too hot despite the huge ABV. The booze is never hidden, but I would not had guessed anything near 20%. As it warms. a flavor arises that reminds me a bit of flat Coca Cola. Perhaps a wee bit of coconut. Delightful.
Mouthfeel is good, soft and pleasing, with just enough carbonation.
A very enjoyable stout that was still vibrant and powerful after aging for 7 years.
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas
4.59/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 2 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.59/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 2 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours an effervescent hazel/chestnut with one finger of fast failing mocha colored head. No head retention or lacing
S: Dark fruit, Bourbon Barrel, hints of coconut & dark cherries once warm
T: Follows the nose, some cola & molasses notes, plus leafy hops up front. Some coffee, dark chocolate, a little vanilla as this beer warms up, along with oaky char, dark cherry & figs, plus some pleasing, warming Bourbon notes. Finishes with boozy dark chocolate cherry notes, a touch of vanilla, brown sugar, maple & oaky dryness. plus a kiss of Bourbon
MF: Fairly chewy, minimal carbonation, pretty darn warming
Great & very potent take on the style. Great drinkability for the heft. Thrilled to have to finally tried this longtime want! This beer just got better the warmer it got.
Jan 01, 2024S: Dark fruit, Bourbon Barrel, hints of coconut & dark cherries once warm
T: Follows the nose, some cola & molasses notes, plus leafy hops up front. Some coffee, dark chocolate, a little vanilla as this beer warms up, along with oaky char, dark cherry & figs, plus some pleasing, warming Bourbon notes. Finishes with boozy dark chocolate cherry notes, a touch of vanilla, brown sugar, maple & oaky dryness. plus a kiss of Bourbon
MF: Fairly chewy, minimal carbonation, pretty darn warming
Great & very potent take on the style. Great drinkability for the heft. Thrilled to have to finally tried this longtime want! This beer just got better the warmer it got.
Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado
3.56/5 rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L: Pours a dark brown black that is a little thinner than expected, but has a small tan head that is larger than expected due to the alcohol and a nice lacing.
S: Some brown sugar and molasses, notes of vanilla, a very strong bourbon alcohol a light fig but the alcohol is huge in this and a bit over the top.
T: Lots of bourbon in this one, some fig and vanilla, a bit of molasses and brown sugar. This beer seems really far to the boozey ide and I feel like could use some more balance by showing off the more aspects of the base beer, than just the barrel aging. The barrel aging seems a little heavy handed to me.
F: Oily and slick mouthfeel, little tingling off the tongue from the high alcohol of this beer.
O: Honestly I wasn't super impressed with this beer. I prefer my imperial stouts to be a nice balance between the base beer and the barrel aging and I just felt like the bourbon barrel aging was heavy handed on this year. I believe this is a 2023 bottle.
Jan 01, 2024S: Some brown sugar and molasses, notes of vanilla, a very strong bourbon alcohol a light fig but the alcohol is huge in this and a bit over the top.
T: Lots of bourbon in this one, some fig and vanilla, a bit of molasses and brown sugar. This beer seems really far to the boozey ide and I feel like could use some more balance by showing off the more aspects of the base beer, than just the barrel aging. The barrel aging seems a little heavy handed to me.
F: Oily and slick mouthfeel, little tingling off the tongue from the high alcohol of this beer.
O: Honestly I wasn't super impressed with this beer. I prefer my imperial stouts to be a nice balance between the base beer and the barrel aging and I just felt like the bourbon barrel aging was heavy handed on this year. I believe this is a 2023 bottle.
Rated by micada from New York
4.23/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Leather, raisin, slap in the face ABV. Opened at a Mortalis line crawl share because it’s a beast.
Dec 30, 2023
Black Tuesday from The Bruery
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
4235 ratings
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