For A Spell
The Bruery
- From:
- The Bruery
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 14.1%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.3 | pDev: 4.65%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 15, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 19, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Proceed with caution; we just might put a spell on you. Crafted collaboratively with the good humans at Voodoo Brewing, this bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout is all wood and wort. A true representation of the character of these bourbon barrels and the art of beer blending, expect magical notes of oak, vanilla, molasses, burnt brown sugar, milk chocolate, dark fruits, and a freshly brewed espresso
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger of dark tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of dark chocolate, espresso, roasted malts, oak, and caramel
T: Taste is roasted malts, charred wood, burnt sugar, bitter dark chocolate, and coffee and a nice undertone of bourbon barrels. On the finish there's a huge smack of bourbon barrels with more charred wood, chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts with some lingering hints of charred wood.
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of things with a creamy and silky feel on the palate. Carbonation is low, but adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer. It has great flavors and some excellent complexity. It also does a good job of hiding the ABV. It would be nice for this to become a rotating offering instead of just a one and done beer.
Feb 15, 2026S: Smells of dark chocolate, espresso, roasted malts, oak, and caramel
T: Taste is roasted malts, charred wood, burnt sugar, bitter dark chocolate, and coffee and a nice undertone of bourbon barrels. On the finish there's a huge smack of bourbon barrels with more charred wood, chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts with some lingering hints of charred wood.
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of things with a creamy and silky feel on the palate. Carbonation is low, but adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer. It has great flavors and some excellent complexity. It also does a good job of hiding the ABV. It would be nice for this to become a rotating offering instead of just a one and done beer.
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours black in color with a one finger foamy dark tan head that reduces to a ring
S- bold boozy bourbon barrel with a complimenting black licorice note. Dark fruit aromas of fig, raisin and prune. Some dark chocolate and toffee but primarily just bold barrel
T- big barrel notes noticed immediately; barrel juice, wet oak, vanilla, caramel, toffee & coconut all noticeable. Mid-palate brings out notes of dark chocolate, raisins, figs, molasses and black licorice. The finish gives more barrel with bold notes of oaky bourbon, cracked pepper and vanilla & coconut that stick around on a boozy linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel the turns creamy into a warming finish
Apr 24, 2025A- pours black in color with a one finger foamy dark tan head that reduces to a ring
S- bold boozy bourbon barrel with a complimenting black licorice note. Dark fruit aromas of fig, raisin and prune. Some dark chocolate and toffee but primarily just bold barrel
T- big barrel notes noticed immediately; barrel juice, wet oak, vanilla, caramel, toffee & coconut all noticeable. Mid-palate brings out notes of dark chocolate, raisins, figs, molasses and black licorice. The finish gives more barrel with bold notes of oaky bourbon, cracked pepper and vanilla & coconut that stick around on a boozy linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel the turns creamy into a warming finish
Reviewed by johnInLA from California
3.81/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Black, light brown head, mostly dimminishes.
Brown suger, licoriice, chocolate, oak in the nose
Nose carries forward in the flavor with brown sugar dominant and the oak falling off.
creamy feel, medium body.
Mar 06, 2021Brown suger, licoriice, chocolate, oak in the nose
Nose carries forward in the flavor with brown sugar dominant and the oak falling off.
creamy feel, medium body.
Reviewed by StraightNoChaser from Georgia
4.35/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: very dark brown, some ruby highlights when held to light. Full mocha head on the pour that mostly recedes.some oily sheen and clingy lacing.
Smell: roasty, oaky, vanilla, bourbon espresso.
Taste: much like the nose. Super smooth.
Mar 02, 2021Smell: roasty, oaky, vanilla, bourbon espresso.
Taste: much like the nose. Super smooth.
Reviewed by IKR from California
4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Black with a modest sized, dark beige head that slowly faded. A nice looking imperial Stout.
Smell: Moderate Bourbon aromas, mild coffee/roasted malt aromas and brown sugar aromas.
Taste: Prominent Bourbon notes and roasted malts, moderate brown sugar notes, and tannic oak notes. The is mildly sweet as the noticeable roasted malts and tannic oak notes dry the beer out in the finish. At 14.1% ABV the beer does a good job in hiding it's alcohol content.
Mouth-feel: On the light side of full bodied with a modest level of carbonation. Easily the thickest stout I've had from the Bruery.
Overall: A good Imperial Stout. Without a doubt this is the most prototypical stout I've had from the Bruery, and for me, the best traditional stout from them. I love Black Tuesday but it's color, flavor profile, alcohol content, and body aren't typical of a traditional stout. This is a good take on a bal-aged imperial Stout.
Dec 19, 2020Smell: Moderate Bourbon aromas, mild coffee/roasted malt aromas and brown sugar aromas.
Taste: Prominent Bourbon notes and roasted malts, moderate brown sugar notes, and tannic oak notes. The is mildly sweet as the noticeable roasted malts and tannic oak notes dry the beer out in the finish. At 14.1% ABV the beer does a good job in hiding it's alcohol content.
Mouth-feel: On the light side of full bodied with a modest level of carbonation. Easily the thickest stout I've had from the Bruery.
Overall: A good Imperial Stout. Without a doubt this is the most prototypical stout I've had from the Bruery, and for me, the best traditional stout from them. I love Black Tuesday but it's color, flavor profile, alcohol content, and body aren't typical of a traditional stout. This is a good take on a bal-aged imperial Stout.
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