Tweak
Avery Brewing Company

 

Been having various vintages of Tweak down through the years since 2017 and regardless of 13-17% strength or freshness, it's been pretty much the same reaction with every variant. Not much evidence of any bourbon barrel aging or sometimes even coffee but there's always been an as advertised alcoholic presence.

Bottled 11/23/16. 16.0% abv. Let sit out for an hour at 60F, before opening.

Clear very dark brown, almost black, with light tan head, that is fairly long-lasting for this abv & age. Thin ring remains after head dissipates.

Smell is chocolate syrup, slight coffee, and a hint of cake batter when swirled. Slight, but noticeable, well-aged bourbon. No hot alcohol aroma.

Taste is chocolate brownie, a touch of cocoa, a touch of coffee and bourbon, that linger awhile after finish. Lightly sweet, not cloying. Finishes with a light kiss of unsweetened chocolate bitterness. Light sourdough tang after awhile. Not sure if that's normal with this , but it's a pleasant thing in any event. No noticeable alcohol or oxidation otherwise.[Don't know if that tang is such]

Feel is medium, slick, with slight carbonation tingle near finish. Slight drying effect on the front of the tongue after finish.
Other than a very slight internal warming , no noticeable signs of alcohol.

Overall....WOW. Even 9+ years old this is amazing, and aged very well. High abv BA stouts aren't my preferred thing, but ...WOW. Highly recommend!!!

Tried a 2014 bottle in January 2026.
Pours the color of a stout, however the nose was a lot like a barleywine, assume to the age. Taste was also a lot like a barleywine, but could still get the coffee flavors from the original imperial stout. Lovely beer for 11-12 years old. The ABV was not as heavy as I thought but certainly knew it was high!

 

 

 

 

Pours black. Medium-sized, beige head. The aroma of bourbon, coffee, roasted malt, and alcohol. Delicious taste wit notes of coffee, chocolate, bourbon, and vanilla. Well-hidden alcohol. Smooth and warming finish.

 

 

 

 

12oz bottled with what looks like a date of 6-20-23. Opened 12-25-23. Merry Christmas.
Jet black body with an almost 2 finger beige head. Great retention for a 13.1% BBA beer - leaves an early lingering lace. Roasted malt, vanilla, coffee, faint bourbon, wood, and some black fruit in a very appealing aroma.
Easily one of the most well integrated BBA coffe stouts I've had, all flavors are represented but in perfect harmony.
Full body with a very smooth mouthfeel. Long, rich finish.
World Class.

 

Picked up a single bottle. It was not cheap!

Pours an opaque black with a two-finger thick, brown head on top with great retention. Lots of lacing as you drink. Carbonation is hard to see unless you swish the beer around. Exactly what I want a stout to look like.

A lot of bourbon on the nose. Past that, burnt coconut, wood, dark roasted malts, cacao and a bit of hop spice. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of liquor, so there is some downside to this aroma. However, I already knew coming in that it would be very boozy and it definitely hints at a lot of complexity.

Wow. This is super potent stuff, and there's a lot going on here. Up front, I get a lot of bitter roastiness, but as it sits on the tongue the bourbon/alcohol and hop spice set in. On the swallow I'm getting a lot more burnt coconut, charred oak and coffee. The aftertaste is the same with a mix of sweet bourbon and vanilla. Definitely boozy.

This is a full bodied beer with a lot of creaminess. It's almost syrupy, but finishes slightly crisp. Definitely a palate wrecker. I really enjoy the mouthfeel of this one, and it goes down very well for such a high ABV beer.

This one seems to be worth the hype, especially if you are into bourbon. Honestly the bourbon notes here are a little too intense for me, but once you get past that there is a lot to appreciate. I really like the mouthfeel and there is a lot of complexity on the palate. This is absolutely quality stuff. Not sure that I would seek it out again unless I'm in the mood for a very boozy, bourbony beer (which I'm typically not), but I do very much appreciate what's going on here. Cheers!

 

L: Pours a rich brunette. Forms a moderate espresso head, fades slowly to reveal a splotchy tan layer of retention on the surface and a foamy ring of lacing on the edge of the glass. Pitch-black hue, maximum opacity.

S: Strong aromas of dark chocolate, coffee, and bourbon barrel. There is some trace caramel and vanilla, and a faint whiff of malt.

T: The barrel-aging confers a strong bourbon imprint. Healthy amounts of coffee beans and cacao nibs. Pairs well with caramel and vanilla that offer some sweetness. Faint oak and char towards the finish, with a flourishing of warming booziness at the very end.

F: Full-bodied. A little thinner than the ABV would suggest, a silky and smooth mouthfeel. Light carbonation.

O: Tremendous sipper. It's not quite an RIS but it's closer to that style than it is to a pastry stout that's labeled an 'AIS'. This batch was a 13.1 ABV. Definitely hits the classic barrel-aged imperial stout profile - keeps it simple, nothing crazy. Will return.

Wow! Grabbed one at a bar in Texas. Pricey, but worth it. Glad to see it after recently picking up a Memphistopholes on a trip to Colorado. Need to get to Boulder soon.