Black OPS
Brooklyn Brewery

Black OPSBlack OPS
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From:
Brooklyn Brewery
 
New York, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #270
ABV:
11.6%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,949
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 12.35%
Reviews:
903
Ratings:
2,586
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 05, 2024
Added:
Dec 20, 2007
Wants:
  472
Gots:
  1,280
Brooklyn Black Ops (2008 commercially available version) was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented in the bottle with Champagne yeast. 940 cases produced.

10.7%-2008
11.6%-2009
11.3%-2010
10.7%-2011
10.5%-2012
11.5%-2013
11.6%-2014
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MasterSki:
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was the Winter '08/'09 edition. Consumed out of an odd bulge-in-the-middle glass at a house party. Thanks to dschuster03 for this one. Bottle #3178.

A - Big reddish mocha foam, with over two fingers in a smaller glass. Excellent retention that settles to a thick cap. The body is pitch black, without any traces of color. There are a few spots of lacing left as the beer is consumed.

S - Earthy bourbon, sharp oak, some dark roast coffee, and a touch of coconut. There's not much of the vanilla or butterscotch flavors that I expect from a barrel-aged stout. The smell is a little harsh and acrid before it warms up, and it's still on the boozy side, even after a year.

T - The taste is much mellower, with a lot of fudge, chocolate, and marshmallow flavors, and significantly less bourbon character. The notes of coffee are also relegated to some light bitterness in the aftertaste that mixes with some tannic character as well. This is more of a 4.25, as I really dig the lack of booziness in the flavor, but have misgivings about the reduction in complexity from the aroma.

M - Medium bodied, with lower carbonation, and quite slick and sticky. Could be a little heftier for a 10.7% brew. There's a touch of warmth at the back end.

D - Surprisingly easy to drink, as the slick texture and minimal alcohol taste make it easy to keep reaching for another sip. The biggest problem is the lack of a defining characteristic when compared to other bourbon-barrel imperial stouts, combined with the somewhat excessive price. This is at least 50% more than a bomber of BCS, with only an extra 4oz or so.

Still, it's worth trying. I'll be interested to see how the fresh batch compares.
Jan 10, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of CruzinCooler
Reviewed by CruzinCooler from New Jersey

3.32/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Hmmm. Strange complexity even for a Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout. Hints of chocolate and coffee are expected. I’m thinking the Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon comes out being a bit more sour than sweet.
Mar 05, 2024
Photo of Matt_W
Reviewed by Matt_W from New York

4.06/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got a bottle as a gift in 2016. Just opened it today February 18, 2024. Poured dark black with very little head. Smooth with a bourbon bite after taste. I think I like the Goose Island bourbon barrel a little better. Overall a good beer but its one and done. I put a wine saver in it and will break it out in a couple of weeks. Cheers!
Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.24 by BeerMe8 from Florida

Dec 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by Blazer22 from Colorado

Dec 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.63 by Agriverbear from Texas

Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by VaporDome from New York

Nov 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by mmilyko from Nevada

Nov 17, 2023
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.62/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of bourbon, a touch of chocolate. Taste is strong of bourbon, light vanilla and chocolate. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.
Jun 25, 2023
Photo of izraelc
Rated by izraelc from New York

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark as night. Tan foam. Chocolate aroma. Dark cherry chocolate body. More tart than sweet. Light bitter alcohol finish. Good but not great.
Jun 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by smi69 from New York

Jun 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.44 by npendres from Wisconsin

Mar 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.03 by joran from Kansas

Mar 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by blackcloud from Alaska

Feb 27, 2023
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Solid black appearance with a very thin but lasting head.
Light carbonation with an above average body. Slight oily slick feel that coats the mouth.
Aroma is bourbon, scotch,malt, coffee, roasted malt.
Taste is malt,coffee,roasted malt, bourbon and wood.
Feb 27, 2023
Photo of mvanaskie13
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a wide mouth grip shaped glass: color is black, head is tan and presents a thin top and dissipates to a ring and spotty top.

Smell is light bourbon, vanilla, toast, chocolate, espresso, roasted malt.

Taste is more emphatic: bourbon, oak, toast, vanilla, chocolate, espresso, roasted malt, dark fruit, light booziness for this strength.

Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low bitterness but notable boozy feel but still seems smooth.

Overall a smooth feel at nearly 12% with nice cacao and oaked flavor.
Jan 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by WynnO from Florida

Jan 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Jan 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by petrusek23 from Ohio

Jan 15, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Jan 11, 2023
Black OPS from Brooklyn Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 2586 ratings