The Bruery So Happens It’s Tuesday

Brewery: The Bruery
Country: USA
ABV: 14.6%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels. A dark and delicious display of rich malt, toasty oak flavors and vanilla-like notes from extended aging in bourbon barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Our infamous Black Tuesday® stout is named in honor of the great stock market crash of 1929. So Happens It’s Tuesday™ is similarly dark and delicious, but in a more affable format, reminding us that there is always a bit of good to be found within the bad. Things happen, life goes on. This beer can be enjoyed in all of those moments and seasons.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.46
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 750ml bottle, with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin tanned head that had decent retention but settled to a ring around the glass while leaving some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, oak, bourbon, with notes of prunes and other dark fruits.
Taste: As you’d expect from the aroma, lightly sweet, chocolate, cocoa, bourbon, vanilla, oak, dark fruit, prunes.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium to full bodied, with low carbonation.
Overall: It’s well balanced and dangerously drinkable at 14.6% ABV. As temperatures drop again, this was an enjoyable sipper that provides a comfortable warming feeling.

Deschutes The Abyss Brandy Barrel Aged

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 13.3%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: 2016 remarkably limited release. Barrel aged in brandy barrels for 12 months

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperial Stout brewed with black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark and whole vanilla beans, 100% aged in brandy barrels for 12 months.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, bottled on 9th December 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a very thin brown head that dissipated fairly quickly but left some nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Moderate roast, chocolate, coffee, light char, and some sweet notes of molasses, licorice, and brandy.
Taste: Sweet and bitter, roasty, chocolate, coffee, light char smoke, molasses, licorice, vanilla, oak, and a touch of brandy.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A very nice and enjoyable sipper. There was a good balance between sweet and bitter, and the brandy barrel was complementary and not overpowering.

Deschutes Pinot Suave

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 11.8%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Belgian style ale with pinot noir grapes aged in French oak barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian style ale aged in French Pinot Noir barrels with Pinot Noir grape must. The result, notes of Pinot grape, berries and fruit along with light malt and a hint of caramel.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.1
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, bottled on 25th April 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: An amber orange brown colour with a thin tanned head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, caramel, dark fruit, prunes, fig, vinous, grape.
Taste: Sweet, vinous, overripe grape, dark fruit, prunes, raisin, caramel, oak, with red berry notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A touch sweet, but the Pinot Noir grape must and barrels give this sipper some nice interesting aroma and flavours.

Deschutes Black Butte XXIX

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 12.2%
Style: Porter – Imperial
Other Notes: 29th Birthday Reserve. Porter brewed with Dutched cocoa, Saigon cinnamon, and cayenne, 50% aged in Bourbon and Rum barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) In celebration of our 29th anniversary this year’s Imperial Porter delivers notes of dark chocolate and cinnamon spice with hints of coconut, vanilla, and dried fruit finished by a warm dash of cayenne.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.33
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, 29th birthday reserve, bottled on 12th June 2017. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown in colour with a thin khaki head that had dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass while leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, dark chocolate, cayenne, vanilla, rum, dark fruit, plum, raisin, with a hint of cinnamon.
Taste: Roasted malts, dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, rum, dark fruit, plum, raisin, with a very light hint of chili spice.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A very enjoyable sipper with adjuncts that work very well together.

Deschutes Black Butte XXVIII

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 11.6%
Style: Porter – Imperial
Other Notes: 28th Birthday Reserve. Imperial Porter brewed with cocoa, vanilla, peated malt and sweet orange peel with 50% aged in bourbon and scotch barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Cocoa, vanilla, peated malt, and sweet orange peel. 50% barrel aged in bourbon and scotch barrels. The result is our 28th Anniversary Imperial Porter with bright orange and vanilla aroma, layers of roasty chocolate and a warm, smokey finish.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.19
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, 28th birthday reserve, bottled on 13th June 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a thin khaki head that dissipates quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma: Dark fruit, raisin, prunes, orange peel, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, with a hint of peat.
Taste: Lightly sweet, light roast, chocolate, vanilla, orange peel, bourbon, dark fruit, raisins, prunes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: A very nice sipper with lots of dark fruit, chocolate, orange and bourbon.