The Bruery Black Tuesday 2016

**Aroma:** “Bourbon! Burnt toast. I could just smell this all day … until I got thirsty. Great roast and nutty qualities with hints of coconut and awesome barrel character—big, boozy bourbon with loads of vanilla. Lots of oak, even with a touch of almond. Caramel malt sweetness and chocolate in excess.” **Flavor:** “Big bourbon notes with vanilla plus huge oaky tannins, chocolate, and caramel. Yeast character is subdued and clean. Hops are hiding in the wings. Tastes like Grandpa’s tobacco pipe smells—warm, comforting, and timeless. Definite bourbon and vanilla sweetness and oak character.” **Overall:** “Such a wonderful beer. The alcohol is no joke, but it’s rich, complex, and sweet. Barrel character complements and balances the base beer. The boozy quality helps to make this beer and builds in layers with the sweet vanilla, bourbon, and chocolate.”

**Aroma:** “Sherry, dark fruits, roasted pecans, molasses, and caramel malt notes with hints of vanilla and a touch of tobacco/leather, perhaps from the barrel. Strong barrel character, perhaps cognac?” **Flavor:** “Toasted marshmallows, with hints of caramel, toffee, and butterscotch, followed by a complex barrel contribution, with hints of vanilla, tobacco, and licorice, all complemented by apricot, raisin, date, fig, and plum. Strong alcohol backbone: spicy and warming, but very smooth. The lightly bitter aftertaste is like a smooth roasted coffee.” **Overall:** “This beer offers some of the most complex barrel character I have ever had in a beer. With notes of licorice, figs, dates, vanilla, and even tobacco all complementing the rich, full-bodied malt character, this is a truly unique beer to experience. Even the tiniest of sips offers a world of flavor.”

**Aroma:** “Cherry, fig, and raspberry tart aromas dominate. Grape notes with a touch of sourness and low malt sweetness. As it warms, grape notes recede and sourness comes forward.” **Flavor:** “Flavors of cherry, blackberry, fig, and biscuity malt with a clean lactic sour. The light sourness is well balanced by the round, full-bodied malt character. Lingering sweetness and a dry finish. Some spicy phenolics. Moderate tartness up front that’s mildly fruity. High carbonation with a medium body. Linger is dry with fruity notes and is medium lasting. Acidity is moderately high and balanced by the residual malt character.” **Overall:** “Very crisp and refreshing. High fruitiness mixed with high carbonation and a touch of acetic sourness and touch of herbal. The fruity sweetness is complex and well-balanced with a slight acetic sourness. A classic example of the style. Very tasty and smooth. Not super complex, but very nice.”