Grey Monday - The Bruery

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BA SCORE
100
world-class
-
109 Ratings

rAvg: 4.59
pDev: 6.75%
Reviews: 19
Hads: 90

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
The Bruery

California, United States

Style | ABV
American Double / Imperial Stout | 19.50% ABV

Availability: Limited (brewed once). bottle (16), cask (2), on-tap (1).

Notes:
Grey Monday is a special version of our Black Tuesday imperial stout that has been aged on hazelnuts.

View: Beers (63) | Reviews (49) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by tectactoe:

tectactoe

Michigan

4.83/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Wow, Grey fuckin' Monday. Big thanks to Ron, Tim, and Mike for letting me partake in this craziness, even though I think I would've been contempt just sitting there smelling the wax. This one pours nearly black with a very small and menacing tan head that is reduced to a ring pretty quickly. Seemingly low carbonation, this one looks very thick and syrupy on the pour - I would expect nothing less from this 19.5% ABV beast.

And whoof... the aroma washes over my senses like a goddamn tidal wave. Chocolate, both dark and milky, smooth bourbon, sweet vanilla, roasted hazelnuts. Much like it's counterpart, Chocolate Rain, this beer has such an intoxicating and powerful aroma that demands attention. One thing I like about Grey Monday, however, is that it seems slightly less sweet and and abrasive than Chocolate Rain. But don't get me wrong - the sweetness is still there on the nose. Brown sugar, thick molasses, melted fudge. Another thing I love about Grey Monday is that the bourbon aroma is so smooth; not harsh or burning the nostrils at all. This is an amazingly crafted beer, and I haven't even brought the thing to my lips yet.

And just like Chocolate Rain, Grey Monday hits the palate and injects an intense sweetness throughout your entire nervous system. But just as the aroma indicated, tasting has confirmed - the sweetness of Grey Monday is controlled so much better than it was in Chocolate Rain. It's the "super sweet but still manageable" sweetness, and it's perfect. The flavors explode like a fucking bomb on my palate: vanilla, hazelnut, light cocoa, bourbon, oak and wood. Chocolate Rain felt like 19.5% ABV. Grey Monday does not. It's got that heavy warmth - but the bourbon is so smooth and even "soft", and it goes down like a dream. There's no way this thing is almost 20% ABV.

I love the hazelnut addition - not only because I love hazelnuts, but because it was done masterfully. It was subtle enough as to not wash any other flavors out (see: Frangelic Mountain Brown), but at the same time - it was noticeable and appreciated with each and every sip. As this bad boy warms up, more flavors emerge and the present ones just get stronger. Big coffee and roasted malts join the party. Nutty, smooth, boozy, and sweet all at once. There is a certain harmony between all of these things - a detailed system of checks and balances. The aftertaste is a collection of hazelnut, nuts, cocoa, vanilla, bourbon, and brown sugar sweetness. Nice, creamy body with a slick mouth feel, surprisingly not as sticky as you'd expect.

Jesus, I didn't want this one to end. I liked Chocolate Rain a lot. But Grey Monday takes two of my biggest "peeves" about CR (too much sweetness and a little too boozy) and fixes them elegantly. The sweetness is toned down and controlled better, and the bourbon is as smooth as you could imagine. Plus, the addition of hazelnut was nearly perfect. Sounds crazy, but I think I could finish the entire bottle of this without getting sick of it. Oh yeah, don't forget to smell the fucking wax. Thanks again to Tim, Ron, and Mike - I'm forever in debt.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 17:22:36 | More by tectactoe

More User Reviews:

bauermj

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev -2%

05-17-2013 23:58:52 | More by bauermj

raffy313

Texas

4.5/5 rDev -2%

05-17-2013 03:34:20 | More by raffy313

Sethzilla

Texas

3.75/5 rDev -18.3%

05-13-2013 19:47:38 | More by Sethzilla

kscaldef

Oregon

4.5/5 rDev -2%

05-13-2013 19:17:27 | More by kscaldef

koopa

New Jersey

4.25/5 rDev -7.4%

05-12-2013 02:29:47 | More by koopa

largadeer

California

4.5/5 rDev -2%

05-08-2013 04:45:10 | More by largadeer

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.75/5 rDev +3.5%

05-07-2013 17:14:50 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

IPAyForHops

California

4.25/5 rDev -7.4%

05-02-2013 23:07:32 | More by IPAyForHops

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev -7.4%

05-02-2013 04:10:30 | More by spycow

VaTechHopHead

California

4.75/5 rDev +3.5%

04-30-2013 22:39:24 | More by VaTechHopHead

ridglens

Indiana

4.75/5 rDev +3.5%

04-28-2013 23:39:29 | More by ridglens

Etan

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev -7.4%

04-28-2013 04:44:44 | More by Etan

enelson

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev -2%

04-28-2013 01:10:12 | More by enelson

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.4/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Oh yeah....split with JLindros thanks to last years reserve society.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a deep dark black bye with a quarter inch head that faded to legs....octopus legs haunt my glass. Gah.

S - Gaahhhh...aromas of rich chocolate, bourbon, alcohol, tons of barrel and vanilla. Not getting much hazelnut though but still my goodness is this good.

T - Taste is tons of sweet malts, loads of chocolate and vanilla...my God is there alot of chocolate and vanilla and bourbon and oak. This is plainly amped up black Tuesday with sweeter chocolate malts. The hazelnut ..its almost a dairy creamer type flavour. Damn tasty if I may say so...like an almond joy melted in my mouth.

M - Mouthfeel is damn good for the ABV. Lowly carbonated, thick, lightly boozy....this is a sipper for sure.

O - Overall this was a good beer, wish the hazelnut was more prominent. Tons of chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, super faint hazelnut....solid black Tuesday variant.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 23:16:45 | More by rudzud

DarthKostrizer

California

4.5/5 rDev -2%

04-22-2013 02:50:04 | More by DarthKostrizer

ehammond1

California

4.48/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2012)

The Bruery
Placentia, CA

Black, heavy, and viscous throughout. Very, very small film of minimal carbonation. Leaves the glass oily on the way down. Appropriate, and pretty enough, though this beer's appearance is not what makes it special.

Exceptionally rich aroma: vanilla and very sweet chocolates, lots of barrel (coconut, stinging bourbon, Mounds bars), and a distinct, integrated, lovely, and sweet hazelnut addition. The base beer (Black Tuesday) is quite present, obviously, but the addition of hazelnuts is a welcome one that works.

As with Black Tuesday, this is sweet, rich, chocolate, and barrel-forward. This does seem a bit more subdued though and slightly less raw and aggressive than regular Black Tuesday, with distinct, authentic, flavorful hazelnut present, especially on the swallow and lingering finish. Some alcohol heat, but not quite as strong as regular Black Tuesday.

Full in body with low, creamy, silky carbonation.

Fantastic Black Tuesday variant.

Additionally, the wax smells of hazelnuts.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 16:45:56 | More by ehammond1