The Bruery Grey Monday 2021 Bourbon Hazelnuts

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

4.3Untappd

Grey Monday (2021) pours an impenetrable, oily black with minimal tan head that dissipates swiftly — a hallmark of this massively boozy, 18.6% ABV imperial stout from The Bruery in Placentia, California. Head retention is expectedly brief, leaving behind a rich, slick surface with faint carbonation rings. On the nose, waves of dark bitter chocolate, earthy bourbon, toasted hazelnut, molasses, and a touch of peat smoke build into an intoxicating and layered bouquet. Light vanilla and dried dark fruit emerge as the beer warms in the glass. On the palate, the mouthfeel is full-bodied and coating — dense without being cloying — with gentle carbonation lending a silky, almost wine-like texture.

Sweet roasted malt anchors the sip while cocoa powder, burnt caramel, charred oak, and black cherry deliver successive waves of complexity. The hazelnut character weaves subtly through the mid-palate, adding velvety nuttiness and a whisper of additional sweetness without dominating. The finish is long, mostly dry, and warming, with bourbon heat well-integrated at this vintage. Remarkably drinkable for its strength, Grey Monday rewards both immediate enjoyment and further cellaring. Explore tasting notes and check-ins on Untappd: https://untappd.com/b/the-bruery-grey-monday-2021/4329129

Food Pairing

The Bruery Grey Monday 2021 imperial stout pairs magnificently with a rich dark-chocolate fondant or a flourless chocolate torte — the hazelnut barrel character mirrors the bittersweet cocoa in perfect harmony. For a more savoury pairing, aged Comté or a well-matured blue cheese such as Roquefort provides salt and fat contrast that elevates the beer’s bourbon complexity and nutty depth.

The Bruery Grey Monday Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Hazelnuts (2021)