Avery Brewing Co. to Release Black Eye Rum Barrel-Aged Stout

09 Oct 2014 --- Black Eye, the newest addition to Avery’s Barrel-Aged Series, is an 18.82% ABV Imperial Stout aged in fresh rum barrels. It’s also a tongue-in-cheek nod to the infamous Black Tot, no 3. in Avery’s Barrel-Aged Series released back in 2010.

Avery’s Chief Barrel Herder Andy Parker says their goal in making Black Eye was to accentuate the rum barrels. “We used de-husked dark malts to add chocolate notes to complement the rich caramel and toffee flavors from the fresh rum barrels.”

“Black Eye tastes like the best kind of toasted marshmallow,” says Founder and CEO Adam Avery. “One that’s been soaked in rum.”

Avery’s Head Brewer Matt Thrall also gets lots of rum flavors from Black Eye. “With the rum are notes of vanilla and sweet dark cherries, followed by a warming feeling. At 18%, this isn’t really a sessionable lawnmower beer,” Thrall says. “But it’s the perfect snow shoveling? beer.”

Avery will release four more barrel-aged beers within the next few months: a sour ale aged in Madeira barrels, Tweak Bourbon Barrel-Aged Coffee Stout, and two grape-beer hybrids.

Black Eye will debut at a release party on Sunday, October 12 at the Avery Tap Room in Boulder. The line party will start at 11am and will feature rare beers on draft, with bottle sales beginning at 1pm. Bottles are 12oz. and will be sold for $12 each. Only 424 cases were produced; fans will be able to buy up to 12 bottles, and availability can only be guaranteed at the Avery Tap Room during the release party until the beer runs out.