When The Bruery closed their Union Market store in 2023, they hinted that they might not be done in the area. They’re still hinting that. “We hope one day to bring a proper tasting room to Northern Virginia,” Bruery CEO Barry Holmes tells us. Why Virginia? It turns out that outside of California, no state has more Bruery memberships than Virginia. “The shipping laws help, but mostly the taste for great beer there is elevated,” says Holmes, flattering the Commonwealth.
Keeping it Virginia, The Bruery’s 2026 Black Tuesday Distillers Coalition release finds the imperial stout aged in American single malt whisky casks from Virginia Distillery Co.
“Our team has long been fans,” adds Holmes. But wait, there’s more! After those casks were emptied, they were sent back to age more whisky. That’s right, there’s a whisky barrel-aged beer and then a beer barrel-aged whisky. (And yes, Streetcar 82 and Clonakilty are doing something similar this month.)
Virginia Distillery Co. uses barrels that previously held bourbon for aging their single malt whisky. American single malts employ a mash entirely made up of barley, as opposed to bourbon, which is majority corn. Most of the distillery’s malt comes from the midwest, malted in Great Falls, Montana, but they have used Murphy & Rude as well. The distillery is no stranger to aging whisky in barrels that previously held beer; they’ve done it with Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout and Foothills Brewing Sexual Chocolate as part of their Brewers Coalition series, but past collaborations were one way streets. This fall both a whisky-influenced beer and a beer-influenced whisky will be available.
Black Tuesday Distillers Coalition, an imperial stout north of 19% alcohol by volume, showcases the distillery’s second use barrels. Instead of bourbon’s notes of oak, vanilla, and baking spices, American single malt’s characteristics include “honey, toasted grain, biscuit, and malt-forward notes, all layered onto Black Tuesday’s chocolate, roast, and dark fruit profile,” Holmes tells us. “We expect these casks to produce a more nuanced, whisky-driven expression than a traditional bourbon barrel.” Amanda Beckwith, Virginia Distillery Co.’s Director of Liquid Development also has tasting notes, which include “vanilla, light citrus, orchard fruit, soft oak and spice.” The distillery’s base whisky is aged 5 years.
Beckwith adds that second use bourbon barrels “dial back the more aggressive oak notes” sometimes found in both bourbon and barrel-aged stouts. “I believe there’s a real through line between American Single Malt and a quality barrel aged stout. The depth and richness of the malt character found in both the beer and the whisky can meld beautifully and come together to elevate unexpected flavors,” she tells us.
Following additional aging in the barrels that held Black Tuesday, look for “notes of blackberry jam, caramel, citrus fruit, chocolate and star anise.” The whisky release consists of six barrels, so supplies are limited and available via the distillery. Yes, they ship, and at $54.99 it comes in below the price of the Courage and Conviction series of singles malts that Virginia Distillery Co. is perhaps best known for. The beer version via The Bruery comes out in late October, traditionally the time of their annual Black Tuesday release. At present The Bruery does not have a DC distributor, but they ship to the District, Maryland, and Virginia, and are signed with Speciality in the Commonwealth, so the beer may be available in limited quantities in Virginia beer stores. Expect to pay about $25 for a 375 mL bottle.
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