Two icons of flavor reunite as Brooklyn Brewery, a craft brewing pioneer and global innovator in beer, and Four Roses Distillery, the legendary Kentucky bourbon house, introduce the 2025 edition of Brooklyn Black Ops (12.4% ABV) — the seventh annual release in their acclaimed collaboration.
Since 2019, each year the teams behind these brands come together to celebrate the shared craftsmanship of brewing and distilling. The 2025 vintage once again showcases a Russian Imperial Stout aged for three months in Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon barrels, hand-selected by Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott. The result is a beer with extraordinary balance — bourbon warmth and depth layered into rich stout character, yielding a smooth, indulgent finish.
"I'm going to say that Black Ops 2025 might be our best Ops release yet," says Brooklyn Brewery's James Beard Award-winning Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver. "All the flavors are punchy, sleek, racy and so well-integrated and smooth that the 12.4% ABV is a bit sneaky. This is a 'stout-drinker's stout' full of clean roast flavor and beautiful bourbon notes - I'm loving it after dinner and with desserts."
The 2025 release offers a lush flavor profile of dark cocoa nibs, milk chocolate, and vanilla-forward oak, accented by subtle notes of caramelized sugar and bourbon sweetness. It's ideal for sipping on its own or pairing with decadent desserts, dark chocolate ganache, rich pastries, or strong aged cheese — and for a playful twist, try it as a Black Ops Float with vanilla ice cream.
"It's always a pleasure to revisit this collaboration and search for the exact Four Roses barrels that will best complement the incredible beer Brooklyn Brewery creates," said Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller. "This partnership allows me to think a bit differently — to explore how our bourbon can take on a new life while still delivering the balance and nuance Four Roses fans expect. It hits all the right notes for our loyal bourbon drinkers, yet offers a flavor profile that's entirely its own."
The 2025 Brooklyn Black Ops will be available beginning late October in 16-ounce four-packs nationwide where Brooklyn Brewery products are sold, as well as at Brooklyn Brewery's Tasting Room in Williamsburg, and the Four Roses Distillery Visitor Centers in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and Cox's Creek, Kentucky.
ABOUT BROOKLYN BREWERY:
Brooklyn Brewery is a leading global independent craft brewer and a pioneer of the American craft beer revolution. From our home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we are always in the making, drawing inspiration from our local community of innovators, makers, and doers to spread the culture and creativity of craft beer to 30 states and over 30 countries on 5 continents.
ABOUT FOUR ROSES:
Established in 1888, Four Roses combines two mashbills with five proprietary yeast strains to distill and age 10 distinct bourbon recipes, each with its own unique flavor profile. With distilling and warehousing operations in Lawrenceburg and Cox's Creek, Kentucky, respectively, Four Roses is available in all 50 states. This past year, Four Roses received 53 awards, including 1 Double Platinum medal, 9 Platinum medals, 4 Double Gold medals, and 24 Gold medals from esteemed competitions such as the American Whiskey Masters and Whiskies of the World. Among these accolades, Four Roses was also named World's Best Single Barrel at the World Whiskies Awards, further cementing its place among the world's most celebrated bourbon producers.
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