Black Crack
Southern Star Brewing Company

Black CrackBlack Crack
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From:
Southern Star Brewing Company
 
Texas, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.25%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.09 | pDev: 12.22%
Reviews:
49
Ratings:
346
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 07, 2020
Added:
Mar 13, 2013
Wants:
  50
Gots:
  96
Aged in Bourbon barrels, this specialty will have all of the rich malt flavor of its' base beer, our Buried Hatchet Stout, complimented by a caramel, woody sweetness and vanilla notes from prolonged contact with American Oak. Dark tobacco, medium char and hints of the original Bourbon make this hard to find release a real treat.
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Rated: 4.52 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 07, 2020
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.99/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can from Whole Foods-Lamar. Mild, smooth, but the Imperial nature comes on late, lingering bitterness and mild burn. Chocolate, coffee, burnt toast, tar.
Jan 09, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Dec 06, 2019
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Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas

4.36/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Funny name but it is a great tasting stout (no matter what associations the name may allude to)

Look: Black with an inch thick fluffy mocca colored head

Aroma: roasted malts, chocolate, bourbon, some coffee.

Taste: The flavor is roasted malts, caramel, chocolate, vanilla, mild coffee, oak, bourbon. It's complex, a tad sweet but not too much, not too hoppy, quite easy drinking for an Imperial Stout and it leaves a nice chocolate and bourbon after taste..

Body/Overall: medium body, a bit light for a big stout, but easy drinking
Nov 10, 2019
Photo of JohnDee
Reviewed by JohnDee from Texas

3.77/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Black with a thin tan head. Smells a little of molasses. Roasted malt dominates the flavor though oak and vanilla are also present. Boozy, but a bit on the charred side. Not as smooth as other aged stouts and not as complex, but not bad. Medium bodied.
Jul 13, 2019
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Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi

3.84/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had poured from pint can, with 2017 on the label and bottom stamped (apparently) canned on “111517,” gift from personal bartender, into nonic pint.

Regrettably, I haven’t had the Buried Hatchet Stout that went into the Bourbon barrels. But based on the brewery description of that beer, the main effect of the barrel aging is in the aroma, and perhaps in added alcohol warmth in the finish.
Apr 29, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by monk2021 from Texas

Feb 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Sir_Goatman from Oregon

Feb 05, 2019
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Reviewed by WreckEmAll from Texas

2.88/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
There are much better imperial stouts out there not to mention bourbon barrel stouts. This one seems watered down both in mouth feel and taste. I’m not a fan.
Dec 10, 2018
Photo of VVino
Reviewed by VVino from Texas

2.11/5  rDev -48.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
This comes off as a less carbonated version of their standard Burried Hatchet Stout. Previous years have been much better. Uninspired and worth skipping this year. Disappointing.
Dec 04, 2018
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Reviewed by HoodviewBrew from Texas

3.19/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Funny. I actually liked the regular Buried Hatchet way more than this. This feels like an obligatory "let's stick some beer in a barrel and triple the price" effort. Disappointed.
Oct 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by szmnnl99 from Michigan

Sep 03, 2018
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Reviewed by cavedave from New York

4.16/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Big thanks to Premo88 for this super delicious BA stout

Pours black with a thin skim of finely bubbled tan foam that relaxes quickly to a lasting ring. A swirl produces thin, oily lace.

Delicious, medium strength aroma that brings the words mocha vanilla bourbon to mind. It is a rich aroma that fills me with anticipation.

Medium strength, well balanced mix of sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, cocoa, and light coffee notes, that gets joined by roasty bitter and bourbon to close with a warming semi dry blast.

Light bodied for style, nice low carb., light/med. viscosity, with a clean excellent finish that lasts.

This is a beer that is straightforward and well balanced with clean flavors that blend well and def. hit all the pleasure notes a good BA stout should hit. Recommended for sure.
Sep 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.11 by KShophead from Kansas

Jul 15, 2018
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Reviewed by hophugger from Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
darkest brown ever with khaki head and non-existent lacing. Bourbon is the main player on the nose and the palatte. some oak and vanilla come through, but mouth feel is very thin and this beer lacks the complexity that it should have as a a barrel-aged beer
Jul 10, 2018
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance; Deep mahogany brown, almost impervious to light, with a modest tan head. Thick, glass coating lacing adorns the glass walls.

Aroma: Massive aroma of bourbon and wood, with a substantial punch of alcohol. Oak notes seem particularly prominent, but black coffee and cocoa are present as well.

Taste: Opens with massive sweet dark malt, coffee, and oak. The sweet alcohol also carries a punch of bourbon-like flavor. A mellow current of oak runs throughout the taste. Bitter cocoa and coffee have their roles to play, as well. Finishes with a wave of bitter cocoa and cold coffee.

Mouth feel: Rich, soft, and very full, velvety on the palate.

Drinkability/notes: Really excellent, though painfully expensive at $11.99 + tax per pint can. Still, not to be missed, it would be twice as much, or more, in craft beer bar.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard sixteen-ounce aluminum can, served in a Sam Adams Boston Lager sensory glass.
May 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by archero from Texas

May 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by ZachMayer14 from Texas

Apr 13, 2018
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Reviewed by OKbrew89 from Oklahoma

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2017 Can. It's not the best bourbon barrel aged stout, but one of my personal favorites. The barrel aging has complimented the roasty mother beer and given it a near perfect balance. There could be more done to make it more unique, but it's a stout with a kiss of barrel aging that's full bodied and not overly boozy.
Mar 25, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by Musineer from Texas

Mar 24, 2018
Black Crack from Southern Star Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 346 ratings