Great Lakes Blackout Stout - Great Lakes Brewing Company

sopor

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark red-tinted cola black. A perfect creamy-looking mocha colored head fills the airspace of my pint mug fully, almost to the point of overflowing, thank god for surface tension! This head can stick nearly half an inch over the rim of the glass! Absolutely black in the glass, with cherry-wood and mahogany highlights at the edges of the glass. Head is dissipating very slowly and leaving splotch lace on the glass. A thin film makes it all the way through the pint, with lace forming until the very end (I drank it pretty quick...)

Smells of creamy coffe and bitter dry roast malt. Hints of bittersweet chocolate mingle with notes of roast nuts.

A very well balancesd, very drinkable Imperial Stout. I'm a Pale Ale kinda guy, but this beer is showing me the light, or should I say dark! Starts with bittersweet chocolate leading into nutty roast malt with just the barest touch of bitter black malts and coffee. A very balanced hop addition ties the brew off and leaves you with an aftertaste of hop and chocolate/malt bitterness. Very pleasant IMO, I am an IPA fan, and this is a whole new kind of wonderful bitterness.

Body is full and thick, though not too heavy and oilly like I was afraid it might be.

A great flavor profile and not overly thick body make Blackout an incredible and very drinkable stout. Now if you can handle the 9% abv like its nothing, then you could probably pound this. As for me... this is my second beer today... I'm going to take a nap after this...

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2006 00:32:49 | More by sopor

Cvescalante

Texas

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-19-2013 15:11:32 | More by Cvescalante

ValpoExpo

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

06-17-2013 20:08:14 | More by ValpoExpo

justin_nj

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle dated "please enjoy by 4/28/13".

A: Pours black with a reddish tinge around the edge of the glass. Minimal head that dissipated quickly and left a ring of small bubbles around the surface of the glass. Decent lacing.

S: A bit of coffee, dark chocolate, cream, roasted malt, and a hint of soy sauce that I picked up on the first smell of the beer but could barely find again. Nothing spectacular but a nice smelling stout.

T: Coffee bitterness up front that turns into sweet chocolate in the middle of the mouth. The huge roast qualities come in immediately as you swallow the beer. Dark fruits, raisins, figs, a hint of dark cherry are apparent as the beer warms up as well as sweet coffee. Slight alcohol as it goes down but it's a very drinkable imperial stout. Coffee and hop bitterness, and roasted/burnt malt linger long after each sip.

M: Medium body that coats your entire mouth. Very creamy and slick. Pop of carbonation as it goes down. Carbonation makes it seem lighter bodied than it actually is. The alcohol is noticeable and provides a slight bit of warming, but not nearly to the point where you have to sip on it.

O: Highly enjoyable. This beer sticks around on your palate for quite a while. It's a very roasty and bitter stout. A bit over carbonated for me, but I'd drink this any time the opportunity presents itself. Great Lakes never disappoints.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 04:02:14 | More by justin_nj

smartassboiler

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-15-2013 17:21:08 | More by smartassboiler

riemster

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-14-2013 04:24:46 | More by riemster

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-12-2013 02:30:26 | More by Jason1337

goblin7704

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-11-2013 22:23:10 | More by goblin7704

ThreeKingdoms

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-11-2013 16:12:05 | More by ThreeKingdoms

EdTheEdge

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-10-2013 12:54:46 | More by EdTheEdge

jarrgal

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-10-2013 03:13:33 | More by jarrgal

blackcloud

Alaska

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-08-2013 06:29:31 | More by blackcloud

thehappybelgian

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-08-2013 03:24:04 | More by thehappybelgian

dbc5

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-06-2013 03:09:47 | More by dbc5

jkane101

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

06-05-2013 23:02:42 | More by jkane101

thegerm87

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-04-2013 01:22:16 | More by thegerm87

nineworldseries

Ohio

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-02-2013 23:25:34 | More by nineworldseries

Ragnarok88

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-01-2013 19:15:03 | More by Ragnarok88

Jasonrm72

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-01-2013 01:46:49 | More by Jasonrm72

sir_rucker

Ohio

5/5  rDev +18.2%

05-30-2013 20:01:06 | More by sir_rucker

firstlighthiker

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-29-2013 17:52:47 | More by firstlighthiker

gtermi

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-28-2013 01:17:07 | More by gtermi

RayUF07

Florida

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-25-2013 05:26:40 | More by RayUF07

pmarlowe

California

4.14/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Best by 05/05/12. Tasted alongside BA Blackout Stout. Teku glass.

A: Pours mostly black, a dark coffee brown around the edges, with a half finger of light brown head which recedes quickly to a thick ring. Quite good clarity. Good retention for what's there, and a few streaks and dots of lacing.

S: Roasted malt and a little chocolate, *slight* soy sauce, and cream.

T: Coffee-forward with a little roasted malt and milk chocolate, and more milk chocolate on a long finish. Nicely balanced, all three flavors come through but none dominates.

M: Medium-light body and medium-high carbonation which softens over the course of the pour.

O: Overall, a tasty, well balanced stout. Smells a little oxidized, but that may be due to being after the best by date (oops). I'd be happy to have regular access to this.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 04:42:52 | More by pmarlowe

nstorts

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-21-2013 02:07:06 | More by nstorts