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Rackhouse
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.13 | pDev: 8.23%
- Reviews:
- 47
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 23, 2020
- Added:
- Oct 27, 2005
- Wants:
- 14
- Gots:
- 12
Sweet ale aged in oak bourbon barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by neenerzig:
Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio
4.22/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.22/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Had this at the GLBC last night as it is another of their on-tap "pub exclusives." Served in a snifter. This beer is a a deep mahogany color. Very little head and lace from the get go on mine and my buddy's. Strong malty and fruity aromas are present as well as the oaked bourbon as the beer is aged in oak bourbon barrels. Sweet malty flavors and dark fruit such as cherry and perhaps plum are also present along with some caramel. The taste is rounded out the the bite that can only be present when a beer has been aged in oak bourbon barrels. I love it! Has a crisp, full bodied mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. Much more drinkable that I would have anticipated given the high ABV. Another winner from Great lakes. I hope to drink this again before it is gone until next year.
Eric
Dec 03, 2007Eric
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.2/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22 ounce bottle into a tulip snifter. Had 10/5/18.
Pours a clear medium amber, with a one and a half inch foamy head and some slippery, foamy lacing. Aromas of figs, dates, malt, toffee, brown sugar, raisins, light apples and cherries, faint bourbon. The flavor shows more bourbon, then figs, dates, malt, plums, raisins, caramel, some brown sugar, light vanilla, a hint of cherries. It’s a bit sweet. Smooth, a good medium body, well carbonated.
Great aroma and flavor, has a big feel for a lighter body. Well made and enjoyable. Also had on tap, which I thought was slightly better, and that’s factored into the overall rating. Worth a purchase.
Apr 16, 2019Pours a clear medium amber, with a one and a half inch foamy head and some slippery, foamy lacing. Aromas of figs, dates, malt, toffee, brown sugar, raisins, light apples and cherries, faint bourbon. The flavor shows more bourbon, then figs, dates, malt, plums, raisins, caramel, some brown sugar, light vanilla, a hint of cherries. It’s a bit sweet. Smooth, a good medium body, well carbonated.
Great aroma and flavor, has a big feel for a lighter body. Well made and enjoyable. Also had on tap, which I thought was slightly better, and that’s factored into the overall rating. Worth a purchase.
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts
4.08/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 oz bottle from 2018 release into the test glass
A - Mahogany colored, clear as a bell, with meandering carbonation strolling top side. A thin cap of white is quick to recede.
S - Notes of vanilla, some barrel tannin, toasted oak, earthy grains. light brown sugar, caramel also
T - Well that follows the aromatics well. add toffee, and more earthy grains and you have a treat here for sure.
M - A bit slick to start, quick shift to semi sweet, then drying out with a sweet bourbon linger.
O - A very rich offering, with excellent feel. The flavors run a field through the base ale and barrel treatment. Excellent offering
Jan 01, 2019A - Mahogany colored, clear as a bell, with meandering carbonation strolling top side. A thin cap of white is quick to recede.
S - Notes of vanilla, some barrel tannin, toasted oak, earthy grains. light brown sugar, caramel also
T - Well that follows the aromatics well. add toffee, and more earthy grains and you have a treat here for sure.
M - A bit slick to start, quick shift to semi sweet, then drying out with a sweet bourbon linger.
O - A very rich offering, with excellent feel. The flavors run a field through the base ale and barrel treatment. Excellent offering
Reviewed by MacMalt from New Jersey
4.21/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On draught at the Stirling Hotel. 12 oz. pour served in a tulip glass. It pours a pretty light ruby-cola color with orange hues and a half finger of long-lasting, creamy, ecru-colored head and a thin sheen of creamy lacing. It has a pleasing smell of sweet malt, caramel, butterscotch, brown sugar, and light but noticeable bourbon. As expected, it's quite sweet and opens with caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch. At mid-sip I'm tasting black cherry and bourbon that is subtle enough not to distract from the other flavors. Each taste stands out but they blend seamlessly. This ale is thick and creamy with moderate carbonation, and you can feel the 9.5% ABV. It's a sipper and it paired really nicely with a brisket sandwich.
Jun 30, 2018Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.25/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours a hazy dark amber color with a slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has slight bourbon hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a bourbon flavor
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A good balanced American Strong Ale
Jun 27, 2018A-Aroma has slight bourbon hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a bourbon flavor
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A good balanced American Strong Ale
Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio
4.25/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
If you are at the Great Lakes pub you have a couple good alternatives beyond the usual brews from this oldest of craft brewers in the region. This is one of them.
It's a monster dark ale, a little deeper than red, with beautiful color and fizz. The aroma is a boozy blend, enhanced by the aging process. The taste is a well balanced strong ale (not too deep, dark and foreboding, but enough to know it is serious) and pretty smooth drinking for a big boy..
Highly recommended, This is the one you want to get rather than something you can also get bottled.
Jun 17, 2018It's a monster dark ale, a little deeper than red, with beautiful color and fizz. The aroma is a boozy blend, enhanced by the aging process. The taste is a well balanced strong ale (not too deep, dark and foreboding, but enough to know it is serious) and pretty smooth drinking for a big boy..
Highly recommended, This is the one you want to get rather than something you can also get bottled.
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania
4.12/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A great strong ale
Looks thick with auburn nutty hue
Smell is a caramel and bourbon mix
Tastes like wood with bourbon drenched booziness
Overall a bit strong in taste yet lots of bourbon makes for a warming sipper...Mouthfeel is easier on the palate as it finishes
Dec 10, 2017Looks thick with auburn nutty hue
Smell is a caramel and bourbon mix
Tastes like wood with bourbon drenched booziness
Overall a bit strong in taste yet lots of bourbon makes for a warming sipper...Mouthfeel is easier on the palate as it finishes
Rackhouse from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
108 ratings
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