Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout - Great Lakes Brewing Company

nhindian

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Review #150!

22oz bomber poured into a Great Lakes snifter.

2010 vintage.

Had a few bottles of this since the release back in October, but have been waiting for a special time to open this. Tomorrow's my birthday, so I figured I'd open it up now and drink it into the night and next morning!

A - For a beer named 'Blackout Stout', it's not the darkest beer I've seen by a longshot. There are rich, cola and chocolate colored highlights surrounding the beer and as the beer is tilted, you can easily see through it. Mostly just a very dark auburn color. A steady pour yields about a finger's worth of khaki colored head that has decent retention. Lacing is moderate, not much but what's there does last for a while. While drinking it's possible to see thin carbonation rising from the bottom, and there are patches of carbonation sticking to the side of the glass.

S - Smell is a very enticing combination of bourbon, oak, vanilla, sweet malts, slight dark fruits. Surprisingly not much chocolate or coffee notes which normally are flooding these kind of beers. Reminds me of Four Roses Eclipse in the way that the bourbon is well-integrated with the base beer rather than it being the sole focus.

T - As in the nose, the barrel just adds so much to the normal Blackout Stout without completely overshadowing it. Bourbon is noticeable and readily apparent, but it is complemented by a lot of the vanilla and fresh oak from the barrel, and the chocolate that was absent from the nose makes its way into the taste side-by-side with the vanilla and lingers far into the finish. At first the alcohol is a bit too hot, but as the beer warms up the rest of the beer helps compensate.

M - Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with low carbonation. Incredibly smooth and creamy, with a finish full of bourbon, chocolate, and alcohol. Leaves a thin coating on the palate.

D - Drinkability is high. While at first the alcohol is certainly present, it cools off and melds perfectly with the rest of the beer. I sipped this over the course of an hour and a half and was happy the entire time.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 05:34:42 | More by nhindian

kustard

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -20.5%

05-18-2013 21:13:02 | More by kustard

sommersb

Tennessee

4.36/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 05-17-2013
Freshness: 2013 Vintage
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: Received in a trade

A: Black and opaque, with just a touch of brown seen on the edges when held to light. The tan head fades quickly after pouring, with a low amount of lace. Makes sense for a 9.5% beer I'd say.

S: Complex aromas of dark cherry, oak, rich malts, vanilla and sweet dark fruits like dates.

T: Super-rich taste, with malty sweetness plus coffee roasts, molasses, and whiskey, which gives a nice warming of alcohol.

M: Thick bodied and highly carbonated, with a creamy mouthfeel. Finishes semi-sweet with more dark fruity richness, plus oak and vanillas.

O: All in all a tasty, complex and rich brew. This is one you want to drink slowly and savor at the end of the day. My only knock would be that is was perhaps too rich and sweet, but it's still an exceptional beer. I liked this one much more than the standard Blackout.

Thanks to buschbeer for this one

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 04:32:40 | More by sommersb

Honus1

Ohio

4/5  rDev -9.1%

05-18-2013 02:40:11 | More by Honus1

carlosega

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +8%

05-16-2013 20:20:41 | More by carlosega

michaeljstraub

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

05-16-2013 20:02:14 | More by michaeljstraub

cmdmzmjm

Illinois

4/5  rDev -9.1%

05-16-2013 02:11:45 | More by cmdmzmjm

GinsuDave

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

05-15-2013 10:21:46 | More by GinsuDave

Texasfan549

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

05-14-2013 06:48:18 | More by Texasfan549

baybassboy

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

05-14-2013 04:18:34 | More by baybassboy

mikecharley

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -9.1%

05-12-2013 17:53:04 | More by mikecharley

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

05-12-2013 05:06:34 | More by browniewithnuts

atone315

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

05-11-2013 14:57:42 | More by atone315

TonyTalon

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +8%

05-11-2013 04:26:54 | More by TonyTalon

bhurley

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +8%

05-10-2013 15:56:40 | More by bhurley

primrose54

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +8%

05-09-2013 14:35:34 | More by primrose54

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

05-08-2013 18:33:33 | More by tommyguz

kjkinsey

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

05-07-2013 17:44:25 | More by kjkinsey

BeerDunson

Ohio

5/5  rDev +13.6%

05-07-2013 03:09:43 | More by BeerDunson

RMTWM

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +8%

05-05-2013 00:29:05 | More by RMTWM

brudz2134

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

05-04-2013 03:57:33 | More by brudz2134

rlee1390

Indiana

4.34/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A-Black in the glass, not much head and doesn't last either. Near the edges it seems like more of a deep brown.

S-Bourbon, vanilla, sweet chocolate malt. Some roasted malt and very little coffee.

T-Bourbon and vanilla, chocolate and molasses a little sweet. Some coffee and roasted malt.

M-Heavy, not much carbonation, thick and sticky.

O-A great BA stout, doesn't rank up there with KBS, BCBS etc but still yummy.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 19:08:30 | More by rlee1390

RWNay

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

05-03-2013 01:24:12 | More by RWNay

djtomain

Florida

5/5  rDev +13.6%

05-03-2013 00:21:39 | More by djtomain

closisinthehouse

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

05-02-2013 01:55:58 | More by closisinthehouse