Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout

Brewed by Great Lakes Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Cleveland, Ohio USA

Yes, it pours pitch black. It forms a head of about one-fingers worth of light brown colored foam. This dissipates, rather quickly, leaving a thin, filmy, surface covering. The lacing is in tiny spots, but rather sticky. No surprises in the nose. Big notes of chocolates and coffees. Good presence of oakiness and roasted malt notes. Light hints of booze and dark fruits. Good god, that’s good. This is super balanced and delicious. Dark roasted coffee beans, some of them covered in dark chocolate, are having a great time swimming around in the chocolate milk pool. The lifeguard, brown sugar, who is wearing his famous caramel bathing suit, dips in from time to time, just to check things out. The figs and plums are sunbathing by the side of the pool, while the cherries are sitting on the edge, dangling into the milky goodness. Someone is having a cookout, because I get notes of oak and hints of smoke, also. This one is full-bodied with a mild level of carbonation. It has a light creaminess to it, which makes it very silky-smooth and lucious. Okay, the 9.00%abv helps it have a mild warming effect, on the way down. Other than that though, the abv is almost undetected. The smoothness, of body and flavor, make this one super easy to drink. If anything, I’d say that this beer is probably under-hyped. It’s that good.

Got to try a bottle of this recently. Colour... very dark brown with a thin tan head. Nose... oooohhhh baby! A helluva lotta creme brulee with plenty of chocolate thrown in as well. Palate... sweet, yet bitter! Burnt sugar, dark brown sugar, dark molasses, roasted malt, and a sumptuously long finish!

I am not a fan of barrel-aged beer but this is a fine example. Just tasted a sample at the Great Lakes Brewery. Would not drink an entire beer but that is based on my preferences. Perfect dark color, strong barrel aroma. Tastes like Kentucky bourbon. Not for the faint of heart. If you like barrel-aged beers or bourbon, you will enjoy this stout.

Inky black pour with a small, short lived, tan head. Mildly chocolaty aroma with a hint of dark fruit and bourbon. Rich milk chocolate flavor with hints of espresso, dark fruit, toasted almond, and a nice smoky bourbon kick on the end. The body is wonderfully full, velvety and decadent with soft carbonation. Not immensely complex, but great balance.

22oz bomber, 2008 vintage, poured into a tulip. Pours dark, dark brown out of the bottle and is completely opaque black in the glass with a small, short-lived tan head that recedes to a collar, leaves spotty lacing on the sides. The aroma is nice - dark and roasty with the bourbon barrel only complimenting things. There are dark chocolate malts and roasted coffee mainly with the vanilla from the oak and a little bourbon coming through in the background. The bourbon steps forward a little in the taste with the vanilla coming in up front as well. The backbone is still mainly chocolate sweetness and dark roasted malts but the finish brings back the barrel presence with a definite burn going down. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with soft carbonation and a slightly dry oaky finish. This is a very good bourbon barrel stout with the barrel character coming out aggressively in the taste. Overall, it’s a big sweet and smooth imperial stout that’s got a bit more chocolate than the typical RIS.

Rating number 2700. Bottle series 2516 thanks to jsquires (via trade). Pours with a deep brown, near black body and a thin, creamy tan head that stays for a decent bit and leaves acceptable lacing. Aroma of bourbon, brown sugar, vanilla, black strap molasses, rich oak, dry wood tannins, a bit of light spiciness from the wood, and chocolate. The aroma is all about the wood, ash and tobacco. Taste is wood up front, followed by molasses, burnt toffee, roast, vanilla, some bourbon burn, rich woody, and a decent amount of chocolate. Somewhat lower residual sugars than I would have hoped for; its a touch too dry. Medium viscosity, maybe a touch too thin, good richness from the bourbon, and nice carbonation levels. A well made beer.

On tap at GLB in September of 2009. Not as black as other Impys. Very dry, you’ll need a pint of water for every pint of this.

on tap at GLBC. Pours a deep brown with a small tan head. nice legs. Aroma is bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, roasted malts. Flavor is toasty roasty malts, bourbon, bread, oak. Mouthfeel is thinner than expected. Great beer, but not as good as i was expecting. I wanted a big body and this seemed somewhat one dimensional. It was a nice smooth tasty dimension though! Side note: Great lakes serves this way too cold.