Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout

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

Bottle. Not sure if Cole or Andy brought this one, but thank you both. Poured an opaque black color with a tan head. Thick, boozy aroma dominated by bourbon. Whiffs of vanilla and roasted malt hid in the background. Medium to full bodied. Bourbon and vanilla dominated the flavor. A bit of the beer came out underneath, but not much. Just hints of toffee, chocolate donut, and roasted stick. I’d classify this one as over-bourbonated (as they say) to some degree, but it’s a pretty good beer nonetheless.

Sampled at Sean and Ryan’s tasting party. Poured a deep reddish-black with a thick, tan head. Big brandy and toasted malt aroma. Sweet taste of brandy, oak and malt with hints of chocolate and fruit and an alcohol bite. Lingering toasted malt flavor. Rich and drinkable.

Bottle from trade with fiver29. Poured a black color with a moderate frothy brown head that diminished slowly and produced sticky legs and fair lacing. Good roasted malt, vanilla and woody aroma. Full body with a smooth texture. Complex sweet chocolate flavor with a sweet smooth woody finish of long duration. Very well balanced barrel stout.

In my experience, this really varies depending on which year and which pour (near beginning or end) you get. That being said: This is for 2006, bottle 880: Pours darkest brown with light still penetrating. When head disappears, harsh bourbon smell dominates; some vanilla. Bourbon is extremely prominent in this year; can taste some dryness of the oak, some vanilla, chocolate malts-- but finishes very warm.

Thanks much to GrbDg for giving me the chance to try this. Poured black with a little light breaking through. Nice roasty and chocolate aroma. Taste was nice and smooth, vanilla, chocolate, some roast. A little alcohol on the finish. I actually thought it was quite thin for the style. But still enjoyed the flavor. Nothing amazing, but still very enjoyable.

Sampled at Hellbilly’s gathering. Thanks Hellbilly! Midnight black pour with a thin tan head. Nice roasty aroma and good sweet flavors. Too much alcohol burn at the end. Very good, not great.

Tasted via Hellbilly’s tasting. Bottle by Bockyhorsey. Dark black brew with only a ring for a head, this beer is all bourbon. This is a time where the traditional blackout beats up its big brother. There isn’t a lot of "stout" coming through in this one. Hard-alcohol burn, vanilla, oak, minimal chocolate and coffee. I wanted it to warrant a higher rating but it didn’t live up to the expectation.

Sampled at hellbilly’s gathering as he was an prime example of what makes a great ratebeerian. Last time I had this one was later in a tasteing and notes were GL Blackout. Well he had another bottle and was gracious enough to let me try it again. Leather and vanilla aroma. Blck body with tan head. Body texture was thick along with some good vanilla and tobbacco sweet flavor. Thanks Joshua.