Great Lakes Blackout Stout

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

Bottled. Thanks to BigErn for hooking this one up. Black pour with deep mahogany edges, and plenty of brown-beige head formation. Pleasant aroma of molasses, coffee, currants, slight cherry and burnt wood. Smooth blend of flavors that are definitely intriguing as a good impy should be. I detected some nose that I could only liken to chocolate pancake batter...dank! It lacks the depth and complexity of the BA version, but I can’t complain too much about that. Chewy and thick, with the alcohol balanced nicely and good bitterness. If I was caught in a blackout, I’d be happy to be passing the time sipping this.

Pours an extremely dark mahogany body that passes for black in all but the brightest of rooms. A large, foamy tan head settles slowly to a 1mm film, leaving behind a varied stratification of patchy lacing. The aroma shows huge anise notes up front, with seemingly every form of chocolate represented. Licorice and subtle hints of soy sauce follow, as does smooth oatmeal and a hint of coffee liquor. The flavor is equally complex. Sweet, syrupy dark chocolate comes to the forefront, followed by waves of whipped chocolate truffles, heavy cream, smoky anise, and strong, earthy hops. Very deep and roasty, with plenty of dark, savory fruits. The palate is just shy of full bodied, with a great deal of the body coming from the high sugar content. Very smooth and velvety, but slightly cloying and sticky and the same time. Finishes ultra long, roasty and bitter. Awesome brew. Very similar to Victory Storm King. I can’t wait to try the barrel aged version.

Pours black as night with the slightest ruby hue if held to a strong light. A finger of off white head that dies quick and lacing occurs. Smells very roasty, sweet chocolate and bakers chocolate and a hint of cherry like fruity aroma. Taste is big on the roast, very tasty, the chocolate shows and the fruit drops an extremely subtle hint. Smooth as silk in the mouth with a tickle of carbonation and slightest hop bite on the finish. No ABV apparant and this one is very drinkable. A must try.

Thin brown head that reduces quickly. Chocolate, vanilla, sweet malts and some vinuous notes in the aroma. Maybe even some black cherry. Color is black with a little bit of dark port around the edges. Body is a little bit thin for an imperial stout. Kind of lies there dead in the glass. Sweet flavor with lots of roasted grains, dark fruit and some coffee notes late swallow. Noticable alcohol presence that hits you pretty hard up front and then lingers on the palate for quite a while. Quite nasal in intensity. Finishes sweet and malty with some more strong dark fruit flavors. Not one of favorite imperial stouts.

Wow! for a none aged brew, this is full of wood nose. This had a great body with brown head. Real full body, lots of caramel and vanilla and coffee. Great bit alcohol presence.

pours a black that allows no light to pass thru it, with mild dark caramel head. sweet mocha aroma, smooth creamy palate, sweet front to a light smoky finish, slight whisky in the background, full and strong finish, very good and subtley complex

Bottle - Dark black, nice thick tan head. Aroma of coffee and a hint of chocolate. Lots of coffee flavor with a little carmal. Very smooth and creamy. Actually picked up this 4 pack when I was looking for something else. Very drinkable, excellent beer.

Absolutely fell in love with this beer when I returned to Cleveland in 2005 for a visit, only to find out that the 6 packs I bought were at the end of the run and none were left for the rest of my visit. Anyway, sweet coffee flavor with some vanilla spice. 0 hops. Nice. Too many beers overly hopped out here in California. Outstanding Imperial Stout!