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Blackout Stout
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- From:
- Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #185 - ABV:
- 9.9%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #2,905 - Avg:
- 4.2 | pDev: 8.57%
- Reviews:
- 1,278
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 06, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 30, 2003
- Wants:
- 492
- Gots:
- 735
Turn off the lights and turn on the flavor, because Blackout Stout is back and as dark as ever. Inspired by the infamous 2003 blackout that briefly left some 55 million people without power, the bold flavors of our Imperial Stout will light up even the darkest nights. Black malt and roasted barley cast notes of chocolate, dark fruit, and coffee, while earthy hops put the lights out on this shadowy brew with a pleasantly bitter finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by drtth:
Reviewed by drtth from Pennsylvania
4.25/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Best by date of 6 May, 2015.
The beer pours out into a Duvel glass a deep brownish black color with a 1/4-1/2" dark tan head that soon begins to recede leaving some foam, some speckles and some legs of lacing on the side. There's a nice irregular island of foam and a thin layer covering the rest of the liquid. Sipping creates sheets of foam that quickly become small speckles, patches and legs clinging to the glass. Some foam remains visible even to the end of the beer.
The aromas include dark roasted malt blended nicely with some dark chocolate. There are also what seems like touches of caramel and molasses mixed in as well.
The flavors are much as expected from the nose but with a touch of overall added sweetness that softens and smooths out the other flavors. There's no burn from the alcohol and it is definitely well concealed, so that may be the origin of the softening sweetness.
The mouthfeel is on the full bodied side and thick enough to be almost chewy. There's enough carbonation to create a creamy feel. The finish begins about mid-way through as the chocolate and sweetness give way to the roasted malt and bitterness. Last to leave the scene is that touch of dark roast and hop bitterness that lingers for a bit on the back of the palate.
This is a very nice Russian Imperial Stout that deserves to be ranked among some of the best out there. While it may or may not be world class it is definitely within shouting distance and what is even better is that it is produced on a regular basis and relatively easy to obtain. I'll be having this one again. My only thought about improving this beer is that I would prefer the sweetness to disappear a bit earlier in the finish so that the ending is a wee bit dryer and with a touch more prominance given to the bitterness.
Mar 13, 2016The beer pours out into a Duvel glass a deep brownish black color with a 1/4-1/2" dark tan head that soon begins to recede leaving some foam, some speckles and some legs of lacing on the side. There's a nice irregular island of foam and a thin layer covering the rest of the liquid. Sipping creates sheets of foam that quickly become small speckles, patches and legs clinging to the glass. Some foam remains visible even to the end of the beer.
The aromas include dark roasted malt blended nicely with some dark chocolate. There are also what seems like touches of caramel and molasses mixed in as well.
The flavors are much as expected from the nose but with a touch of overall added sweetness that softens and smooths out the other flavors. There's no burn from the alcohol and it is definitely well concealed, so that may be the origin of the softening sweetness.
The mouthfeel is on the full bodied side and thick enough to be almost chewy. There's enough carbonation to create a creamy feel. The finish begins about mid-way through as the chocolate and sweetness give way to the roasted malt and bitterness. Last to leave the scene is that touch of dark roast and hop bitterness that lingers for a bit on the back of the palate.
This is a very nice Russian Imperial Stout that deserves to be ranked among some of the best out there. While it may or may not be world class it is definitely within shouting distance and what is even better is that it is produced on a regular basis and relatively easy to obtain. I'll be having this one again. My only thought about improving this beer is that I would prefer the sweetness to disappear a bit earlier in the finish so that the ending is a wee bit dryer and with a touch more prominance given to the bitterness.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.12/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a single from the Blue Door Bottleshop in Hendersonville 10-7-23 for $4.25. Best by 7-15-23; consumed 2-26-23.
Beer poured blackout black with a nice light tan white head.
Nose has notes of heavy roasted malts and dark chocolate.
Taste is a heavy roasted malt base that gives a nice dose of dark chocolate and coffee in my aspirations. Finishes with a nice roasty and hoppy bitterness but it is not astringent.
Mouthfeel is very nice, medium to heavy bodied and very smooth.
Overall a very enjoyable RIS. Glad to have finally tried this classic!
Feb 26, 2023Beer poured blackout black with a nice light tan white head.
Nose has notes of heavy roasted malts and dark chocolate.
Taste is a heavy roasted malt base that gives a nice dose of dark chocolate and coffee in my aspirations. Finishes with a nice roasty and hoppy bitterness but it is not astringent.
Mouthfeel is very nice, medium to heavy bodied and very smooth.
Overall a very enjoyable RIS. Glad to have finally tried this classic!
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
4.05/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a completely dark, black color with a strong tan head. SRM of 24. (4.00)
Aroma: Strong aromas of dark chocolate, rich chocolate, coffee, cream, and roast. Rich and chocolate. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong flavors of rich chocolate some Cany sugar gives a sweet Belgian chocolate and tongue tickle in the middle, before a rich and smooth chocolate finish. Malty and sweet, but then an uprising roasted bitterness ends up lingering. (4.00)
Feel: Heavier-bodied, average to stronger carbonation. Sweet, but then also an uprising of roasted bitterness that lingers. (4.00)
Compared to Bells Expedition Stout 2/2023: Pours similar, lighter head. Similar aromas. More bittersweet chocolate and coffee roast. Less thick and heavy chocolate with complex malt flavors of bread pudding and caramel. More bitter, roasted, and dry.
Overall: A fantastic Russian Imperial Stout. As usual Great Lakes fashion this one packs together a great array of rich chocolate flavors with a rising roasted bitterness. Balance is the name of the game here, and it does it very nicely. 9.9% makes it feel like it's lighter, but make no mistake it's still 10% and incredibly and dangerously drinkable. (Rating: 4.05)
Jan 08, 2023Aroma: Strong aromas of dark chocolate, rich chocolate, coffee, cream, and roast. Rich and chocolate. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong flavors of rich chocolate some Cany sugar gives a sweet Belgian chocolate and tongue tickle in the middle, before a rich and smooth chocolate finish. Malty and sweet, but then an uprising roasted bitterness ends up lingering. (4.00)
Feel: Heavier-bodied, average to stronger carbonation. Sweet, but then also an uprising of roasted bitterness that lingers. (4.00)
Compared to Bells Expedition Stout 2/2023: Pours similar, lighter head. Similar aromas. More bittersweet chocolate and coffee roast. Less thick and heavy chocolate with complex malt flavors of bread pudding and caramel. More bitter, roasted, and dry.
Overall: A fantastic Russian Imperial Stout. As usual Great Lakes fashion this one packs together a great array of rich chocolate flavors with a rising roasted bitterness. Balance is the name of the game here, and it does it very nicely. 9.9% makes it feel like it's lighter, but make no mistake it's still 10% and incredibly and dangerously drinkable. (Rating: 4.05)
Reviewed by NiceTaps from New Jersey
4.3/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle in a fine snifter.
Toasted dark brown color with a nice 1f dark tan cap. Semitransparent. Various light lacing.
Dry barley out front. Dark chocolate and roasted coffee aromas, anise and liquor soaked dark fruit.
Belgian dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavors. The dry barley comes along.
Palate friendly smooth medium body. Dark roast and a touch of hop bitterness blend together.
A good Xmas Eve stout pick that ends the evening nicely. All around good Imperial stout that I’ll have again.
Dec 25, 2022Toasted dark brown color with a nice 1f dark tan cap. Semitransparent. Various light lacing.
Dry barley out front. Dark chocolate and roasted coffee aromas, anise and liquor soaked dark fruit.
Belgian dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavors. The dry barley comes along.
Palate friendly smooth medium body. Dark roast and a touch of hop bitterness blend together.
A good Xmas Eve stout pick that ends the evening nicely. All around good Imperial stout that I’ll have again.
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania
4.02/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle
Date: 06/11/2019
Consumed on: 17 Nov, 2022
Glass: Snifter
ABV: 9.9%
Serving Temp: 54.8 F
Look:
Deep and opaque black with a thin tan head. The head dissipates to a ring and a thin film over most of the beer. Lacing is good.
Smell:
Very rich dark bittersweet chocolate with some notes of dark fruits in the background. Some char (which blends into the chocolate aromas) and faint notes of espresso and black licorice. Some earthy notes are in there as well.
Taste:
Dark malts and chocolate start things off and then the dark fruits and some molasses (like blackstrap) take over for a short time. The sip really sweetens up with perhaps some brown sugar coming thru. Then the earthy notes and the somewhat bitter char take over, which help bring back some chocolate and also some dark roasted coffee. Things finish bittersweet and roasty and somewhat dry (for an Imperial Stout). The alcohol is fairly well hidden, though not completely.
Feel:
Smooth and creamy with some warmth from the alcohol. The body is medium. With a slight lean towards medium-full.
Overall:
A very good (Russian) Imperial Stout. Not overly bitter for the style, this tends towards the sweeter side but not overly much. Very drinkable, and perhaps dangerously so.
This beer has aged well over the 4 years that I have had it. I think that things have smoothed out over that time and blended quite nicely. What does seem to have suffered is the head/carbonation and the body (which is a tad light for my preferences for an RIS). But that's OK. I never found this beer to be overly hoppy/bitter when fresh, so I wasn't sure how it would handle this many years. I can say that it handled that time just fine.
Nov 18, 2022Date: 06/11/2019
Consumed on: 17 Nov, 2022
Glass: Snifter
ABV: 9.9%
Serving Temp: 54.8 F
Look:
Deep and opaque black with a thin tan head. The head dissipates to a ring and a thin film over most of the beer. Lacing is good.
Smell:
Very rich dark bittersweet chocolate with some notes of dark fruits in the background. Some char (which blends into the chocolate aromas) and faint notes of espresso and black licorice. Some earthy notes are in there as well.
Taste:
Dark malts and chocolate start things off and then the dark fruits and some molasses (like blackstrap) take over for a short time. The sip really sweetens up with perhaps some brown sugar coming thru. Then the earthy notes and the somewhat bitter char take over, which help bring back some chocolate and also some dark roasted coffee. Things finish bittersweet and roasty and somewhat dry (for an Imperial Stout). The alcohol is fairly well hidden, though not completely.
Feel:
Smooth and creamy with some warmth from the alcohol. The body is medium. With a slight lean towards medium-full.
Overall:
A very good (Russian) Imperial Stout. Not overly bitter for the style, this tends towards the sweeter side but not overly much. Very drinkable, and perhaps dangerously so.
This beer has aged well over the 4 years that I have had it. I think that things have smoothed out over that time and blended quite nicely. What does seem to have suffered is the head/carbonation and the body (which is a tad light for my preferences for an RIS). But that's OK. I never found this beer to be overly hoppy/bitter when fresh, so I wasn't sure how it would handle this many years. I can say that it handled that time just fine.
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan
4.18/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a black color with a minimal head that disappears quickly. Aroma of coffee and roasted malts. Taste is black coffee and roasted malts. Finish is hoppy bitterness.
Oct 27, 2022
Blackout Stout from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
93 out of
100 with
3694 ratings
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