Blackout Stout - Barrel-Aged
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Blackout Stout - Barrel-AgedBlackout Stout - Barrel-Aged
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From:
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #53
ABV:
12.5%
Score:
96
Ranked #801
Avg:
4.35 | pDev: 8.51%
Reviews:
451
Ratings:
1,898
Status:
Active
Rated:
Tuesday at 01:27 AM
Added:
Nov 29, 2005
Wants:
  1,359
Gots:
  342
Bold and dark as a power-less metropolis, our Imperial Stout commemorates the infamous 2003 blackout that briefly left some 55 million people utterly unplugged.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Received via trade with a friend in NY. Not sure why they get it and West Michigan doesn’t, but here we are.
Poured coffee black, with a head that gradually goes from beige to orange.
Orange?
Okay, the flavor. Sorry for skipping the aroma but Covid took that from me.
The flavor, the taste, well it is a fair amount like the regular Blackout Stout but a bit smoother and has a touch of oak and bourbon. Or maybe that was my imagination, I really wanted to like this a lot more.
That said, I very, very much appreciated getting to try it.
Tuesday at 01:27 AM
 
Rated: 4.49 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Mar 05, 2024
Photo of barnzy78
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz can
L: rigorous pour reveals a dark brown stout with a tall tan head
S: fudge, chocolate, roast, bourbon, oak
T: oaky bourbon, cocoa, fudge, roasted barley, caramel, vanilla, earthy hops, faint anise
F: fuller body, ample carbonation, nice balance
O: good barrel-aged Imperial stout
Mar 03, 2024
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Barrel Aged Blackout Stout (2024) – from Great Lakes. 16 fl oz can picked up at Franklin Beer Co, Franklin, PA, 27/02/24, $7.00 (Including tax), $ 0.438/fl oz. Reviewed 01/03/24 (Review 3245). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Printed on the bottom of the can “2023C1”. Stored at reefer at the distributor, 34 degrees at home. Served at 49.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 56.4 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light penetrates at the bottom edge – amber – and the top edge, citron.
Head - Average (Maximum three cm, aggressive center pour), almond, medium density, short retention, leaving a < 1mm broken bubble ring, constantly renewed by carbonation, and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None, as expected at 12.5% ABV.
Aroma – 3.75 – Chocolate and hints of whiskey. No yeast, no hops, no malt, no alcohol (12.5 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 3.75 – Begins slightly bitter with chocolate and mild whiskey; a bit oaky. No yeast, no hops, no roasted malt. On the aftertaste, weak coffee,. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol. A mild gastric warming occurs.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium; somewhat thin; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 Rather disappointing, seems watered down. The flavor is OK but unspectacular and the nose is weak and unassuming. Apparently no adjuncts so just a basic imperial stout with a little higher than usual ethanol content.
Mar 01, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by TODDRESSEL1 from Indiana

Jan 15, 2024
 
Rated: 4.38 by ScottyB515 from Ohio

Jan 14, 2024
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Super dark. Super creamy. Super sweet. Definitely bourbon on nose. Nice tan head. Good lacing. Easy drinking. Could be dangerous. Nice warmth on backend.
Jan 07, 2024
 
Rated: 4.19 by RoyalKaiju from Kentucky

Jan 07, 2024
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12/28/23 On tap at Great Lakes Brewing.... Special Christmas gift trip with DW.

Yes, completely blackout opaque! Nice tan head of fine bubbles dissipated quickly leaving just a skim of foam.

The aroma is so deep and complex. Rich molasses, roasted coffee, and syrupy bourbon, maybe even a little raisin.

Beautifully thick in the mouth. Flavor follows aroma to a "T", with a sweet bourbon bite.

$10/per can though!
Dec 28, 2023
Photo of Blueribbon666
Rated by Blueribbon666 from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A great Imp stout made even better with the BBA treatment. Dangerously smooth for 12.5% and it's a creeper to boot, don't get up too fast.
Dec 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by akk14 from Illinois

Dec 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.39 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Dec 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by Uconnelmo from Connecticut

Dec 13, 2023
Photo of BradtheGreat7
Reviewed by BradtheGreat7 from Ohio

4.39/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It’s been years since I seen this on local shelves.. back then I didn’t really review it due to the number of beers I had that night. But here in 2023 this reminds me of all those years ago.. such a fantastic bba stout from such an underrated brewery. I know everyone here gives them their props, but I think we get consumed in the new when these original craft breweries slip through sometimes. Barrel Aged Blackout Stout is delicious and full of flavor. Traditional imperial stout to from the color to the nose and down to the last drop. It’s dark and bold with some real booziness in its warm state(yes I consume most stouts and darker ales at room temp.. even the Trappists for that matter) but this is an American imperial stout done right. It’s flavorful and packs a punch. World class imperial stout from a world class brewery. Never mind the price.. just buy a can(yea in 2023 it’s delivered in a can) I still have the bottle from all those years ago, but the can.. beautiful in all it’s dark artwork. What a treat this is
Dec 11, 2023
Photo of Beejay
Reviewed by Beejay from Virginia

4.17/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: tick black color with blood red edges when held to the light. Fluffy dark tan head.

S: rich and malty, with brown sugar and vanilla. Lovely oak as well.

T: creamy and rich with vanilla, IDK, cinnamon, and brown sugar raisin.

M: creamy feel with low carbonation. Slick feel in the finish.

O: overall a damn fine beer.
Dec 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.47 by Curt2969 from Ohio

Dec 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by McBraniel from Virginia

Dec 10, 2023
Photo of Oktoberfest
Reviewed by Oktoberfest from Ohio

5/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
ABV is 12.5% per the can. I submitted an update here.

This is just a phenomenal beer from an OG Cleveland craft brewery. The barrel aging gives this a dangerous smoothness and a velvety chocolate taste that makes me want to find more of it immediately.
Dec 07, 2023
Photo of ZebulonXZogg
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Thin looking dark brown pour, big frothy khaki head and a ton of lacing. Snot locker gets some caramel, wood, chocolate and ash. Taste buds get vanilla, chocolate malt and a hint of booze. Thinner than most beers of this style, creamy texture. Very good.
Dec 06, 2023
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Released 11/17/23; drank 12/5/23 @ the Yarchives.

Black/brown appearance.

A violent pour yielded a HUGE, noisy tan head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lacing remained.

Burnt caramel, wood, dark chocolate & fresh earth notes in the nose.

Creamy medium thick mouthfeel.

Wood, cream, dark chocolate & faint hop bite; booze heat emerged as this warmed.

Creamy & easy to drink, but with nice Russian Imperial Stout vibes around the edges. Enjoyable.
Dec 06, 2023
Blackout Stout - Barrel-Aged from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 1898 ratings