404 Scytale
Great Basin Brewing Co.


- From:
- Great Basin Brewing Co.
- Nevada, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 13%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4.03 | pDev: 8.93%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 10, 2018
- Added:
- Feb 22, 2015
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this one for the first time at March Madness 2015. The numbers change based on the number of days they leave them in the barrel.
Pours a hefty thick black, plenty viscous, brown head, almost 1/2" in size, good looking beer. Aroma of dark chocolate and significant bourbon. Wood in the background, way in the background.
Taste delivers more of the dark chocolate, heavily scorched malt and wet bourbon notes. Alcohol is present, but at 13% abv I can't say it is oppressive relative to its size. Its a big ass beer and there is no getting around that, especially since it isn't sweet or whatnot. Its dark ass unsweetened baker's chocolate feels on this one. The price is decent at around $15. Plus they were giving 2 glasses with purchase as well. Didn't find much vanilla in it, just loads of bourbon fudge.
Another good local barrel aged stout that can hang with any regional variety. Spend that time and money on girls, not chasing trucks with the obese.
Apr 10, 2018Pours a hefty thick black, plenty viscous, brown head, almost 1/2" in size, good looking beer. Aroma of dark chocolate and significant bourbon. Wood in the background, way in the background.
Taste delivers more of the dark chocolate, heavily scorched malt and wet bourbon notes. Alcohol is present, but at 13% abv I can't say it is oppressive relative to its size. Its a big ass beer and there is no getting around that, especially since it isn't sweet or whatnot. Its dark ass unsweetened baker's chocolate feels on this one. The price is decent at around $15. Plus they were giving 2 glasses with purchase as well. Didn't find much vanilla in it, just loads of bourbon fudge.
Another good local barrel aged stout that can hang with any regional variety. Spend that time and money on girls, not chasing trucks with the obese.
Reviewed by nvbrew from Nevada
4.48/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Opened on 17th of May, 2016. 2015 vintage. I had tried this beer fresh when they originally released it a year ago and really liked it, decided to put a few bottles away and see how they aged.
Poured into a mini DLD sniffer.
L-Beautiful, chocolate brown head that dissipated quickly, leaving some nice lacing on the side of the glass. Black as night. Great looking beer in the glass!
S- Initial strong but pleasant bourbon smell on the nose. Faint notes of oak and molasses. After warming up a bit the boozy character really mellowed out and became a bit easier on the nose.
T- Again, strong barrel character comes through on the initial part of the taste. Plenty notes of oak and vanilla on the finish. With the barrel character still strong in the taste, it is dangerously drinkable.
F- Much thinner body then I remember fresh. This was a bit of a disappointment as fresh it had the perfect feel to it.
O- I would say I am glad I held on to a few bottles of this beer! I really like how the harshness of the boozy taste has mellowed after a year of time in the cellar. This also helps other notes of the barrel come out, very strong oak and vanilla character in the beer now. The two things that I miss a bit was the fantastic mouth feel and a bit of the original fudgy character the beer had. With that said, I enjoyed this beer much more after a year. Here's looking forward to next years bottle!
May 26, 2016Poured into a mini DLD sniffer.
L-Beautiful, chocolate brown head that dissipated quickly, leaving some nice lacing on the side of the glass. Black as night. Great looking beer in the glass!
S- Initial strong but pleasant bourbon smell on the nose. Faint notes of oak and molasses. After warming up a bit the boozy character really mellowed out and became a bit easier on the nose.
T- Again, strong barrel character comes through on the initial part of the taste. Plenty notes of oak and vanilla on the finish. With the barrel character still strong in the taste, it is dangerously drinkable.
F- Much thinner body then I remember fresh. This was a bit of a disappointment as fresh it had the perfect feel to it.
O- I would say I am glad I held on to a few bottles of this beer! I really like how the harshness of the boozy taste has mellowed after a year of time in the cellar. This also helps other notes of the barrel come out, very strong oak and vanilla character in the beer now. The two things that I miss a bit was the fantastic mouth feel and a bit of the original fudgy character the beer had. With that said, I enjoyed this beer much more after a year. Here's looking forward to next years bottle!
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California
4.32/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Type: 22-oz. bottle
Glass: AleSmith Barrel-Aged Reserve snifter glass
From: Great Basin Brewing Company in Reno, Nev.
Price: $15.95
Purchased: April 7, 2015
Consumed: Dec. 14, 2015
Misc.: 2015 expedition release; Brewed on Dec. 20, 2013; Bottled on Jan. 28, 2015
Poured a black color with two fingers of frothy, tan head. Average amount of wet, spotty lacing on the sides of the glass. Great retention. (Sight - 4.00)
Smelled toffee oak, caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, molasses, sticky brown sugar, black licorice, woody notes and booziness late. (Smell - 4.50)
Taste was almost as good as the nose, getting toffee, oak, vanilla, caramel, sugary milk chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, licorice, light figs, dates, raisins, plums and faint black pepper. Alcohol is well-hidden. (Taste - 4.25)
Full body. Sticky texture. Average-to-lively carbonation. Long, smooth, warming finish. (Feel - 4.50)
Wow, really good, even better than I remember. Best (non-homebrew) beer to come out of Reno for sure. Sorry ICKY. (Taste - 4.25)
4.32 | 96 | A
Dec 29, 2015Glass: AleSmith Barrel-Aged Reserve snifter glass
From: Great Basin Brewing Company in Reno, Nev.
Price: $15.95
Purchased: April 7, 2015
Consumed: Dec. 14, 2015
Misc.: 2015 expedition release; Brewed on Dec. 20, 2013; Bottled on Jan. 28, 2015
Poured a black color with two fingers of frothy, tan head. Average amount of wet, spotty lacing on the sides of the glass. Great retention. (Sight - 4.00)
Smelled toffee oak, caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, molasses, sticky brown sugar, black licorice, woody notes and booziness late. (Smell - 4.50)
Taste was almost as good as the nose, getting toffee, oak, vanilla, caramel, sugary milk chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, licorice, light figs, dates, raisins, plums and faint black pepper. Alcohol is well-hidden. (Taste - 4.25)
Full body. Sticky texture. Average-to-lively carbonation. Long, smooth, warming finish. (Feel - 4.50)
Wow, really good, even better than I remember. Best (non-homebrew) beer to come out of Reno for sure. Sorry ICKY. (Taste - 4.25)
4.32 | 96 | A
Reviewed by jakecattleco from California
3.6/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.6/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pour into a shaker pint. Good appearance but thin finish. Nose is flush with barrel characteristics though a bit boozy. I'd be interested to taste the non-BBA stout, as I had a hard time picking up characteristics of the beer vs. the barrel. I'd like a bottle to age, to see if the barrel elements fade as they, for my palette, dominate right now.
Oct 18, 2015Reviewed by Docrock from Illinois
3.48/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.48/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
For $22 a bottle I was disappointed. Beer was thin with minimal barrel characteristics. At twice the price of bcbs it isn't even half the beer. Way over priced for a fair to poor example of the style.
Sep 04, 2015Reviewed by krrockwe from Nevada
4.59/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.59/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Very good. I almost could not drink it fast enough. Definitely get chocolate and vanilla in there. I am going to buy this one for me and my dad to share on the camping trip this weekend
Jun 10, 2015Rated by scuttlebutt21 from California
4.54/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Great barrel aged stout. Luuuuuved it!
May 31, 2015
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