Darkstar
Big Lake Brewing

DarkstarDarkstar
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From:
Big Lake Brewing
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Stout
ABV:
8%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 6.78%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
49
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 18, 2019
Added:
Mar 16, 2014
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  8
A breakfast style stout brewed with Kona and Sumatra coffee aged on cocoa nibs.

52 IBUs
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AngusOg:
Photo of AngusOg
Rated by AngusOg from North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Aug 04, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.04 by crash8per from Michigan

Jun 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.9 by SailIntoTheStout from Michigan

Jan 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.88 by Ssitron from Michigan

Oct 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.92 by Calraven from Michigan

Oct 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.13 by Lance_Pearce from Michigan

Aug 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by Tjb14 from Michigan

Jun 02, 2018
Photo of beerjerk666
Reviewed by beerjerk666 from Florida

3.96/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16 oz. can into a JK Snorkel snifter.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown to almost black body with a full finger's worth of khaki tan head. A bubbly chunky head reminiscent of a root beer float. Looks like a stout/porter.

Aroma: Roasted malts, chocolate, cold brewed coffee and something akin to cinnamon. Still leaning towards this one being a stout.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Well, I wasn't expecting that...Dark malts up front and then a ton of bitterness immediately afterwards. Maybe a little thin with a finish like having a mouthful of hops. As the flavor lingers there's more of a bitter, hops dipped in bakers chocolate and overly roasted to almost burnt french roast coffee.

Overall: Final impressions makes me think this one is a stout. This one was tongue buckler and it definitely had a little bit of creaminess too.
Apr 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.34 by Chackman151 from Arizona

Jan 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by Bum4ever from California

Apr 01, 2017
Photo of larryi86
Reviewed by larryi86 from Delaware

4.16/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Thank you Blackop555 for this
16 oz can poured into a snifter

A- Black with a three finger mocha head.

S- Roasted coffee, chocolate, some hints of vanilla, some caramel malts, some roasted malts.

T- Lots of roasted coffee, some chocolate, some roasted malts, some earthy hops.

M- Smooth, medium to full body.

O- A very coffee forward stout, worth trying if you are a coffee fan, just a little one dimensional
Mar 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.55 by Mxsluis from Michigan

Jan 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.91 by beergorrilla from Michigan

Dec 13, 2016
Photo of GreatStoutman
Reviewed by GreatStoutman from Texas

4.06/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16oz can came as an extra in a trade... first beer from Big Lake and I'm a fan of the packaging. Not that it matters, but...

Looks great in my glass with a nice tan head and black, oily body... smell is somewhat of a letdown as I'm getting mostly roast and not a ton of coffee (though its clearly there). Taste is roasty, with lots of bitterness and just a hint of cocoa at the end.

Feels nice and creamy, and it goes down much smoother than my morning joe!
Nov 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.97 by Tracker83 from Michigan

Nov 02, 2016
Photo of NateDyk47
Reviewed by NateDyk47 from Michigan

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Great stout. Drank from a 16oz can. Little bit of a burnt coffee taste, with light chocolate underlying. On the heavier side. I'll be buying this again!
Sep 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by MTKATL from Georgia

Aug 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by AleHunter805 from California

Jul 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.74 by Zaphog from Michigan

Jul 07, 2016
Photo of Mitchster
Reviewed by Mitchster from Michigan

4.32/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Brewed using both Kona and Sumatra coffee then aged on cacao nibs.
8% ABV, 52 IBU's. 16oz can.

Pours out to a deep, viscous oily black, forming a tall and creamy very dark brown head with beautiful retention and lacing. Carbonation is 2.5 carbs or so. The nose is great...chalk, black walnut, carob, and coffee. Mouthfeel is viscous and big bodied. Taste is very nice...a recap of the aroma but with firm roasted malts, some burnt marshmallow in the aftertaste, a little soy sauce and prune juice in the middle. The bitterness is somewhat firm, especially in the aftertaste, and there is a roasted and hoppy acidity to the mouthfeel, but it's not too abrasive. Feels much bigger on the mouth than the 8.0% would have you expect. No off flavors and aromas.

Very well done stout. Honestly, though I think it would be even better without the coffee, which would negate some of the acidity and let the cocoa shine. I would suggest adding cocoa powder instead of nibs and this would be a winner. Recommended for big stout lovers, specifically coffee stout fans.
Jul 03, 2016
Darkstar from Big Lake Brewing
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 49 ratings