Sunkiller
Masthead Brewing Co.
- From:
- Masthead Brewing Co.
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #551 - ABV:
- 15.3%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #7,423 - Avg:
- 4.32 | pDev: 4.86%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 02, 2025
- Added:
- Nov 25, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
The leaves begin to fall, the daylight shortens, the shadows lengthen. Many are unsettled by the chill in the air as the wind whips the barren landscape. A select few embrace it.
2023 release: One of our most monstrous stouts has hibernated in Weller Wheated Bourbon Barrels for 18 months, only to awaken as the sun begins to take its bow. Enter Sunkiller, embrace the night.
2022 release: One of our most monstrous stouts has hibernated in Blanton’s Bourbon Barrels for 19 months, only to awaken as the sun begins to take its bow. Enter Sunkiller, embrace the night.
2023 release: One of our most monstrous stouts has hibernated in Weller Wheated Bourbon Barrels for 18 months, only to awaken as the sun begins to take its bow. Enter Sunkiller, embrace the night.
2022 release: One of our most monstrous stouts has hibernated in Blanton’s Bourbon Barrels for 19 months, only to awaken as the sun begins to take its bow. Enter Sunkiller, embrace the night.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by pulse from Ohio
4.47/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pint can poured into the Pumpking tulip:
Pours dark brown to black with a small, fading head. As it is a sizeable stout, at first I thought I was getting that umami, soy smell. Instead, it's more malt and barrel. I think there is distinguishable vanilla in there. It's very wood and good time... there's some chocolate mixed in, some sweetness like caramel. Maybe even some coffee/earthy notes deep down.
Tastewise, it's just a good straight-up BA stout. Nothing stupid crazy about what's mixed in - no adjuncts in this one. It's all malt with a balanced touch of barrel, leading to a luxurious, velevety chocolate experience. A little bit of spice on the finish. Some vanilla, touch of sweetness like caramel again. Touch of smoky bitterness at the end, too.
This is the 2024 Blanton's edicition, FWIW. Not my first rodeo with the Sunkiller, but one ride I always look forward to taking.
Nov 02, 2025Pours dark brown to black with a small, fading head. As it is a sizeable stout, at first I thought I was getting that umami, soy smell. Instead, it's more malt and barrel. I think there is distinguishable vanilla in there. It's very wood and good time... there's some chocolate mixed in, some sweetness like caramel. Maybe even some coffee/earthy notes deep down.
Tastewise, it's just a good straight-up BA stout. Nothing stupid crazy about what's mixed in - no adjuncts in this one. It's all malt with a balanced touch of barrel, leading to a luxurious, velevety chocolate experience. A little bit of spice on the finish. Some vanilla, touch of sweetness like caramel again. Touch of smoky bitterness at the end, too.
This is the 2024 Blanton's edicition, FWIW. Not my first rodeo with the Sunkiller, but one ride I always look forward to taking.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.45/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
16 ounce can into a snifter. A 2023 release, had 8/10/24.
Pours dark brown and opaque, with a brief head and sparse cling. Aromas of bourbon, oak, roasted malt, some vanilla, some chocolate as it warms, light char and caramel. Has a spicy aroma. Flavors of bourbon, oak, roasted malt, vanilla, chocolate- again, as it warms, some caramel. Has a light spicy taste. Smooth, a very good full body, well carbonated.
Love the wheated barrels. Lots of distinct aromas and flavors to varying degrees, with a solid oak presence as well. Really enjoyable.
Sep 18, 2024Pours dark brown and opaque, with a brief head and sparse cling. Aromas of bourbon, oak, roasted malt, some vanilla, some chocolate as it warms, light char and caramel. Has a spicy aroma. Flavors of bourbon, oak, roasted malt, vanilla, chocolate- again, as it warms, some caramel. Has a light spicy taste. Smooth, a very good full body, well carbonated.
Love the wheated barrels. Lots of distinct aromas and flavors to varying degrees, with a solid oak presence as well. Really enjoyable.
Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota
4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sunkiller. On the day of the ultra-mega-supra-hyped total eclipse, this feels sympatico. Arrives in a 16 oz. can. Release a la 2023.
Totality black with bubbles nearly invisible to the naked eye. The nose is earthy barrel.
Sunkiller is a lovely expression of malt + barrel. Seems like the simple is cycling out of favor currently, but this one is an argument for that cycle to turn. Sharp bourbon is tamed, kind of, by an outflowing of sweet malt with a roasty, nearly smoky edge to it. Dry, with just a touch of heat on the finish. Sixteen ounces is a good run with this beast.
A puppy’s whisker away from hitting the top tier. Very good brew.
Apr 09, 2024Totality black with bubbles nearly invisible to the naked eye. The nose is earthy barrel.
Sunkiller is a lovely expression of malt + barrel. Seems like the simple is cycling out of favor currently, but this one is an argument for that cycle to turn. Sharp bourbon is tamed, kind of, by an outflowing of sweet malt with a roasty, nearly smoky edge to it. Dry, with just a touch of heat on the finish. Sixteen ounces is a good run with this beast.
A puppy’s whisker away from hitting the top tier. Very good brew.
Reviewed by firesidewithphil from Illinois
4.73/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.73/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Sunkiller is one of those gems you find a long the way. I don't know if it's the Blanton's barrel but this stout has a big, rich, and complex profile. Just a pure barrel aged experience that holds a lot of history by sleeping for 18 months.
Feb 25, 2023
Reviewed by DokiDokiLitFam from New Jersey
4.35/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A good stout that does well with the bourbon integration. Bright notes of vanilla and coconut coming from the oak and a good bittering roasted stout base. Some nuttiness comes through. Nice flavor, medium bodied, overall a well done barrel aged stout.
Feb 11, 2023
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
4.1/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
pours dark brown not much head strong beer great bourbon malt taste - drink slow
Jan 08, 2023
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