Blackout Stout
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Poured the pint can into a stemless snifter.
Dark, with a khaki thin head. The remaining collar produces little lacing.
A rich toasted, roasted flavorful brew. The dark malt hints of coconut, chocolate, dried fruit, caramelized brown sugar, warming ABV. Pleasant bitterness.

4pk of 16oz cans (13 NOV28) poured into a snifter

 

16 oz can poured into a snifter.

A: Black pour with a finger and a half of beige head. Retention is great. Chunky foam collar of lacing.

S: Blackstrap molasses, chocolate sauce, and fudge brownies up front. Barrel pulls up shortly after with a lot of sweetened corny bourbon, and a big black pepper note. Big spices. Toffee and caramel. Baked apple tart with spices. Sweet and okay with a lot of vanillins.

T: Follows the nose. Lots of malt up front with a blackstrap molasses and fudgey leaning. Deep notes of roast soon cover that up. French roast coffee, soot, and smoke. The bourbon barrel stomps all over things, bringing bold flavors of corny and peppery bourbon and a lot of woody oak. Vague fruit skins and baked apple tart. Cola. Spike of alcohol. Drying finish sees the more roasty and acrid side of the malt return, and lingering soot and smoke close the experience.

M: Full with a sense of gently pressing weight. Lithe and airy with a pervasive creaminess. Slightly chewy. Stiffly prickling carbonation. Deep alcohol warmth that buts up against being downright hot. Mild oak tannin.

O: This must have been one wet barrel, because it tastes like somebody just dumped a shot of bourbon in here. It's a bit aggressive on all fronts, between the bourbon heat and the acrid heavy roast notes. It works though. It isn't for the faint of heart, but if you love big boozy barrel aged stouts then this will be right up your alley.

Pours a very dark brown with a moderate dark-tan head. A robust malty flavor with heavy elements of dark chocolate. The final notes are hoppy and predominated by a tasteful roasted bitterness with hints of fruit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!

 

 

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)