Blackout Stout - Barrel-Aged
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

 

2022 bottling, in a 22oz bomber. Shared with the Mrs., my serving in a snifter. No ABV listed on the bottle.

Appearance: Black and letting no light through, but very dark brown by the time I got to the bottom of the glass. Thin tan head, with some islands of lacing noted.

Smell: Mostly bourbon. After warming it up quite a bit, I got some additional vanilla, something metallic, and a hint of roasted malts. Still mostly bourbon.

Taste: Strong bourbon flavor - really dominates the rest of the beer. Some vanilla, roasted malts, a bit of dark chocolate, sweet malt, and lightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Good thickness, light carbonation, but quite warming from the alcohol.

Overall / Drinkability: I'm guessing this beer is variable ABV each year, and this version was on the high side. I could feel it halfway through the glass. Pretty hot overall, and I suspect it may have mellowed out if I let it sit a year. Otherwise, good, but not great. Far too much bourbon, and the underlying Blackout Stout I know so well is lost under all the bourbon.

 

22oz bottle labeled 2022 poured into a tulip pint glass at just above fridge temp, no ABV listed on label. The beer pours the darkest brown possible with minimal light penetration and light brown head. The head recedes to a thin ring and scattered, tiny bubbles. The aroma is mild with bakers chocolate, oak and coffee. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with notes of charred barrel, dark chocolate and slight bourbon. Minimal to medium bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with low carbonation and a semi dry finish. Overall, good. The low carbonation really throws this beer off. There's not enough barrel or ABV to counteract the sweetness with no carbonation causing it to feel syrupy and unbalanced.

22 ounce bottle, 2022 vintage, didn't see an ABV on the label. Nice to see this one finally get distributed! Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both good. I like the aroma, the brew smells like burnt/charred malt, vanilla, dark chocolate, coffee and some bourbon. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some oak, dark fruit and earthy flavors. Barrel character shows up more in the flavor. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's slick and smooth with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was a good barrel aged brew, certainly worth picking up some if you get the chance!

From the tap @ Great Lakes Brewpub; Cleveland OH; Christmas Eve 2022.

 

How does the abv lower if ifs aged in a barrel?... anyways. This was really good to me still but honestly underwhelming. Nowhere near the same flavor nuances as the OG but im liking that one less too. Weird. I also don't understand how the BA version is somehow lower in ABV than the original.

At the Cincinnati Beer Fest 2022

 

Look - really nice black and thick with a nice tan head and lacing
Smell - coffee chocolate
Taste - coffee chocolate slight barrel and toasted malts
Feel - medium body with medium light carb
Overall - pretty basic and a little thin

 

 

 

2015 Vintage
12oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that has short retention

S- plenty of roast on the nose with some wet ash, chocolate and licorice. A bit meaty, with raisin and fig. Oaky bourbon undertones

T- chocolate and charred malt up front, complimented by some raisin and licorice. Mid-palate brings out a big barrel note, adding barrel juice, wet oak, and a peppery note. The finish continues with more oaky barrel, before lingering with chocolate and char

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly warming finish

O- a solid straight up stout with some nice barrel notes throughout

 

My god, this is certainly one of my favorite beers. I was never a big stout guy, until I tried this. Unbelievably rich in flavor and texture. Poured into a regular beer glass incredibly dark with a great tone.