Blackout Stout - Barrel Aged Mocha
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

16 ounce can, NOV 13 28 stamped on the bottom so that's the best by date. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with not quite an inch tan head that stuck around a while. There's also a decent amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, it smells mostly like chocolate, along with some roasted malt, coffee, and some vanilla. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some dark bread, earthy and a hint of bourbon flavor noticeable. Reminds me of a Tootsie Roll. Not much barrel character but maybe it's overpowered by the chocolate which is the standout in this brew in both the taste and aroma. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's smooth and a little creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this one but wish the barrel aging had more of a kick. With that being said it's worth picking up especially if you like chocolate!

I like the way it looks, pitch black with ample brown foam and lacing. Smell is a muted mocha, with very faint vanilla and malt. Taste is vanilla extract and mocha up front, with toasty malt and prickling hops on the back end. Coffee carried throughout. It is a bit disjointed, with too much going on, and the vanilla is artificial.

 

Look: It pours dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is good.

Smell: There are deep rich dark chocolate aromas. There are some background coffee notes with nuts, roast, and hints of cherries.

Taste: It has strong chocolate and coffee flavors. There are nutty flavors in support with some cherries. The alcohol is noticeable in the flavors. There are also some vanilla notes as well.

Feel: It has a full body with noticeable alcohol, but the finish is smooth balanced towards the bitter side.

Overall, a complex collection of flavors and strong alcohol makes this quite enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

On point from the coffee standpoint, it's almost reminding us of Café Silk, but with a little airier, lighter toasty roast. I'm not sure the barrel is doing a ton of work, which unfortunately is unsurprising for Great Lakes.

From the 16 oz can in a snifter. This solid imperial pours a rich blackish brown with
a decent head of brown foam that settles to a a thick ring, thin clumping layer, and
displays some light lacing. Nose of rich bakers cocoa, moderate cream, dark coffee,
vanilla, and faint bourbon. Flavors dial it in with dark cocoa, char, rich vanilla, subtle
bourbon, and cream amongst dark berry notes of black and blueberry with a hint
of smoke. Mouth feel is full, smooth, moderately warming, medium light carbonation,
and a bitter malt note that is well presented for the stout lovers out there.

Overall, a stellar addition to the Blackout line!

Cheers

 

 

 

16oz can, date stamped NOV 13 28
L: cola colored ale; towering, foamy khaki head holds great retention
S: loads of cocoa nibs and artificial chocolate similar to Tootsie Rolls
T: sweet and artificial tasting: Tootsie Roll, artificial chocolate flavor & artificial vanilla extract, roasted barley; not much for barrel, bourbon, or coffee (mocha?)
F: fuller body, ample carbonation, artificial flavors linger
O: I had one of these about a month ago and did not like it. Was dreading to drink another because I knew that it was going to be a bad review. Unfortunately I’m detecting a lot of artificial flavors here: Watkins vanilla extract? Chocolate flavoring? Drain pour for me this time.

 

 

I enjoyed this one a lot. The aroma is just great. The moment you open the can, you can smell vanilla and dark chocolate. Taste is just like the nose suggests, Vanilla and dark chocolate character. Even though in clocks in at 11%, it is not evident in aroma and taste.

Poured from a pint can well within its “Enjoy by” date range into two snifters.

Look: Dark brown to black, opaque, with a very slight tan head with very little retention, reducing to a slight foam ring with only a little short-lasting lacing.

Nose: This is really something — oh my goodness — sweet mocha and bourbon!

Taste: Attack follows the nose pretty closely, with some dark roasted malt underneath. Bitterness in the finish balances the sweet mocha.

Mouthfeel: Medium; actually just a bit thinner than I would have expected. Appropriate carbonation.

Overall: Very tasty, very drinkable — I like it; a nice, flavorful variation on their regular Barrel-Aged Blackout. Will be going back to the store for another four-pack.

 

Blackout Stout Barrel Aged Mocha from Great Lakes Brewing. 16 fl oz can from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. Picked up 10/01/26, in reefer at distributor. $ 6.75 (including tax) ($ 0.422/fl oz). Reviewed 13/01/26, review 3670. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on bottom of can “NOV 13 28”. Stored at home at 40 degrees F. Served at 57.5 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 61.3 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 30), opaque. Under direct light, same, with massive amount of precipitate sticking to the inside of the glass. When rear-lite, opaque, with amber at the edges.
Head – Sall (Maximum 0.6 cm, aggressive center pour) Moccasin, high density with average retention, maintaining a 0.5 cm crown and complete cap.
Lacing – Fair. Three volcanoes of near-microscopic bubbles grace the glass.
Aroma – 4 – Chocolate and coffee, with light roasted malt. No barrels. No alcohol (11 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 4.25 – It begins slightly sweet, with milk chocolate overshadowing the coffee. No hops, no alcohol. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Ends slightly bitter with roasted malt flavor predominating. Initially faint gastric warming grows uncomfortable.
Palate – 4 – Medium: Creamy: Soft carbonation.
Style: Sort of follows the BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Uncredited label art. Overall, a nice iteration of Blackout Stout. Any hints at barrel-aging seem to lean toward whiskey rather than bourbon.