Beer Review: 2 Strong Stouts – Goose Island BCBS and Great Lakes Blackout Stout

I’ve been slacking on posting reviews for some reason or another so here are 2 reviews I wrote over the past few days. I’ve finished my latest bout of stout/porter action with the strongest 2 of the bunch. Bourbon County Brand Stout (BCBS) comes in at 15% and Blackout comes in at 9%. Both are very well reviewed on rate beer and beer advocate, BCBS is also highly sought after in online trading. Blackout is available at any better beer seller while BCBS is too strong to sell in Ohio and rare enough that you have to ask someone at the Party Source to get it for you from a back room.

Brewery: Goose Island (AB-InBev)
Beer: Bourbon County Stout (2012)
Style: Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume: 15%

Color strongly reminds me of both chocolate and coca-cola, minus all the carbonation. No head to speak of at all. There are a few brown bubbles of foam floating around here and there, kinda making an S in the middle of the glass.

Reeks of alcohol, coffee, and heavily roasted malts. And this is from far away, I’m a bit afraid to go in close and take a super deep whiff. Umm yeah that deep whiff was slightly choking.

The taste is strong and aggressive. So much malt and alcohol in there mixes with a bit of sickly sweetness. It kinda reminds me of cough syrup. Lots of bourbon flavor all over the place as well.

Light and smooth body with hints of carbonation.

I was hoping this would be one AB-InBev product I’d love. Alas it’s just too much of everything. I like bourbon flavors but not at the level and force that this beer presents. Also not nearly enough to fully understand and appreciate the mad rush of almost every craft brewer to make a bourbon barrel aged [insert style here]. Hopefully it’s a fad that passes and a few skilled hands remain.

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewery
Beer: Blackout Stout
Style: Imperial Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 9%

Definitely a brown color just very dark and letting no light through. Starts off with light brown head but that fades fast.

Not a super aggressive aroma but presents the nose with dark chocolate, coffee, and some kind of fruit that I can’t quite place.

Nice smooth taste that doesn’t hide, but blends and balances, the alcohol. More sweet dark chocolate, not much bitterness or roasted malt. Light coffee blends with hints of earthy and piney hops.

Light medium body with some carbonation. There is some slickness on the tongue as well as a bit of warming alcohol but not an overwhelming amount.

I didn’t love this beer but I did really like it. It’s got a lot of good stout action and enough alcohol to get you going a good way toward wasted. I’d definitely buy this again given the chance.