Great Lakes Brewing Co. Blackout Stout

Back in 2003 something went wrong up in the Northeastern United States and all the electricity stopped working. Some guys fixed it after a while but it was still kinda creepy with all that darkness. Darkness can be creepy but darkness can also be very good. 

The Great Lakes Brewing Co. named this imperial stout after that infamous blackout in 2003. Now let us talk about it. 

The Great Lakes Brewing Co. is based in Cleveland, Ohio, across the Hope Memorial Bridge from downtown. I spent a beautiful early autumn afternoon in the pub downstairs watching the Indians whoop on the Twins. 

Ok, back to business. The imperial stout originated from recipes British brewers created for Russia's czars and czarinas before the Bolsheviks chopped all their heads off. So, now all of us get to enjoy 'em. A variety of malts and hops help contribute to this stout's flavor. Roasted barley and black malt help develop the stout's dark Pennzoil color at 50 IBUs. Northern brewer and Simcoe hops blend together to create a characteristically bold-hoppy flavor. 

I've only recently gotten into the stout game thanks to my good brother Adam Gregory. The extra hops and alcohol content of the blackout stout don't go down as smooth as the many Lancaster Milk Stouts we be sluggin' down on the regular but it still maintains a robust yet smooth flavor. A strong, coffee like aroma fills your mouth after every sip. Glorious. 

This beer recommends a 50 degree serving temperature, so be sure to have your meat thermometers ready. 

Where I start to get interested is the stout's 9% abv. Now, boy do those Russians love their booze! I reckon that's approximately the alcohol content of three Pennsylvania style lagers. Which you can pick up for like eleven dollars a case at your local Pennsylvania ugly beer distributor. 

Great Lakes packages these stouts in 4-packs rather than 6-packs, probably for your own safety. After four of these you'll be feeling crisp. After twelve of these you'll be pissing your pants and telling people your name is "Sally Draper". 

Merry Christmas

Drinkability: 7/10

Taste: 7/10

Value: 6/10

Curb Appeal: 9/10

Overall: 7.25/10

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Rye of the Tiger IPA

Turn this junk up unless you fell of the turnip truck as a kid!

Another great beer from our friends at Great Lakes; Rye of the Tiger Rye-PA. This is named for its higher rye malt content opposed to other brews omitting such malt. Its got a floral scent as most IPAs do with a sharp bite that really nips the sides of your tongue. It's got a bit of a dry after taste which isn't necessarily different that other Indian Pale Ales. If you wanted a watery aftertaste I suggest drinking this crapola in high doses.

The Rye of the Tiger is like a lot of champions; tough, surly and will put you on your tush in seven rounds (reaching a 7.5% ABV). This is not the only IPA coming out of Great Lakes. The also have the Commodore Perry IPA (available year long) and the Alchemy Double (available February). The Commodore has the same ABV (Alchemy has 9.4%) but what is notable as far as the Rye is concerned is that it has a higher IBU than the others (Rye 92, Alchemy 80, Commodore 70). So if you like your high IBUs you might want to check this mother out (available April).

Would I get this again? Possibly. It was $5 a draft which isn't as cheap as a prom date from Ohio but still not outrageous (unlike a prom date from Ohio). As far as IPAs go its pretty bitter but it wasn't like I cried home to my mommy about. This is a good sipping beer in an air conditioned bar so if you like that keep on it. I'm not a fan of the label. I just have a real phobia with Tigers and Lions on my beers but this one works out pretty well.

Other Great Lakes Beer Reviews
Alchemy Double IPA
Lake Erie Monster IPA
Conways Irish Ale
Commodore Perry IPA
Eliot Ness Lager
Christmas Ale

Drinkability: 7/10
Taste: 8/10
Value: 6/10
Curb Appeal: 4/10

Overall: 6.25/10

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Alchemy Hour Double IPA

Talk about your summer IPA's, this one is like the tropics in a glass, if the tropics were full of alcohol, which in my experience they are.

I know, I know, Nick does another Great Lakes review, well deal with it! If it ain't broke, don't fix it! The boys from Cleveland do it again with this gem. It's a nice hazy light amber/orange with a bitterness and ABV (9.4%) that will knock you off your stool (or couch, or toilet, wherever you choose to enjoy). The nose is bitter and sweet with the scent of tropical fruits, and the finish does hold true to the smell.

Now let me tell you, I have experimented in drinking these all night, and they will knock you on your ass. So if you like that feeling, which is why im guessing you're on this site, go ahead and slam em.

Keep an eye out for this one, and keep an eye out for it as a different name. Currently there is a lawsuit that is making them change the name because some beer bums decided to copyright the name "Alchemy" in any beer name. Sounds dumb to me, somehow they won, but i'm no lawyer.


Malts:
-Harrington 2-Row
-Caramel 45
-Honey malt

Hops:
-Nugget
-Mosaic
-Cascade

Other Great Lakes Beer Reviews
Lake Erie Monster IPA
Conways Irish Ale
Commodore Perry IPA
Eliot Ness Lager
Rye of the Tiger IPA
Christmas Ale

Drinkability: 8/10
Taste: 8/10
Value: 5/10
Curb Appeal: 7/10

Overall: 7/10