(Cleveland, OH) – Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout arrives on Wednesday, Oct. 15, as part of a Mug Club Members Only party with the beer being available on tap and for sale in bombers (limit of six per person). The Rackhouse Ale, an American Strong Ale that has earned high marks in the beer community, will also be tapped for the event. If you aren’t in the Mug Club already and want in, the fee is $35. However, the brew will be made available to the open public on Oct. 16. More info on the release at Great Lakes’ site.

A hoppy imperial stout at 85 IBUs, the beer is named after “named after the infamous ‘Blackout of 2003’ that left the northeastern United States in complete darkness” (Wikipedia link – check out the before and after shots via satellite). As far as accolades, the brew is in the top 100 beers at both Beer Advocate and RateBeer. It also won bronze in the 2008 World Beer Cup and gold in 2006.