Midnight Sun Berserker Imperial Stout

Brewed by Midnight Sun Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Anchorage, Alaska USA

Sampled with Carr Valley cocoa-crusted goat cheese. Almost entirely black with a very dark brown head. Stingingly pungent, with rich dark fruits and dark chocolate. Sugary thick body is almost like a Cuban coffee. Very tasty - hints some sweet high notes, and only has a slight bourbon inflection. Nice brew.

2008, thanks to Daknole. Lovely black looks with lasting tan head and lacing like cuneiform. Gorgeous compacted, concentrated aromas, mild coffee and really subtle chocolate. Smooth and creamy. Barrel is apparent but not broadcasted. Very nice. Has some strength but very very smooth and good. Yum.

Bomber bottle from hannont, much thanks, served in my Stone IRS snifter. Opaque with a deep tan frothy head and good lace. The aroma has notes of oak and whiskey (but more like Irish Whiskey than American Bourbon), bittersweet chocolate, espresso, dark candi sugar, molasses, and a hint of port wine fruitiness. Lush sweet malt with hint of dark fruit and chocolate covered coffee beans start the flavor profile. There is some whiskey barrel character more towards the midsection towards the finish. The Coup de grâce is the almost salty and peaty earthiness which caresses the tongue forcefully. The mouth feel is oily and lush but not heavy, a bit mineral and a tad boozy too. It is not often I would say that a brew with a 4.0 overall is underrated, but I believe this is. Sort of a hybrid BA Impy with it’s hints of Irish Whiskey and Scotch Whisky notes around the Belgium candi sugar tones and chocolates with some finer Italian Espresso thrown about for good measure. This is NOT your "standard" Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout... GET YA SOME, IT ROX!

22oz bottle from hannont, thanks Todd. Mild aroma, some chocolate, very little trace of barrel aging. More light chocolate, some coffee, very smooth. Pretty good overall, but the barrel aging wasn’t really prevelant.

Sampled at the Ohio group tasting on DLD eve ’09. Black pour with a medium light brown head. Chocolate malt aroma with some boozy influence and roasty coffee. Chocolate flavor up front that is more dry than sweet, followed by some bourbon and a creamy and bitter coffee finish. Despite all the ridiculously good beers we tried on this night, this was probably my favorite. Many many thanks to whoever brought this (I’ll assume it was Brad or Mike).

Bottle from Hannont. OH MY GOD. They should rename this beer Daknole. This IS my new favorite beer. Wow. And wow again. Pours super dark brown color wtih a rich chocolate brown head. This beer looks amazing. and it doesn’t stop there. The aroma is just amazing. Tons of chocolate fudge, sweet brown sugar, vanilla, oak, light bourbon, molasses, and the mouthfeel is just ridiculous. Perfect 5. I hearby offer a plea for MORE MORE MORE!

Bottle pours pitch black with a dark tan head. Aroma is dark roasted malt with some vanilla and whiskey. Heavy mouthfeel. An oily slick black. Everything an imperial stout should be. Flavor follow the nose and carries with it some coffee, chocolate, and anise flavors. A very solid brew.

2005 bottle shared by sparky27...

pours deep brown nearly black with orange at the edges and a small tannish head. moderate spotty lacing. this smells really sweet... chocolate malt powder, wood, whisky, brown sugar and molasses. surprisingly low level of sweetness on the palate... molasses and black raisins without the sugar, milk chocolate, vanilla, wood and a huge dose mellow smooth whiskey. normally i do not care for bourbon beer but this is well done and not overbearing. medium body with a smooth texture and soft creamy carbonation. apertif beer...8/4/8/4.5/17/4.1