Midnight Sun Brewtality

Brewed by Midnight Sun Brewing Company
Style: European Strong Lager
Anchorage, Alaska USA

Impervious ebony. Creamy beige froth holds extremely well. Smoky, raisiny, espresso-laden aromas with charcoal, alcohol-steeped prunes and dabs of scorched custard. Soft carbonic prickles wash over the tongue. Bottle conditioned. Full-bodied. Explosively rich, round and sugary with a viscous fudge-drenched espresso bean and mashed plum foundation. Espresso is slightly gritty and vegetal, though the moderate smokiness compensates nicely. Clean peppery alcohol generates a mild scratch as it stings the palate before fusing with the snug metallic-tinged espresso tingle which disperses the tacky residual sugars. Resoundingly soft, succulent, and sweetly portlike in the ester department, though it does teeter on medicinal at times as the molasses twang compounds the potent cassis and overripe plum tandem. Relentless, tongue-numbing espresso sufficiently staves off the flabbiness, however, as it continually deposits smoky- and tar-rich underpinnings. Finishes with a sublime sweet and sour fusion of dark fruits, black licorice and espresso-drenched chocolate wafers cleansed by a late surge of brisk alcohol. Midnight Sun claims this is a lager, and if this is true, it is undoubtedly the fruitiest lager I’ve ever encountered. Not exactly a whole lot of character to this, kinda kitchen-sinkish in some ways, and fairly muddled/poorly structured/boozy as a result. But lots of complexity. Not bad.

22 oz bottle. Pitch black with a tan head. Massive aroma of coffee, roasted grain, caramel, smoke and alcohol. The flavor is big and sweet with a bitterness that comes from the coffee and roasted grain. Full body with a thick creamy mouth feel and a mild carbonation. As this warmed up the coffee and roasty flavors really came out, the alcohol aroma came out more as well.

22 oz bottle. Dark brown with a foamy tan head. Nose is malted milk balls, espresso beans, light grass and some caramel. Rich and creamy with buzzy carb and an alcohol kick. Taste is prunes, molasses, tobacco and Greek coffee. A impressive melange of massive flavors. Lingering coffee and vodka with an odd vegetal note, maybe chard. Could be great with some aging.

Pours black into the glass with a tan head. Aroma is chocolate grain. Flavor is very heavy on the coffee with a bit of chocolate.

Black with a viscous tan head. Massive coffee mocha black malt aromas. Smooth, full body. Rich, hearty flavors of espresso with sweet, dark chocolate lactose and some drying blackened malts. Lingering finish is freshly spent coffee grains. Fucking breakfast of champions. Awesome !

Sampled during Deliriumfest’s Graduation tasting at Heritage Liquors in Maplewood, MN. Shared by Deliriumfest. Pours an opaque dark brown colored brew with a thick beige head that slowly dissipates to a thin beige ring. Aroma of strong coffee grounds, toasted dark malt, a hint of tangerine and chocolate. Taste is full bodied, very little carbonation with flavors of toasted dark malt, coffee, a hint of chocolate and caramel . Finish has a sharp bittern bite with some alcohol warmth with a lingering coffee and chocolate aftertaste. Nice.

Poured a clear deep brown color with an off-white head. Aroma of chocolate, hops, and coffee. The right amount of sweetness for balance. The flavor was of roasted malt with some sweetness. Hop finish. Light warmth and a medium body.

Bottle. Pours a dark brune body with an off white head. Dark roast y coffee with a big etoh warming. Chocolate malts, caramel and a very nice fresh roasted character. Awesome coffee brew.