Midnight Sun Conspiracy

Brewed by Midnight Sun Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Anchorage, Alaska USA

Bottle. Thanks to Markus (bu11zeye) for this one. Pours a black color with a tan head. Malty spicy slightly alcoholic aroma with some hints of dark fruit. Sweet spicy warming yeasty bitter flavor with some hints of dark fruit, also some hints of licorice. Has a warming malty finish.

Well I must say, this is one beer that has radically improved with age. On my first bottle, I found it a competent, mildly spiced, dry finished Belgian black (a style that seems to be growing in prominence). Now, almost 9-10 months later, the beer is a very perplexing and wonderfully complicated delight. Only mildly bitter from the hops, the beer comes on with equal parts deep roast (but Sumatran rather than Viennese, if you dig) and sour dark fruits. There’s certainly a malt presence here, but thankfully it’s not the usual toffee/caramel default, but rather a deep rich plum flavor. And there’s still a dry finish. Bizarre and excellent.

22 oz bottle. Poured a deep dark brown color that only let the slimmest ray of light through. Head was thick and tan with decent retention and lacing. Smelled predominantly of roasty malt with a splash of alcohol and some occasional fig. Effervescent and delicately sweet on the tongue. I tasted some brown sugar, raisin, and roasty malt. There was also some alcohol flavor, but it wasn’t overpowering. Interesting beer.

Thanks to the state of Oregon for this one. Very dark in color. Some belgian malts and dark chocolate. Some bubbles and caramel. Sweet taste of chocolate and roasted malts. A little bready body but overall nice.

Jimmack Invitational 2007. Very dark brown in color. Aroma is roast, light notes of chocolate and yeast. Taste is roast, chocolate, slight tart cherry. Finishes roasty, with belgian yeast and faint notes of spice.

Bottle: Deep cola in color, large fizzy light beige head, sparce lacing, lively carbonation.   Black malt nose, seems slightly sweet, minor notes of dark pitted fruit and cane sugar.   Extremely subtle roastiness.   Soft roasted malt tongue, softer lactose like sweetness, Black malts, mild dark pitted fruit.   This one comes across as a very pale Blackbier crossed with a very pale Belgian Dubbel.   Its fairly spritzy too, quite bubbley on the tongue.   Interesting beer, its like German and Belgian all at the same time.   I prefer the two seperate, but as a whole its not bad.   Moderate body and mouthfeel.   Lingering roasted malts, Black malt, and milk sugar.   Seems to become more of the Belgian Dubbel sweetness, on top of a German Blackbier.   Its also a fairly clean beer, no nasty risiduals.   Seems like authentic examples from both regions.   Thanks Bill for this rare gem!

Date: 04/28/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Dark Lord Day, 2007

black, fine beige head, sweet chocolate malt aroma, rich chocolate malt flavor, thin winey character, sweet chocolate flavor,
-------- /> Date: 07/15/2007
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting
Score: 3.1 to 3.3

sweet chocolate and licorice aroma, sweet milky chocolate flavor, touch of ripe fruits including dates and raisons, the appearance of the fruits is taking this up a notch

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Bottle from JJPM. Aroma isn’t great... slightly herbal, roasty, and, kind of icy, really. Very fizzy head on the pour. Taste is much better, with roastiness up front, mild sugars, ash, and a caramelly finish. A touch of belgian yeast, though not much. Very drinkable, especially warm. Enjoyable.