Midnight Sun Envy Imperial Pilsner

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

Pours with perfect clarity and pale gold in color. A huge, white head of somewhat porous density stood at least three inches tall. A fairly quick retreat of the rocky foam revealed some decent webbing of white threads. Aromatics are pretty clean, with husky malts shining through an ample dose of zesty, earthy hops. Hints of black pepper and mustard seed come forward along with corn silks. The mouthfeel is effervescent and almost spritzy. Crisp and drying. A heavy dose of citrus leads the way on the pallet. Extremely bitter with warming alcohols. A light to medium level of maltiness is subdued by an aggresive hopping rate. Faily fruit laden, which may just be from citrusy hops, with grapefruit pith winning out. Finishes with lingering bitterness and mildly warming.

Hazy golden color out of the bomber with a fluffy white head that left sticky lace on the glass. Light citrus and pine notes in the nose, with some hairspray. Flavors of orange zest, tangerine, bready malts, and the pine that comes out in the end. This is a full bodied, full flavored beer.

Bottle: Courtesy of jsquire at the locals tasting. First off I must say that this bottle is badass...I think this is a brilliant idea for a series of brews and this didn’t disappoint. Murky orange pour with a med/small white head...good lacing. Very yeast-y and citrus hop based aroma. Some light malts and a bit of a floral character come through. Very crisp. Had a bit of a funk to it, though not in a bad way. Dry, citrus hop flavors throughout...a bit earthy and very good overall.

Date: 02/07/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta

Appearance: cloudy yellow, fine white head, drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet malt aroma with a spicy and musty character,
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, lots of balancing hops, very fresh and grassy hops, long bitter finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Pours a hazy straw yellow color with a white head. Aroma is grainy pale malts, with spicy peppery hops. Flavor is pale malt, grain, and a light peppery finish.

22oz bottle. Hazy gold color, off-white head. Aroma of fresh picked cherries. Flavor is sharp aged cheddar, maybe some beef broth. Saaz crotch. Pleasant bready finish with some oily hop bitterness.

High bitterness, soapy head. OK as a very bitter beer, but nothing I would seek out again.

22oz via trade from a gentleman from the other site. Big orange pour with a very lively, crisp carbonation. Interesting fruity notes in the aroma, distinctively mango at times, citrus elsewhere. There’s certainly a pretty good malt flavor here, and the body is nice, but the taste is dominated by pepper and floral creaminess, a full tasting brew with a long dry finish. One of the better, if not the best imperial pilsners out there.