Midnight Sun Specialty 30th Anniversary Black Double IPA

Brewed by Midnight Sun Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Anchorage, Alaska USA

Growler from Alex--thanks riversideAK! Deep dark brown with a one finger creamy beige head, good retention. Nose is of big pine (kind of sweet with fresh cut needles) and roasted malts with some pleasant chocolatey sweetness that all meld quite nicely. There is also some licorice and light sweet citrus fruits. Flavor has more bitterness--can’t tell if it’s from the black patent or just from the hops--that starts as soon as it’s in my mouth clear through to the dry finish. It peaked at a 7. There was also a bit of toastiness that I didn’t pick up in the aroma, and the fruits were gone. I also got more burnt character in the flavor, and though the pine was still there, it did not seem as fresh. Minimal sweetness. Medium full body with light to moderate carbonation, possibly due to the hand bottling. Good black DIPA, and glad I got to try it.

Thanks BrianK. Poured a very dark brown color with an off-white head. Aroma of roasted malt and grapefruit. Notes of coffee. The flavor matched with citrus, roasted malt, and coffee but the citrus dominates. Big bitter hop finish. Almost medium bodied.

Totally black with a medium off-white head. Unique, pleasant aroma of hops and ashy smoke. Flavor is also unique, maybe just slightly less pleasant. Smoke, bitter chocolate and roasted malt combined with a lot of bitter hops, and a touch of grapefruit in the finish. Quite distinct from other black IPAs I’ve had. An odd, but by no means unpleasant combination of flavors here. I enjoyed giving it a try, but not a favorite (which I actually think is ideal for an anniversary/commemorative beer).

Bottle from me, straight from ak yo! Deep dark cola brown with khaki head that is small. Super roasty and balanced nose...caramel, charred malt, ash, coffee with great bittering notes. Light and sweet roastiness up front, moves into a nuttness and on the end it is perfectly bitter. Thanks bvc!

The beer poured with a deep black colour and a thin white/tan head. The nose is prety nice. Heavy acidic roastiness and a lot of deep dark roasty maltiness. A little bit of dried plums and figs, spiciness and a bit of oakiness as well. The barrel here contributes a bit of vineousness but unlike a lot of barrel-aged beers, it doesn’t destroy the hop flavour. Lots of hoppy spiciness in here. Long lingering bitter finish. It’s intense but it works pretty well.

initial scent from opened bottle is pure hops with no roast in sight. upon the pour, big citrus and soft nearly smoky roast seem to get along quite well. appearance is dead opaque. flavor is big lime hops, quite tart. again, the whiff of smoke found in the nose comes back at times stronger then others. palate is a far and away 5. big bitterness and even tartness give this a dry finish; ironic, since the roast gives it a stretch of silk as well. bitterness really lingers, dark roast perhaps causes this to coat the tounge and keep things in play long after a sip.

22. Thanks, SuzyGreenberg! Huge piney, earth, citrus, spice and chocolate nose. All the same sorts of stuff in the taste as well, with an earth, citrus and resin finish.

Sampled from 22-oz bottle that someone generously offered during Darkness Day 2009 sampling table in Brooklyn Center, MN. Pours a semi-opaque dark brown brew with a thin tan head that quickly dissipates to a thin film top. Aroma of toasted dark malt, chocolate, a hint of espresso and grapefruit zest. Taste is when the hops really stands out with some coffee/chocolate character and more grapefruit. Finish has a mild coffee and bitter grapefruit along with a touch of hazelnuts and some tangerine. Bitterness lingers after the finish which made this stand out compared to most other Black IPAs.