Midnight Sun Berserker Imperial Stout

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

The night capper in 4/12 DDD with J in c-bad. Another epic night of beer, eh? 2007 vintage - another big thanks to Tim for the goods. I really hope all my senses were in check for this...

Nose was fairly straightforward - oak, dark chocolate, with a roasty dry blanket - barrel seems missing for the most part. Flavor goes crazy on the roastiness - so roasty it turns towards a bit salty - weird, I know - but not unpleasant. Licorice sweetness and faint bourbon oak float around in a backdrop of coffee grind. Bittering, long, and dry finish. While I was a tad disappointed - following BA Speedway can be a tough act to follow - and in lieu of that this did an ample job. Very curious as to how the other vintages drink b/c I hear they vary greatly! ISO!

Another oak-aged brew shared by jarspag during a DM tasting on April 12. Thanks narfy. Thick and viscous oily pour. Silky appearance with a pillowy light brown head that settles. Big roasted malt character in the aroma with a slight funk, and notes of raisin and pear, smoke, and caramel. Faint hints of bourbon wood in the flavor, but pretty weak overall. A bit of salty roastiness and burnt coffee with sweet pine needles. Seems like it could use longer aging in the barrel. Thick, cheek-biting coating on the palate. Soft texture with a lightly breadish aftertaste.

(22oz. bottle, 2007 vintage) Pours a oily opaque black body with a spare brown head. Aroma of chocolate, black licorice, roasted malt, vanilla, and a touch of lactose. Flavor of strong roasted malt, chocolate, toasted grain, and some dark fruits with a dry finish.

Tasted at Ezra’s imperial stout tasting. We all laughed about the song "Berserker" from the movie Clerks. Deep, dark and boozy as hell! Oak whisky came through nicely. Very nice! Unique and distinct palate with enticing esters. Well crafted to say the least.

Pours a dark brown with a 1/2" tan head. Spotty lacing. Aromas of roasty malts, faint oak, and slight vanilla. Flavors of roasty malts, light vanilla, faint oak hues. A little bitter with a dry aftertaste.

2007 22 oz. bottle via trade with Puzzl - Pours a dark brown color with a one finger thick light tan head. Light spotty lacing. Aroma was a bit odd. It’s chocolate, roasted malt, faint oak/whiskey, and a tad bit of dark esters. Flavor is roasted malt, light coffee, and light chocolate. Had a dry, chalky aftertatse. Medium body. It was a slight let down, but good overall. Thanks Andy.

Sample from bottle provide by cbkschubert. Aromas of vanilla, oak and roast. Black body with tan head. Thick body texture with a good vanilla chocolate flavor. Smooth on the palate. Thanks Craig.

Vintage 2007, thanks to Tim! Oily, french pressed black; spotty tanned marshmallow goam skirting the surface. Beautiful aroma of belgian chocolate, blackberries, apple fritter with a glaze of wet caramel and cinnamon; lots of ripe dark fruits and soft whiskey cask character. Smooth, spicy smoke, tropical touches of vanilla beans and velvety melon flesh. Understated and brilliant at the same time. Flavor is dark and dense; carefully rounded, sophisticated, exciting. Very vinous with cabernet grapes and cognac cherries, but also pleasantly dry with baker’s chocolate and lightly acrid with sumatran dark roasted peaberry beans. Plum skins, light toffee, and a touch of pear; reserved, unique, engaging. Drinkable to an absurd degree, seeming designed to rest comfortably in calm confidence; an astonishingly perfect balance of kinetic and a vast store of potential energy. Medium to full bodied in the mouth, lightly acidic and smeared with viscous caramels and melted white chocolate. A luscious silk of dessert. Finishes smoothly with a prickly bourbon edge and doughy cocoa. Extraordinary; the experience longed for in one simplified but thoroughly polished example.