Midnight Sun M

bottle thanks to the man who shall not be named. huge huge huge thanks to that man.... pours a dark brown with a thin light tan head that diminished to a wispy resemblance of its former self.... nose was of rich dark fruit, caramel malt. not too amazing but it does hold its own..... flavor def. takes a turn for better. incredibly smooth on the dark fruit and sweet front. it’s caramely and sugary but never becomes cloyingly so. creamy smooth mouthfeel and you can’t notice the abv at all.....oh and this is my 500th rating and a well deserved one at that.

Pours dark brown and nearly opaque, with traces of ruby in the hips of the tulip glass. A tan head of humble proportions struggled to reveal itself, with a stretch of a pour. The quarter-inch of foam dissapated quickly, leaving a partial coverage at best. Susequent swirls of the glass rose up continued frothing easily. Remarkable in the nose. Heavily laced with thick malt, dried figs, charred oak, bourbon, and port. Layers of richness continue with shades of leather, sherry, dark rum, toffee, and vanilla. Mouthfeel is thick and chewy. Quite sticky and somewhat syrupy. The pallet is rich and decadent. Caramelized sugars, chewy malt, vineous port, and burnt chocolate bits. Beneath the massive malt bill and unfermentables lies a cherry-like oxidation and bourbon. Bitterness and any hopping is negligable, and the vineous nature leans the brew into an "Old ale" stance. Finishes sweetish with lingering dark rum, port, smoked leather, and caramlized brown sugar. A totally unique beer, with liquer overtones.

Bottle for rating #2400: Viscous pour, burnt caramel in color, the deepest brown before becoming black, thin short lived light beige head, a few whisps of lacing.   Being at nearly two and a half years in the bottle, it has taken on an aged appearance.   The aroma is dominated by the raisin and prune.   Very subtle oak, vanilla, and bourbon character as well.   I can see where the aformentioned aromas might have been stronger years ago.   Any sort of hop presense has diminished.   Oh my lord, on first sip you realize how smooth and silky this one is.   WOW!   Amazingly smooth.   Wrapped around my tongue are raisins, prunes, soft caramel, and sense of accomplishment.   This is one of the better Barley Wines I have had in a long time.   Damn!   This one takes on a Port like quality.   Utterly delicious!   I do believe this one needs to be brewed again.   Full bodied, silky smooth mouthfeel.   So clean, well balanced, and flavorful.   This one is very warming, but not alcholic at all.   I am amazed to see that it is listed as 11.6% ABV.   Quite sweet on the tongue, but not yet cloying.   I think as time goes on it may get that way though.   Lingering raisins and prunes, with faint hints of vanilla, oak, and bourbon.   Sad to see the remainder of my glass being finished.   I really wish I had more of this.   Fantastic stuff!

Bottled. A pitch black beer with a brown head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of soy sauce, caramel, alcohol, and cherry. The flavor is sweet malty with notes of caramel, alcochol, cherries, and sweet soy sauce. Great.

Thanks Jeff. Pours to a dark brown body with ruby highlights. A thin brown head. The aroma is really nice. Aged malt and barley with notes of sherry, port, and molasses. Sweet vanilla. The flavor is sweet aged barley, sherry, vanilla, oak, and port wine. Toffee. The palate is warming, smooth, and moderately full bodied. Sampled this again. Liked it slightly better.

Dark black pour tan head nice lace Coccoa powder lt coffee tons of roast malt ltly hot alcohols Full well coated & creamy pal Sweet creamy milk chocolate lightly roast malts hints of alcohol Delicious

Date: 06/24/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

black with ruby edges, thin fine beige head, thin lace, rich sweet aroma of brown sugar and dark fruits, rich malt flavor, lots of ripe figs, lots of dark sugar sweetness,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 18/20
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

A huge thanks to timmcd64 and cquiroga for letting me try this beer when we ran into each other at Lost Abbey. It pours nearly black with an offwhite head. The aroma is of bourbon and vanilla. The flavor is an explosion of chocolate, vanilla & bourbon, the mouthfeel is luscious and creamy. Incredible