Midnight Sun M

#1700. 22 oz bottle had at Midnight Sun tasting. Deep dark brown in color with a little off white head. Chocolate, roasty caramel bourbon aroma. Roasty, caramel and woody vanilla flavor. Dark fruity notes. Plums, figs, and raisins. Bourbon was not overpowering. Very smooth and drinkable. Chocolaty finish. Complex beer. Smooth and creamy. Alcohol very well hidden. Very enjoyable. Wow. Well balanced.

Here it is, ratebeer rating # 3,000 (finally, I am someone!!!). 22oz bottle acquired in trade with DarkElf (thanks!). Poured a dark mahogany color with a smaller sized tan head. Aromas of dark fruits, chocolate, caramel, light roast, smoke, brown sugar, bourbon (not overpowering) and wood. The woodiness came out more and more in the aroma as the beer aired out. Aromas were very complex and I kept getting more as I smelled each time. Tastes of dark fruits (raisins and plums), caramel, earthy / peaty, woody, candi & brown sugar, and vanilla. Very sweet, not cloying, but any sweeter and it would be. Alcohol completely hidden. Creamy body. The barrel aging was done very well; it complimented both the aromas and tastes nicely.

Thanks to hopdog for sharing and congrats on 3,000! Bottle 05-05-05. Pours a deep/dark brown with ruby red highlights when held to the light. Head was average size with a dark creamy tan head with small bubbles and lots of darker tan lacing. Aroma was very strong, dark fruits, lots of vanilla, woody, earthy, bourbon, hints of alcohol and nuts. Flavor is very sweet, almost sticky, lots of roastiness, vanilla, various nuts, roasted almonds, caramel, hints of bourbon. A lot of the flavor comes out in the after taste. Alcohol well hidden in the flavor but still just a little on the sweet side even after sitting for close to 2 years.

From a 22oz Bottle. Deep, roasty brown colors with some ruddy cherry hues and a thin layer of desperatly clinging, creamy beige head. Distinctly Belgian malt character in the nose - a plethora of raisins, molasses, fleshy prunes, and a hint of cinnimon spice. Some notes of caramel and vanilla toffee are also present in the bouquet, adding a thick dessert-like quality to the spicy belgian malt concoction that rests beneath the nose. Fantastic full-bodied mouthfeel with a shimmering carbonation that lightens up the weight of the palate, making it full bodied without getting syrupy. Easily one of the best mouthfeels I have ever experienced. Lots of deep caramelly raisin characters with loads of prune and molasses-soaked organic brown sugar. Some sticky fired cured Virginia tobacco gives it a unique woody character. So many wonderful things are going on here its difficult to describe with words, but there really is no need as this one is a truly memorable experience. A well caramelized british raisin pudding topped with a slice of port soaked dried pineapple. Warming finish, but without any harsh edges. Fantastic blend of British and Belgian styles - if there were a conceptual beer to perfectly suit my tastes, this would be it, and this one proves that this concept was an excellent idea. Thanks for sharing, Chris!

My 1000th rating!!

22 oz bottle, via BA timmcd64. Pours a deep rich brown body with some mahogany edges. Similar in color to tobacco juice. The head is fairly small, about 1 cm in height, very tight bubbled and creamy, brown in color, and retained as a thin creamy film. Nose is very thick and deep, one of the most complex I’ve encountered. Heavy thick malt, dark fruits, light soy, belgian yeast, light alcohol, vanilla, roasted malt, bourbon, caramel, belgian candi sugar, and lots of other subtle nuances. Flavor is quite unique. So soft and well rounded yet assertive. Big toffee and fruity malt with some light bourbon, brown sugar, caramel, raison, and belgian yeast. Finishes with some coffee, tobacco, light oak tannins, and a little alcohol. Sweet, but not overly so. The perfect amount of barrel influence, this beer with all it’s complexities really stood up well against the bourbon that can overtake many lesser beers. Very interesting and unique. Mouthfeel is the most creamy and silky textured beer I’ve had in a very long time. So soft with absolutely beautiful minimalist carbonation, just enough to keep it from being still and boring. Somehow there’s minimal stickiness on the finish despite the super hefty malt bill and all the candi sugar. With all the special beers that I have in my cellar, this seemed like a logical one to choose for #1000, and I’m so happy I chose such a truely amazing beer. Now onto the next thousand!!

Courtesy of Pailhead. Dark brown mahogany with light beige head. Super sweet aroma. Full of caramel, mollasses, toffee, butter like bourbon character. Flavor much the same, huge sweet malt through and through, with even bigger bourbon kick through the middle and finish. Warming affect in finish. Great mouthfeel considering the huge malt bill, would expect more syrup like body. Well done, wold score even higher without the huge bourbon and alcohol kick towrds the finish.

Gently lacing fading beige head covers the dark brown body. Exquisitely toasted maltiness reaches the nose and penetrated the mind with maple richness and pancakes succulence. Rich, but not too aggressive. It is immensely sweet, but kinda fitting. The bourbon oakiness mostly appears in mouth, otherwise the beer is an opus to malt. Considerable grape character evolves on the palate toward blackberries, while vanilla laden minty flavours corroborate the initial brown chocolate sweet barrel aspirations. Grenadine syrup eventually joins the race to caramilk land. Building layers of fun to decorticate malt elements that ensures its legend to stay well alive among beer geeks. Thick bodied, low carbonation, decadent, if not quite my style.

That’s quite a story on the bottle. Generously shared by Blankboy with Hogtown Harry and myself. Pitch black, small tight beige head, looks fantastic. Slightly sour, roast aroma - an interesting combo that works - tons of roast, malt, and chocolate. Wow, what a silky mouthfeel - this is as good as a beer can "feel" in your mouth. Where to start with flavour? Sour tart fruit, tons of chocolate, icing sugar, leather, oil, alcohol, vanilla, and lots of bourbon that never dominates. One of the most stunning beers I have ever had. So balanced, alcohol kept in check. Complex! Drinkable! Thanks for sharing Paul!