Darkest Night
Cambridge Brewing Company

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From:
Cambridge Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 10.35%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
21
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 17, 2015
Added:
Jan 06, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of VelvetExtract
Reviewed by VelvetExtract from Massachusetts

3.56/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Tap. Pours a clear, dark copper color. Nice, tight, off-white head. A pretty beer. I actually did not know what style beer this was. I got a modest intensity aroma that had winter spice and the 'go-to' caramel malty sweetness. Apparently this beer was aged on a unique type of wood.i, personally didn't detect any wood but I wasn't shovng my nose into the beer at the bar. I enjoyed how the holiday spices aren't too overpowering. Light cinnamon and nutmeg and such. Caramel and some toasted, sweet bread. Not bad for a style I rarely enjoy.
Jan 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Ian_B from Massachusetts

Dec 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by PatGreer from Massachusetts

Dec 16, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by kvgomps from New Jersey

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by trippnwo from Florida

Dec 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by kinopio from Massachusetts

Dec 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Aisha from Massachusetts

Dec 10, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by morebeergood from Massachusetts

Dec 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by firstlighthiker from Tennessee

Dec 07, 2013
Photo of axeman9182
Reviewed by axeman9182 from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served in a tulip glass at Cambridge Brewing Company.

Darkest night pours just that, black as night. There's a about a finger of mocha foam sitting atop the beer. The head displays some decent head retention, and leaves a nice ring of lacing at the top of the glass, although what's left underneath is a bit more spotty. The nose brings some notes of coffee and plum up front, with some spicy herbal aromas lurking in the background. The flavor's got a light bit of caramel to it, before a big coffee, roasty quality comes and settles in as the focal point of the beer. There's just a hint of peppery phenols as the beer fades into the finish. The body's not what I would call "bone dry", but it's pretty darn close. The carbonation is just a touch muted for what I would like to have sen. Darkest Night is classified as a Winter Warmer here on BA, but to my mind it seems very much like a black Saison. Regardless of the style though, I definitely enjoyed my glass.
Mar 08, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by bpk59 from Massachusetts

Jan 14, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by CP20 from Massachusetts

Jan 12, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by waiting4lunch from Massachusetts

Nov 18, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Nov 14, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The beer pours a dark brown color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a solid crystal malt sweetness with some bisquit and roasted malt aroma. The cedar adds a nice level of complexity and really brings the other aromas together. The taste is good. It has a quaffable sweetness that boasts of crystal malts. The cedar compliments the sweetness and adds a layer of dryness to an already smooth roasted taste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an easy drinker for sure. Love the cedar wood character.
Feb 26, 2010
Photo of Duhast500
Reviewed by Duhast500 from Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the tap into a pint glass.

The color is a nice dark black with some ruby hues when held to the light. There is a brownish foamy head that is about a finger high and leaves a light lacing on the glass.

The smell is some nice caramel malt flavor. Some cinnamon flavor hides behind some hoppy crispness.

The taste is some nice burnt malts that give a slight smokey feel to this beer that stays just for a moment then leaves to bring on a molasses and caramel flavor.

The feel of this beer is evened out between a high carbonation feel and some crisp feel.
Feb 08, 2010
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: 1/2 inch head, clear, reddish-brown in color

Smell: gingerbread and cinnamon

Taste: gingerbread, cinnamon, toasted malt, and light hops at the end

Mouthfeel: sweet start slightly bitter finish, light bodied, moderate carbonation

Drinkability: This is an excellent winter warmer that is not overly spicy. It tastes like a good cookie. I could have three or four in the cooler months.
Jan 23, 2010
Photo of Jayli
Reviewed by Jayli from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap at RedBones in Somerville 1/20

A: This beer pours a rich deep ruby brown with mahogany edges. A good 1/2 inch of khaki colored creamy head on this one. Heads retains nicely and maintains a 1/4 film the whole way through leaving nice sticky ringlets of lacing.

S: Nose is of thick caramel malts, hint of hops, cinnamon, and molasses.

T: Taste is extreme burnt malts up front, followed by cinnamon and molasses, caramel, and in the finish is a bit of hop presence.

M: Medium body, high carbonation, nice crisp feel.

D: Goes down easily, fairly tasty, it doesn't fit the mold of your typical winter warmer. I could definitely have a pint or two more of these.
Jan 21, 2010
Photo of applky
Reviewed by applky from New York

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Redbones.

Not sure if this is really a winter warmer. Struck me more as a spicy bock, but regardless...

Dark brown in color with wonderful translucence around the edges (this and the bittersweet malty flavor made it seem like a bock to me). Carmel and cinnamon in the nose with some subtle, toasted malts that become much more apparent on the tongue. A slight honey/toffee sweetness that's tempered by a wonderful, rich spiciness. Malts, to my mind, dominate this beer, making it seem more full-bodied than average in the mouth.

A truly wonderful beer, somewhere between a session beer and a sipper. Enigmatic, to be sure, and perhaps even more enjoyable because of that.
Jan 21, 2009
Darkest Night from Cambridge Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 21 ratings