Sockeye Red IPA - Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

UCLABrewN84

California

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear copper color with a 1 inch beige head that fades to a small cap. Good rings of lace on the drink down. Smells of pine hops and caramel malt. Tastes of pine tree hops with a caramel malt backbone. Medium hop bitterness on the palate after each sip. Not a whole lot going on in the smell or taste. Mouthfeel is crisp and clean due to a good carbonation level. Overall, a better than average IPA that I am glad to try. My bottle was produced in April 2010 so I can only assume this was better fresh.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 03:10:49 | More by UCLABrewN84

dcguitar

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

06-11-2013 19:21:39 | More by dcguitar

comfortablynirm

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

06-04-2013 22:56:03 | More by comfortablynirm

Beerswag

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

06-04-2013 22:21:21 | More by Beerswag

Kuaff

Alaska

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Alright... I drink this one all the time, so it's time for a review. Poured from a can into a tulip glass, probably around 45-50 degrees.

Sockeye Red's appearance is very pleasing, and appropriate for the beer's name as well. It's got an off-white, three finger head that sits on a deep, dark red body which really DOES remind me of a spawning sockeye salmon (aka "red salmon").

The aroma gives off grapefruit more than anything else. Glorious grapefruit. But there is also a bit of grass and something that smells like flowers. Wonderful.

The grapefruit is dominant in the taste too. Hops are coming through, and there's something else going on here that I can't describe very well... I kind of just want to call it maltiness... whatever it is, it's GOOD. It's also got a great bitter aftertaste.

Nothing about the mouthfeel really pops out at me, but sometimes that's a welcome thing. This isn't a DOUBLE IPA, after all. The feel is unobtrusive.

This is a rock solid IPA that's never disappointed me. A sockeye that's worth fishing for.

Serving type: can

06-01-2013 16:09:54 | More by Kuaff

jakecattleco

California

4/5  rDev +5%

06-01-2013 09:08:17 | More by jakecattleco

MacStinson

Michigan

4/5  rDev +5%

05-31-2013 02:16:59 | More by MacStinson

BRLockwood

Virginia

4/5  rDev +5%

05-27-2013 19:05:12 | More by BRLockwood

megamass

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-18-2013 04:27:07 | More by megamass

Nage37

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-07-2013 02:08:28 | More by Nage37

kojevergas

California

2.95/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

12 fl oz aluminum can acquired at Adam's Fine Wine and Liquor in Redondo Beach earlier tonight and served into a Uinta pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. I like the can art. 70 IBUs. 5.7% ABV confirmed. No visible best before/bottled on date.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. As soon as I opened it, some liquid foamed out; overcarbonation is expected.

A: Pours a four finger beige/khaki colour head of decent cream, nice thickness, and good (~4-5 minute) retention. Body colour is a clear vibrant translucent copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Looks good for an IPA. No lacing as the had recedes. I'd like a more frothy head.

Sm: Light grapefruit. Noticeable hop bitterness - I'm hoping that's not going to be the case in the taste as well. Floral hop character. Biscuity malts; caramalt. A pretty light aroma. Pretty standard; there's nothing unique or special here. Subpar for the style. I hope the taste is better than the aroma.

T: Caramel, caramalts, some biscuit malt. Noticeable untamed hop bitterness. Flroal hop character but not much. Biting. Grapefruit. Lacks balance; it's not very good. Not very flavorful. Boring. Poorly built for an IPA - "red" or not.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Undercarbonated. Not quite thick enough. Doesn't suit the flavour profile all that well.

Dr: Drinkable but forgettable. I expected far better from a brewery as acclaimed as Midnight Sun. It's decent but pedestrian. I definitely wouldn't get it again. Disappointing but okay.

High C

Serving type: can

05-07-2013 01:12:23 | More by kojevergas

brotherloco

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-03-2013 21:22:13 | More by brotherloco

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%

04-28-2013 22:23:05 | More by spycow

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-25-2013 05:52:19 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

cre83

Washington

4/5  rDev +5%

04-23-2013 04:56:57 | More by cre83

jsbrew

New York

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-22-2013 22:43:42 | More by jsbrew

Kenai4

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

04-22-2013 12:14:29 | More by Kenai4

mc4z

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-22-2013 00:31:20 | More by mc4z

Pedrovc

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-17-2013 05:00:15 | More by Pedrovc

zoober911

New York

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-05-2013 20:21:25 | More by zoober911

fortheunheard

New York

4/5  rDev +5%

04-04-2013 21:41:34 | More by fortheunheard

bumchilly25

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

03-23-2013 00:49:15 | More by bumchilly25

shelby415

Oregon

4/5  rDev +5%

03-21-2013 05:26:22 | More by shelby415

WDJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5%

03-17-2013 06:49:20 | More by WDJersey

G-Hawk

Colorado

4/5  rDev +5%

03-10-2013 23:40:16 | More by G-Hawk