Sockeye Red IPA - Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue II:

Hopped with the 2 C's, Centennial and Cascade, so there is no denying that they're aiming at American IPA. Superb frothing and head retention, this is expected and Midnight Sun delivers. Crystal clear and glowing reddish-orange color. Pungent citric, piney and floral aroma from the hops. Big enough that the malt never really reaches the nose. Full mouthfeel of a round malt foundation, smooth and crisp carbonation and a sturdy medium body. Slight vortex of hop bitterness and flavor claims the taste buds only leaving the faintest fraction of room for the malt flavor to come forth. Waves of citric and light piney flavors hold a steady grip on the palate. A hint of bready malt and vague caramel come through middle to end. The finish: it's bitter, and a long lingering bitter road it is.

Before you crack this bottle ask yourself one question. "Do I like hops?" If the answer is yes, then get ready for a ride. It's American IPAs like this that make our world go round and with a borderline session ABV of 5.7 percent, keep it coming.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 19:16:07 | More by BeerAdvocate

Jason

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22 oz brown bomber with a bottled on date on the side of the label.

Appearance: Hazed over, possible chill haze. Dusty reddish copper hue, lots of active froth to go around and the head retention surpasses what I would have expected.

Smell: Rough around the edges as a raw hop aroma pinches the nose. Suggestions of citrus peel and mint come to mind. Light fruitiness and malt compare to the sharpness of the hops.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Nicely flexed crispness cuts through the medium body. The hoppiness is thick in bitterness and flavour … you can barely pick out the malt character. Stray diacetyl and vague fruitiness leave the palate wanting more of something else other than hops. Some dry graininess in the back is the only bite of malt, other than that the hops dominate to the point of being out of control. The hops even clean the palate in the finish to leave little behind.

Notes: A decent IPA, the hop character is too rough IMO and takes away from the drinkablity. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good hop fix … but the bitterness is just harsh.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2003 03:37:37 | More by Jason

megamass

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

Nage37

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-07-2013 02:08:28 | More by Nage37

kojevergas

California

2.95/5  rDev -22.4%
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 -1.3%

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

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.3%

04-28-2013 22:23:05 | More by spycow

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

cre83

Washington

4/5  rDev +5.3%

04-23-2013 04:56:57 | More by cre83

jsbrew

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

04-22-2013 22:43:42 | More by jsbrew

Kenai4

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

04-22-2013 12:14:29 | More by Kenai4

mc4z

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

04-22-2013 00:31:20 | More by mc4z

Pedrovc

California

4/5  rDev +5.3%

04-17-2013 05:00:15 | More by Pedrovc

zoober911

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

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

fortheunheard

New York

4/5  rDev +5.3%

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

bumchilly25

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

shelby415

Oregon

4/5  rDev +5.3%

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

WDJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.3%

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

G-Hawk

Colorado

4/5  rDev +5.3%

03-10-2013 23:40:16 | More by G-Hawk

weerezboy

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

03-06-2013 17:51:02 | More by weerezboy

mactrail

California

4.01/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a handsome cark coppery amber in the tall Saxo wine-style glass. White, fine-grained head adds to the pleasure. That spicy nose of Cascades is always welcome.

Rich, malty, and mouthfilling in spite of the modest ABV. Really nice aroma. Actually an excellent hop taste without the killing bitterness. Every mouthful has that aromatic taste. Even a little sweetness. This is a good argument against DIPAs; this has all the flavor without the overkill.

For a random single can this tastes fresh and flavorful. A nice surprise, but Midnight Sun is one of my favorite breweries from visiting it in Anchorage a couple of times. From the 22 oz can bought at Bine and Vine in San Diego.

Serving type: can

03-06-2013 06:06:21 | More by mactrail

elNopalero

Texas

4.16/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a light amber tinge the color of sweet potatoes. It’s easygoing and mellow, with a light aroma. Doesn’t have a big malty body, nor does it have a heavy dank hop aroma. What I found was a whole produce-basket of notes: kale and mushrooms, quinoa and lentils, raspberries and raisins. (Note: No one else in my party caught any of these flavors or aromas.) I found it interesting, to say the least.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2013 07:24:33 | More by elNopalero

Agentveba

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

02-24-2013 21:48:02 | More by Agentveba

DoubleJ

California

3.39/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Sockeye season is still several months out of the way, but I do have a beer named after this extraordinary fish. India Red? I'm calling it a hoppy red. From a 22 ounce bottle, on to the beer:

I was expecting a bright red color like the flesh of Sockeye, but this is more of a crimson orange when shown through a light. A small head forms on top which retains in okay fashion, leaving a small lace of itself. The smell of earthy and bready malt hits the nose before a chase of pine, gentle orange, and soft passionfruit.

Something has hit me, but what is it? This Red IPA is rather relaxed, and paired with a light and gently crisp mouthfeel does go down easy. A dash of toffee hits first, followed by a wave of vague minerals, a touch of pine and grass....oh, that's what hit me....I sense something with a band-aid flavor in part of the finishing act. I've had it worse in other beers, here it poses a minor threat, however it still dampens the mood of the beer.

I thought that I was walking into a hoppy red ale, but I now must confess that I was wrong. Despite the Red IPA monikor, this drinks more like a standard red ale. Nothing wrong with that, but don't expect a hop fix.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 06:55:14 | More by DoubleJ

fox227

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

02-21-2013 14:55:33 | More by fox227