Sockeye Red IPA - Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

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

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew was served from the tap at Rattle N’ Hum in New York, NY. It arrived in a generic tulip. The beer glowed a rich, surprisingly dark reddish amber color, sporting a robust, one finger tall white head. This showed decent retention, leaving impenetrable sheets of lacing around the glass, and big clumps across the surface. No sediment or haze was noted, and carbonation appeared medium. The nose exploded with insane citrus and soap, thanks to the generous hop inclusions. The malts were paler, with hints of wheat and biting citric rind. Sweet vanilla, and softer, darker grain came on the back with warmth. Our first impression was that the beer was a tad thin, and watered down, but with otherwise nice flavoring. As we sipped, the flavoring opened with mustard seed, spice of black pepper, booze, and a bright herbal hop bitterness. The hops continued to the peak, with an earthy pop. This opened up for a sweeter wash of more citric hops, and a strawberry fruitiness. The flavor drops off at the finish, thinning out with mineral and stone, and more of that earthy hop bite. The aftertaste breathed of sourness and sweat, lemon freshness, piney hop cones, earthiness, and great citric bitterness. The feel was thin and watery at times, but otherwise lighter to medium in thickness. The bitterness gave a soapy, puckering bite to the mouth, and the beer is more drying than coating. There is nice slurp and froth, the abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the beautiful deep coloring, amazing depth of hops in the aroma, and the fruit in the taste. Actually, and surprisingly so, this beer is much better warmer. This is certainly not the norm for the style, but the flavors really meld together by the end, and you get to see the entire hop profile from start to finish. Unfortunately, the feel became a little undesirable towards the finish, in that it was too thin, with the flavor being affected and thinned correspondingly. Ultimately, this is an average IPA but with some really outstanding components. Exciting for our first Alaskan beer, and only makes us want to try more from the state.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2012 02:56:32 | More by TheBrewo

MADhombrewer

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served too cold in what appears to be a 14 oz glass. Had this at a wine bar so...

Appearance- Dark cooper, reddish color. Small, off white head. Little lacing. 3/5

Smell- Pine with a nice malt backbone. The hops still shine bright, though. 4/5

Taste- Big pineiness through out. Malt in the middle but doesn't take away from the hop character. Some sweetness in the end. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel- Very good mouthfeel. Medium. 4/5

Overall - I have always like reds because of the high hop character. This one does not disappoint. 4.5/5

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 17:28:24 | More by MADhombrewer

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

served on tap at McGinley's Pub in downtown Anchorage.

appears a clear reddish orange in color, with frothy white head. aroma and taste are heavy on the floral hops, but I don't get any malt to balance it out. a bitter finish. carbonation is medium, body is on the thinner side.

overall - I personally like at least some malt flavor to balance an IPA, and none is found here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2011 21:01:50 | More by jmdrpi

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at the Peanut Farm in Anchorage. Drink local right?

A - Served a red amber color, crystal clear with a small white ring around the edges with a slight white film on the top.

S - Malty, nuts, wheat.

T - Very Malty, no hop presence at all.

D - Thin body, average carbonation.

O - pretty disappointed. I would not call this an ipa. It could have been a old batch.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2011 00:43:18 | More by HuskyinPDX

jdense

Oregon

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

On tap at Bailey's Taproom PDX, $3 for 12 oz. pour.

One finger white head, medium dissipation with good lacing over reddish amber clear body, no visible carbonation. Crystal malt dominates the nose, cherryish, a bit of resin on backend. Taste mirrors nose, medium bitter finish and mouthfeel. An interesting interpretation of a hybrid Red IPA. Worth a try, certainly well made.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2011 19:01:49 | More by jdense

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a clear, reddish orange color with a small, khaki colored head of bubbly foam. It had nice retention and left some thin rings of lace.

S - It smelled of pine and tropical fruits - some grapefruit and mango.

T - Nice burnt toast maltiness with caramel sweetness. Good sharp bitterness from the hops with tropical fruit flavors.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a pretty tasty IPA. Another very find brew from Midnight Sun.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2011 14:12:09 | More by zeff80

Tone

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, amber/copper color. 3/4 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of sweet malt, rye, slight yeast, slight hop, and hint of citrus. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, hops, slight citrus, slight yeast, hint of rye, and hint of earthy malt. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, and bled.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2011 14:14:59 | More by Tone

NorCalYeti

California

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

citrus and floral aroma and flavor, great deep red amber color, great lace, solid hop and malt flavors, good everyday solid drinker, fresh flavors. firm body

Pacific Northwest-style India Pale Ale. pale two-row malt. Centennial, Cascade and Simcoe hops

sampled at the bistro's 13th annual ipa festival, august 7, 2010

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2011 05:49:03 | More by NorCalYeti

jsprain1

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a deep red/amber. Head was a thin finger that didn't persist all that well but left some wisps of lacing.
S- slight toast and lots of pine and resiny hop aromas. slight bit of eh... "special herb" aroma in there as well.
T- Definitely hop forward. Starts with pine/resin hop flavor with notes of tropical fruit. Slight caramel malt. A bit of a strange finish. Slightly medicinal. Not terrible but just a bit disjointed.
M- Medium body, on the dry side.
D- A solid IPA that I could definitely revisit and have a few of without any problem.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2011 07:41:22 | More by jsprain1

ralree

Maryland

4.58/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Brown, white head, nice lacing.

S: More grapefruit than the Melt Down. Lots of hops.

T: Lots of yeast, lots of Northwest hops, a little grapefruit kick. Not sweet, but good.

M: Very dry, non-astringent, good carbonation.

D: Very drinkable. Goes down easy.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2009 00:33:53 | More by ralree

shivtim

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another fish-themed beer. Grabbed a pint to try.

Mostly clear, amber/red, with a soapy thin white head. Nose is fresh hop juice; simple but very pleasant and well done. Taste is hops and pine, a decent amount of generic malt balance, and a weird but refreshing minty note on the finish. Mouthfeel is pretty full. Nice, drinkable IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2009 23:13:32 | More by shivtim

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

sockeye red is much better out of the tap than in the bottle. It pours a deep amber color with little to no head. The nose is floral with hoppy and citrusy aromas. The taste starts out really floral with almost a clementine taste. The taste then blows up with hops and has a smooth flavor. the hop taste is nice and flavorful but not very strong. The cohoho is much stronger with near the same smoothness. The cascade hops make their presence known but the floralness is missing for cascades. Good smooth beer to get hammered on.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2007 05:36:00 | More by AKBelgianBeast

ccrida

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on draft in a shaker pint, at Humpies in Anchorage, the Sockeye is amber with slight haze and a thin eggshell head that leaves heavy lace.

The smell is all hops, amarillo me thinks, spicy and piny.

The taste is also really hoppy, although there is a bit of a malt background to balance it out, sort of! It finishes very bitter though and a bit harsh.

The mouthfeel is slightly creamy but a bit heavy for the ABV and style.

This is moderately drinkable. Pretty good at first if you looking for a spicy hop fix, but I think you'd tire of it by the 2nd pint.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2007 15:51:14 | More by ccrida

TheLiterati

California

4.05/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

After completing a full marathon up in Anchorage, AK, home of Humpy’s Great Alaskan Ale House, just about anything would have tasted good to our little team of runners! Still, we were determined to S-L-O-W-L-Y make the one block walk from the Egan Convention Center where our “official” victory party was being held, to Humpy’s where the real party would begin!

Being a fan of BIG Pacific Northwest IPAs – especially those not readily available in So Cal where I live – I was looking forward to having a sampling of what Humpy’s had to offer.

We all settled on Humpy’s Sockeye Red. As the team beer aficionado, I was asked to describe the potentially hoppy bite of a big Pac Northwest IPA. And as I watched the Sockeye being poured, I warned our little crew: this could be bigger than any beer they’d ever had.

Then again, they’d all just done a full- or half-marathon, so why not go for it?

I’ll say this: if doing a 26.2-mile footrace didn’t knock me on my butt, the Sockeye IPA certainly did. A beautifully red-amber IPA with a nose that comes close to overwhelming – but doesn’t – this ale demands careful consideration and is meant to be fully appreciated.

One team member immediately observed the notes of grapefruit and citrus, both in the taste and the nose. This is what Humpy’s describes as a “med-high hoppy bitterness,” and believe me Sockeye delivers.

The mouthfeel wasn’t as heavy as I’d have expected from ale as heavily hopped as this one, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It started with a nice amount of carbonation that didn’t get in the way of the complexity of flavors – a nice balance of citrus and malt, a tart sweetness without being syrupy or cloying – and ended with smooth and dry.

We paired this beer with the Alaskan Smoked Salmon Spread, served with French bread along with some other tasty appetizers. The spread had a peppery bite, but the Sockeye more than stood up to it and made for a nice pairing.

Drinkable? Absolutely. I’ve read that you can get this Ale in bottles in the Pac Northwest. Though I’m sure it won’t quite stand up to having this ale at the source, you can bet I’ll snag at least a few bottles on my next trip north!

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2006 17:48:27 | More by TheLiterati

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

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

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

metter98

New York

3.3/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear dark amber in color. It poured with a half finger high off white head that died down a bit but consistently left a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of cranberries in the nose along with some hints of grapefruit.
T: The taste is quite bitter and a little tart; it has flavors of cranberries and hints of ruby red grapefruit peels. The cranberry flavors linger through the finish, which also tastes a little medicinal.
M: It feels medium-bodied and slightly crisp in the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer definitely tases unusual and I've never experienced tart cranberries in a beer before. Maybe I might have enjoyed this more a few weeks earlier with my Thanksgiving dinner.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 03:41:30 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear medium to dark amber in color with some ruby red highlights when held up to the light and some light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall beige head that reduces to a couple of small patches of medium sized bubbles, a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of bitter red grapefruit rind citrus hops with just a hint of the cranberry. Underneath that there is a light presence of caramel malt.

T: Upfront there is a light amount of caramel malts with a touch of sweetness. There are light to moderate notes of citrus/red grapefruit rind hops. Moderate flavors of fermented cranberry and kumquat. Moderate bitterness that lingers for quite a while.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: This beer might actually pair pretty well with Thanksgiving dinner as it reminds me of the flavors contained in my mother-in-law's cranberry sauce without the sweetness. Very interesting, not quite what I was expecting but I definitely enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 03:33:03 | More by dbrauneis

smakawhat

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into my Dogfish Head Ale glass. No obvious bottle dating that I can see. First Midnight sun brew.

Real nice gold out of the bottle, hits withe a real amber and crystal brown, brown as crystal? you bet! Shines almost like a ruby brown gem. Head is creamy of white three fingers and clumps nicely with a big island in the middle.

Airy aromatic hops, and sweet malt. Some faint caramel hints and chocolate, earth and herbal tea. Spruce like. Very appealing, and a nice malt and hop balance. I like this, this seems very different from just most ambers I've had, really like where this is going.

Palate hits with a soft subdued mellow malt richness, caramel rolling but hit with a good oily hop front punch. Quick finish hits with good leaf and herbality. Feel comes out fairly solid, nothing mindblowing though, just simple medium carbonation, and lets the palate do its job.

Overall though I really like this for a hoppy amber, would love to have this again if I could. It's varied but simple, and I just like it in that way.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:23:36 | More by smakawhat

scootpolute

Washington

2.33/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Smooth, malty & great hop kick at the top, followed by more malts and spice (from the alcohol)some citrus, then ending with more pine-like spices...a surprisingly dry finish...The carbonation is good There's a good fullness. Present, but not 'too' much fruity/sweet flavors...The final pine/spice balances the beer out wonderfully, although the VERY dry aftertaste threw me...I was expecting a fruitier/hoppier finish...This one good, but not as 'GREAT' as so many others claim...Not to 'poo-poo' the Bros, but 'c-mon...OK...I agree this is still a great example of a NW American IPA, but there are far better ones out 'here' than the hype of this one...I just didn't like the over-dry ending notes...perhaps better on tap, eh?!...Chasin' Cheers :~)

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 00:37:40 | More by scootpolute

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received in a trade and poured into a dogfish head chalice.

A - Poured a crystal clear amber hue with a one finger white head that faded to a thin thin white blanket and light lacing.

S - Aromas of nice citrus notes and solid tropical notes with light malts. Really really solid.

T - Taste is a bit on the old side with the hops having fadeds a bit to a slight cardboard/older stale hop flavors and malt sweetness on the end.

M - Mouthfeel is pretty decent for the style. Nice light bitter finish.

O - Overall I felt this was at one point a very good beer but is a bit past its prime would like to try it fresh.

Serving type: can

11-08-2012 22:35:16 | More by rudzud

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My first Midnight Sun beer. Been a long time since I first wanted to try something from this brewery.

This one has a very thick malt body with spicy hop influences that bite at the tongue. There is a citrus tone that seems secondary and not overly drastic. This seems like it is mildly hinting to emulate the northwest IPAs, but doesn't get anywhere near going all the way. A nice drinker. Somewhat abrasive, but not so much to make you hate it. This may be a good beer to try on cask.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 17:15:34 | More by RblWthACoz

cosmicevan

New York

3.38/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

consumed on 6/29, while I was "on Hiatus." picked up at my local fairway grocery store. enjoyed from a midnight sun tulip.

a - brew poured an amber orange with a generous 3 fingers of foamy frothy ipa head. the head slowly dissolved leaving giant foamy chunks on the side of the glass. semi transparent when held to the light with some subtle visible carbonation.

s - malty amber smelling with some hops on the backend, but predominantly like an amber. the bottle doesn't appear to be dated and pretty sure these have been in town for a little while (although they just appeared at the fairway where i got it)...not to mention must take some time to get out here from alaska, but none-the-less there is some hoppiness to the nose, just not much for an "ipa."

t - interesting. no, let me rephrase that INTERESTING!!! like a toasted amber ale. lots of nuts in the flavor with a bit of a bitter finish. semi sweet, but really no balls on this one. after viewing some other reviews, i'm inclined to say that this one has lost its luster and if you see it in NY you might want to pass on it unless you like an IPA with faded hop flavors. that being said, the flavor is pretty good, but a beer, but lacking in the IPA category.

m - fairly watery and thin while still having some prickly carbonation.

o - overall, not all that impressed. perhaps it is the age, perhaps it is the watery body...this would be a lot better of a beer if it didn't say "india pale ale" on the label or if it had a bottle date and i could get an idea on the age of this bad boy. if it were an amber, it would be pretty decent, but as an IPA, i'd pass on it unless i knew it was super fresh. the toastiness on the flavor saves it and gives it some character.

bottle

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 01:18:06 | More by cosmicevan