Arctic Rhino Coffee Porter - Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

grumpy

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Nearly black with minimal head and lace.

Aroma: Malt, roastiness, coffee.

Taste: No surprises here. Exactly what one would expect from a Coffee Porter. Roastiness, dark malt, bitter chocolate, and of course, coffee. Hops create a balance but are not a big part of the taste profile. A pretty decent effort but a little on the boring side. A nice blend of flavors, but I thought the whole thing ought to be ramped up a little.

Mouthfeel: Viscosity is medium-light, carbonation is moderate. Some astringency from the roastiness and/or coffee and/or hops.

Drinkability: Easy to quaff a couple of pints of this, but that’s enough for me. It just doesn’t grab my attention that effectively.

Serving type: growler

11-08-2005 16:47:39 | More by grumpy

metter98

New York

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a three finger high brownish beige head that took a very long time to die down, leaving lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of dark roasted coffee beans are present in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is all about the favors of roasted coffee beans and has a light amount of associated bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I liked this beer because it tastes a lot like how I lie my coffee - straight up and black.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:06:52 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.04/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours an opaque yet clear very dark brown (approaching jet black) in color with light amounts of visible carbonation and some coal brown highlights. The beer has a four finger tall dense foamy dark tan head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer, a thick ring at the edges of the glass, and a medium to large thick cap in the center of the glass. Very significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of freshly roasted/ground and brewed coffee underneath some light notes of roasted dark malts. Very light notes of chocolate as well.

T: Upfront there is a really nice moderate flavor of roasted dark malts with some light notes of dark chocolate. There is also a moderate to strong flavor of roasted/freshly ground coffee that overall contributes a light to moderate amount of bitterness which lingers for a long time.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin.

O: This beer tastes like I like my coffee - dark, strong, and slightly bitter. I really enjoyed this one and would gladly drink more of this one. Easy to drink and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:04:50 | More by dbrauneis

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Goofy colored pencil or crayon bottle art. Dark brown with a large roam dollop on top. A band of retention circles my glass and a thin film stretches across the middle. Dabs of splashy lace.

Smells, appropriately, of coffee. Bitter carob too.

Tates like coffee (warm infusion?) and dark backer's chocolate with more carob bitter in back. Tame amount of acrid porter-ish-ness. Thin body but silky and fine. Pretty easy drinkin' for a coffee beer.

My first Midnight Sun (they don't distribute by me, I picked this up on Long Island of all places) and I liked it enough to try'em again if they're around. Above Berkshire coffee porter and just below Wolaver's coffee porter on my coffee porter ladder.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 11:59:21 | More by donkeyrunner

vfgccp

New York

3.18/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A - Nice dark khaki head. Great retention and lace. Black body with dark cola highlights.

S - Dry, almost dusty, high quality coffee. Hazelnut, caramel.

T - Thin flavor profile. Roasty, almost burnt grain. Hazelnut, toast, smoke. Amaretto finish.

M - Light body. Almost watery for the style.

O - Drinks more like a light brown than a porter. Tastes like cold coffee.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:50:56 | More by vfgccp

magictacosinus

California

4.11/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Had on tap in a pint glass at Beer Revolution during SF Beer Week. Got to meet one of the co-owners of the brewery as well. Really nice people with a great vision in craft beer! I'll make sure I buy more of their beers in the future for sure. Review is from my notes.

Pours an opaque, blackened appearance coated with light foaminess at the top and bubbles gliding along the sides. It really does indeed look a lot like a coffee-infused dessert drink or liqueur over an actual porter. Definitely is really thick and viscous overall, although lacks a little bit in the department of lacing. A little ring seems to last for the entire consumption at the top of the glass, which does hold the espresso appearance I so desire with my coffee based beers.

As I bring my nose to the glass, I'm pelted with bittered, juicy coffee bean flavors combined with a milk chocolate sweetness and near grassy zest. Very surprised here. Coffee beers I've had in the past definitely had a far more roasted aroma combined with baker's chocolate, and any sweetness came from the boozy notes. Here, it's quite different, with the malts creating a near syrupy sweet aroma instead, and the coffee notes joining in to give the impression of a slightly sweetened black coffee instead. Also, I must mention that this smells quite clean and crisp on tap, and nothing else seems to drowned out or subdued by these ingredients, no matter how much of a backseat they may be taking here.

The flavor takes things slightly up a notch, with the coffee syrupy sweetness really coming together quite pleasantly and balanced overall. The initial flavor is coated with brown sugar, maple wood, and espresso flavors, but eventually it is taken over by the bittered notes produced by the coffee and dark malts. Not too grainy overall, although definitely slightly herbal. The texture of this beer is truly the highlight of this, as it is creamy to the point of appearing gelatinous, and also is crisp and smooth overall in each aftertaste.

As I talked to one of the co-owners, she told me that this was in fact brewed with more coffee than I initially expected. In fact, she said this is really good blending with vanilla ice cream to make a shake of some kind, and I totally believe it. Honestly, I have no idea how this is in the bottle, but on tap, it's an interesting twist on coffee beers, and while it's sweeter here, it's still very tasty. Definitely enjoyed this one.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2013 19:07:09 | More by magictacosinus

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to cocoapuph for the bottle!

Pours a beautiful black, with a creamy dark tanned head. Nice foamy lacing.

Nice roasted, creamy coffee nose, with roasted malts and some chocolate.

Bitter coffee on the taste, cocoa, roast, some meager smoke/char.

Nice creamy feel, not too light, not to heavy. Adequate carbonation, good feel overall.

Not sure why such he lowish rating...thought this was a great porter with nice coffee.

Thanks again Jeremy!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 02:18:51 | More by EgadBananas

Murrhey

Montana

2.85/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- Poured a three finger mocha head. Medium length retention, specks of fluff. Deep black color with no clarity. Nice looking beer.

S- Strong coffee, mocha, cake batter, roasted malts. Appealing.

T- Strange taste. Yes, coffee but something else. Peanut butter? So weird. Not great.

M- Creamy, wet.

O- Really meh. Nice smell, but feel and taste are not doing it for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 06:11:15 | More by Murrhey

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.73/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber to New Belgium Globe...

A: Dark brown/nearly black with a nice tan head and some moderate lacing.

S: Coffee Porter aromas, moderately strong coffee...burnt notes, dusting of cocoa and light notes of bitter chocolate, toasted grains.

T: Taste and mouthfeel betray the fact that this is a 5% beer...a bit watery, coffee profile is roasted and dark and dirty but lighter than I prefer...hints of bitter bakers chocolate and dark caramel, light suggestions of smoke/burnt malt.

MF: Again, a bit 'watery'...lighter medium mouthfeel for sure. Carbonation is lighter as well.

O: Decent coffee porter, but I was definitely hoping for more.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 15:07:04 | More by Scotchboy

DovaliHops

California

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pitch black color with hardly any head. Some tan colored bubbles...looks like it's gonna be kinda flat. Scent is quite nice. Light malty notes with a good amount of coffee for such a light beer. Coffee and chocolate linger in the aroma with some burnt malt as well. Taste is just as I was expecting. Good coffee flavors and roasted malt. A little bit of burnt toast with some light-blend coffee. Mouthfeel is where this beer really loses points for me...it's not completely flat, but it is under carbonated and a little thin. Drinkability is high. Overall, this beer was tasty for how light and sessionable it is, just need more body and more carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 05:23:36 | More by DovaliHops

GilGarp

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber brought back from Portland, OR a month ago.

Served cold into a goblet, Arctic Rhino is a nearly black beer with thick off-white head that is slow to settle and leaves some nice lacing.

Aroma is rich and roasty with a great cold-press coffee smell.

Flavor is excellent - just what you would expect a coffee porter to offer - roasted malt and coffee beans, chocolate, and very mild smoke.

Mouthfeel is medium-light in body and nicely carbonated.

Overall a very delicious coffee porter. I really wish we could get it here in Colorado.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 01:52:32 | More by GilGarp

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pour is black with tight light brown head that holds tight for a while. Nose is lots of olive, light chocolate cake, sweet plum and roasted coffee grounds. Taste has a bit more smooth coffee, light olive and milk chocolate, and sweet plum and cherry. Body is smooth, creamy an lush with a lighter carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 18:38:01 | More by cpetrone84

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to TATURBO for sharing this bottle!

poured into snifter glass.

Vintage- Fall of 2011.

Appearance: black bodied beer with a thin white cap. Cap drops down to nothing.

Smell: mild roasty coffee and black licorice with a hint of sweetness from malts.

Taste: coffee grounds jump right out. Didnt think the coffee was going to still be this strong based on the nose of this beer. Its moderately bitter. Almost tastes like a cold cup of coffee. A touch of cardboard oxidation notes. Midpalate starting to find tobacco and molasses. A little bit ashey in the finish.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with low carbonation.

Overall: Not a bad coffee porter by Midnight Sun. I will need to revisit this beer when its a fresh bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 03:11:41 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

azdback

Arizona

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Bruery tulip. Dark black with dark brown highlight. A huge three finger head rises from the darkness and is dark cocoa colored and creamy in appearance. Head lays down rather quickly and leaves a nice lace pattern on the glass.

Smell is mostly coffee but has some other dark roasted smells. Charred wood and tart, dark fruit. Fig, cherry. Tobacco.

Taste isn't as great as the smell. There is some weak coffee and a bit of dark fruit but that is about it. The fruit is mostly like a cherry and is almost over bearing. Blah.

Mouth is rather thin. Carbonation is light and the finish is short and on the dry side for a porter.

Overall I didn't really enjoy this. Flavors are weak and the mouth is rather thin. Buy it and try it if the price is right but not something I would spent any amount of time or money getting.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 04:01:24 | More by azdback

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Review from 11/2010 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a dark brown. Tan head disappears quickly. Nice malty coffee aroma. Coffee, toasty malts. Quite pleasant, but thin bodied and not assertive. I'd try it again except the coffee woke me up at night.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 03:55:11 | More by LiquidAmber

Gobzilla

California

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: poured a dark as night black with a thin dark brown head which left a little lacing sticking to the glass.

S: there was a little coffee, roasted chocolate malts, lots of sweetness, and slight vanilla notes as well.

T: coffee was definitely more apparent on the palate alongside chocolatey sweetness, roasty malts and vanilla accents.

M: the brew was medium in body with a fair amount of carbonation which had a sweet, roasty, chocolatey, coffee, and slight creamy finish.

O: I honestly thought it was going. To be a whole lot better so I was a little dissapointed, oh well.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 01:15:17 | More by Gobzilla

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Andrew for this bottle! Bottled in 2nd week of November 2011. Poured in to Founders tulip.

A - Dark black. Half a finger of medium brown head that quickly reduced to a ring around the glass.

S - Heavily roasted malts, dark roasted coffee and some char.

T - Big coffee flavour up front accompanies a slight bitterness. Big roasted malt profile and some lighter notes of char and sweet molasses add depth.

M - Medium body, light to moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 14:01:30 | More by TheSevenDuffs

SHODriver

California

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pours black with a small tan head with minimal retention
S: coffee, coffee, and more coffee
T: coffee, sweet chocolate, and some coffee roastyness. huge coffee flavor on the swallow.
M: medium in the mouth with moderate carbonation
O: it's good but the coffee flavor is a bit too strong.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 06:34:58 | More by SHODriver

colforbin73

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

not something i normally go for but this is a nice change of pace.

pours a jet back with a decent tan head that leaves a little lacing. the smell is ok, though i was expecting more: you definitely pick up the roasty coffee smell, but little in the way of malts.

the taste is pleasant and balanced, you do get the coffee but a good mix of malts as well. the mouthfeel is a tad thin and there isn't a lot to savor, after you swallow, it's gone.

i would have appreciated something a little more intense, more in your face coffee perhaps, but all things considered this is a well made porter that sits snugly in the style profile.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 01:49:56 | More by colforbin73

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this one up at Bier Thirty a week or so ago... I was going to send it out in trade, but realized it didn't really jive with my targets wants and it is probably a bit old. Poured into my little CC goblet.. short lasting dark tan head... the brew is black as far as I can tell... only spots of tan lacing.

Nose is pretty traditional porter territory with dark malts and decent whaffs of coffee ... seems pretty mild and dry .. hints of dark fruits.

Flavor is about on par with the nose... but it seems a tad metallic on the finish.. still though, a decent porter... almost "sessionable" porter spiked with coffee flavors.

Body is a tad higher than I would expect for such a low ABV brew... nice drinkability for sure.

3.5/4/3.5/4/3.5

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 07:00:33 | More by JohnGalt1

DarthKostrizer

California

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Look: Black and totally opaque with brown rings around the edges with a 1/2 inch tan head and good retention and some spotty lacing

Smell: Gourmet coffee and honestly not much else.

Taste: Roasted malt upfront with just a slight ash note. The backend has some great gourmet coffee notes

Mouthfeel: Just a touch thinner than medium body and I would really have loved a thicker body with medium carbonation and a bit silky

Overall: Pretty good coffee porter. It has some good qualities to it and just some ok ones but I do recommend giving this one a try

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 02:28:46 | More by DarthKostrizer

dogfishandi

New York

3.48/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

thanks again tom for sharing this!

22oz bottle at fridge temp poured into a snifter.

pours out nearly black with one fingers worth of light tan colored head. average retention and lace.

very earthy, grassy hops, espresso beans are there but are thrown off a bit by the somewhat strange dirt like earthiness. roasted malts.

follows the aroma, slight dirt and grassy earthiness. again the coffee is there, espresso bean like, but tastes a bit off. a little hoppier than expected. light roast flavors.

a weak feel, medium to light in body, almost a bit watery.

overall, some nice coffee flavors, but this needed some more body for sure. also had an odd earthiness to it.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 21:22:04 | More by dogfishandi

homebrew311

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into Great Lakes snifter.

A: pours deep dark brown/black, cocoa colored head, the head leaves a considerable collar around the edge of the glass. Not much lacing.

S: the aroma feature a thin bit of chocolate and roast, coffee character is reminiscent of spent grounds of a medium or light roast, light hoppiness

T: the first flavor that comes to the palate is a somewhat empty malt character, a bit thin tasting, this develops in to subtle waves of chocolate and coffee, the roast leaves a bit of bitterness on the after taste. This certainly lacks the robustness that other coffee porters and stouts feature.

MF: somewhat thin, light bodied, medium carbonation

O: this is a drinkable beer and isn't bad by any means, However, it's a little lacking in the "umph" department .

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 05:59:41 | More by homebrew311

vande

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a - a deep, dark black pour with a thick, dirty looking head... an excellent looking beer

s - light hints of coffee, bit of toffee, roasted malts

t - coffee, roasted malts,hint of vanilla, bitter cold cup a coffee kinda ending...

m - somewhat creamy, yet thinner than I thought..bit watery..

0 - not a bad beer...maybe drink a fresher one in the future, not sure how long I've had this...

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 04:28:52 | More by vande

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a deep dark brown with a half finger of tan head.

Smell. Dark fruits and sweet dark chocolate with a little coffee, smoke and anise.

Taste. Really roasty malts, bitter coffee, some cocoa powder and a hint of molasses. A little acidic. Pretty good.

Mouthfeel. Below medium body with medium carbonation.

Overall. Nice roasty coffee porter. I'd buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 02:24:17 | More by Rutager