Berserker Imperial Stout - Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.9/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at City Beer Store, SF. Beautiful pour into a narrow goblet. Brownish-black, with a chocolate meringue head. Massively complex aroma. Oak, bourbon, and a tangy fruit that would've been indecipherBle had I not known about the red wine barrels.

Oh man. In the mouth add milk chocolate, sweet alcohol, and a bell-ringing blood-iron metallic brightness that might be hop bitterness transformed by all the other immensities.

The only drawback is the oak seems a bit overwrought in the aroma--makes for an odd savoeiness bringing to mind fried pencil eraser.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2012 23:41:09 | More by martyl1000

nataku00

California

4.55/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap poured into a small snifter. Beer pours pitch black with a finger of thick creamy light brown colored head. Head stuck around for a while, with a slick of lacing on the glass as it receded.

Nose is huge dark chocolate, sweet dark fruit, fruity coffee, and just a hint of roasted malt. A very light graham cracker sweetness as well.

Taste follows the nose, big dark chocolate, fruity and complex, a few coffee notes, dark roasted malt. As it sits on the tongue, lighter graham cracker, vanilla and a touch of oak peeks through. Long finish, sticky chocolate lingering for a while.

Full body, thick and creamy with very fine carbonation if any. Like drinking a chocolate milk shake, sweet but not cloying as it's balanced by good roasted notes. A very nice imperial stout.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2012 23:10:18 | More by nataku00

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

3.83/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Toronado SF

A - Black as night or oil. Blackest pour I may have ever seen from a Bal-Aged imperial stout. Beautiful head on the pour that stuck around longer than expected, great lacing.

S - Port like characteristics come out in the nose, smells sweeter than most of this style. Bourbon, sweet dark fruits, and oaky vanilla come out as well as dark chocolate. Smells like a after dinner sipper. Desert beer.

T - Follows nose. A bit sweeter than I expected and less roasty than I would have liked.

M - Good, not great. Standard for the style. Oily, and somewhat chewy.

D - 6 oz pour was just enough. I wouldn't want to consume a 22oz of this all to myself like I would a Parabola, BCS or Abyss. Would start to get too sweet 1/2 way into a bomber I'd imagine.

Good beer. But nothing memorable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2011 05:14:09 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

dragonWhale

New York

4.78/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2010 on tap at Big Wood.

Waiting and waiting and waiting. Finally, after many a brusque "no, it's not on yet" from a harassed bartender, it appeared, black, cavernous, a hole to the center of the earth. Very low carbonation, swirled thickly, begrudgingly. I have been wanting to try this forever and failed in Alaska this summer (of course) but here it was, before me, spewing strong and volatile alcohols like spittle from my grandfathers mouth. The molasses and maple make themselves known, though I got a great deal more of the maple myself. Some roast and some chocolate. I didn't really get much of the wine barrel influence, but perhaps that just added to the well-roundedness of the beer. Exceptional with a very long tender finish when warm, warming the soul with a war story from the good old days.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2010 10:24:05 | More by dragonWhale

ralree

Maryland

4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark black, brown head. No lacing.

S: Sweet, chocolate, a little coffee, some dark fruit.

T: Dark fruit, coffee, chocolate, and alcohol. Aftertaste of alcohol and chocolate. Lots of apple/cherry/raisin flavor.

M: Dry, good carbonation, non-astringent, non-metallic. Thick, heavy body.

D: Drinks nicely, but very heavy. Hard to drink a lot.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2009 00:37:23 | More by ralree

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.85/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

650 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Reviewed from notes. 2012 bottle.

Appearance - Almost inky. Good sized mocha head. Collar of dark khaki foam as it settles.

Smell - Bourbon is nice but faint. Slight vinous characteristic. Oak and some dark fruits combining, probably, but it's a little more acidic than that. Lots of chocolate.

Taste - Nice chocolate. Bitter dark chocolate. Molasses. Bourbon is even fainter here. Bitter finish, seemingly from roasted malts.

Mouthfeel - Extremely bitter, not what I expected. Masks a lot of flavor. Well carbonated.

Overall - The barrel seems weak to me, but the other flavors are good.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 17:05:15 | More by Alieniloquium

beerdrifter

Germany

4.56/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up in a great trade with Mike! Pitch black pour with a beautiful caramel-colored one finger head with decent retention and nice lacing. Big roasty nose with hints of bourbon, molasses, vanilla, oak, cocoa, and some interesting vinous notes and some subtle maple. The taste is just as bold and amazing with hints of dark chocolate, port wine, vanilla, bourbon, mocha, molasses, and some subtle black cherry and maple. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy, and mouth-coating with medium carbonation and a nice bitter dry finish. Overall, this was one surprising beer. Very complex, but not overdone. Will definitely seek it out again!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 19:45:49 | More by beerdrifter

Lare453

Florida

4.91/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A black as night, khaki head, nice lacing, beautiful!

S vanilla, chocolate, bourbon, maple, light hop, caramel, white chocolate, sweet vermouth,

T vanilla, white chocolate, sweet vermouth, salted caramel, big bourbon and whiskey flavors, omg Is it good!

My hick, viscous, delicious!

O holy shot. This is amazing! One of the best liquids ever.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:23:31 | More by Lare453

ngeunit1

California

4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with a finger of frothy dark chocolate colored head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Roasted chocolate malts, maple syrup, molasses, Bourbon, oak, vanilla, dark fruits, black licorice, tobacco, and booze.

T - Dark chocolate malts, maple syrup, molasses, coffee, oak, vanilla, Bourbon, dark fruits, black licorice, tobacco, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and a bit thick with a warming and sweet finish.

D - Great Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout. The maple syrup is a great touch.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 05:01:34 | More by ngeunit1

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.93/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: A thick opaque brown, medium bubbles on the body...pours like straight motor oil thick and the head...dark tan, rising tojust about a finger's length.

Smell: Heavy brown sugar maybe the molasses, very sticky...all you need to do is smell it once and it's with you forever

Taste: A straight blend of molasses and brown sugar, it is a little too sweet for my part. I for one am for bitterness with my stouts period. This brew lacks it and just reading the label I noticed it's just at 30 IBU's...nothing wrong with that but seriously where is the rest of the taste.

Mouth: Sticky sugar with medium carbonation. What it lacks in taste makes up for it in stickiness but depends how much if it you want. Best served with dessert.

Overall: This brew improves within time of the consumption of the glass, the proiblem is the sweetness might overwhelm some including myself. If you like imperial stouts which I absolutely love this is definitely something a little different and not for everyone. Try a glass just to try it...Salud!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 02:44:59 | More by BlurryVisi0n

MCain04

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, 2012 vintage, from trade with beergod1 - thanks man. Poured into a Half Acre snifter at cellar temp.

A: Almost motor-oil black with a very dark tan head of an impressive 2 fingers with great retention and lacing.

S: Maple is the predominant smell, a little bourbon, a little sweetness, perhaps from molasses, not much roasty character or chocolate.

T: A little bland at first, not a lot of maple or molasses. Barrel characters of oak and vanilla come in late, and a bourbon finish on the back of the tongue. Not as much malt character as I'd like from a stout of this magnitude. Aside from the bourbon taste, not too much heat. Pretty drinkable.

M: A little over-carbonated, and not as thick as I'd like. Doesn't really coat the tongue at all.

O: Definitely disappointing, maybe its just the 2012 vintage that everyone has been complaining about, but this doesn't really impress at all, tastes like a standard stout with some bourbon. Might give 2013 a try next year but won't have the 2012 again.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 01:03:13 | More by MCain04

metter98

New York

4.35/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is absolutely jet black in color. It poured with a thin ring of reddish mocha bubbles around the edge of the glass that quickly died down, leaving only a faint collar.
S: Strong aromas of dark malts and bourbon are present in the nose, along with some hints of molasses.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, but a little more complex with additional flavors of dark malts and chocolate.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and viscous on the palate with a low to moderate amount of carbonation. A little warming from the alcohol is noticeable in the finish.
O: The flavors of this beer are well integrated and balanced, particularly the bourbon, which does not overpower the beer and overshadow the other flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 01:29:08 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.31/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 Edition

A: Pours an opaque and thick jet black in color with very light notes of visible carbonation and some dark reddish brown highlights. The beer has an eighth of a finger tall dark reddish mocha head which quickly reduces to a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: The beer has a moderate to strong aroma of chocolate and bourbon with some lighter hints of oak and vanilla. There are moderate notes of molasses and maple syrup sweetness. Light notes of roasted malts.

T: Upfront there are some light notes of roasted malts with some molasses and maple syrup sweetness. On top of the malts, there are some moderate to strong flavors of rich dark chocolate and bourbon with some lighter notes oak and vanilla. Light hints of cocoa with some hints of alcohol towards the finish. Light lingering bitterness.

M: Full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Moderate amounts of alcohol warming in the finish.

O: This is a great beer to finish the evening and matches very well with dessert - in our case some brownies made with Sea Legs Baltic Porter. This is really rich and you can detect the alcohol but I'm going to enjoy sipping on it a while longer. The bourbon is well integrated into the beer and the flavors in the beer match really well.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 01:21:57 | More by dbrauneis

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 Bottle at Brouwer's cafe.

Appearance. Pours thick and black with a skim of tan head.

Smell. Molasses, wood, black licorice, rum and dark malts with a little fudge.

Taste. Chocolate fudge and molasses, toasted wood and licorice root, dark and maybe lightly smokey malts.

Mouthfeel. Full body, maybe on the lower side. Boozy warmth and low+ carbonation.

Overall. Nice big stout. Didn't get much maple, but very tasty and lots of molasses.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:18:25 | More by Rutager

ant880

New York

4.76/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Knocking out this long-time want courtesy of huskermike12, who sent it along with a box of awesomeness in the Super Bowl XLVII Squares BIF...

A: Fairly aggresive pour into a CBS snifter produces a thick, 2-finger light brown head. Head retention is excellent, especially compared to most barrel-aged stouts that pour with little to no head to begin with. Body is deep black, which makes the pour look like a slice of chocolate cake with whipped chocolate mousse on top.

S: First sniff is HUGE chocolate with a wisp of bourbon on the tail end. Reminds me of a warm chocolate lava cake. Cant wait to dive into this.

T: With chocolate still assaulting my nose, the first sip is dominated by cocoa, followed by the slightest cameo appearance of maple and finishing with a restrained dose of bourbon. Taste definitely delivers on what the nose promised. The barrel adds the perfect amount of bourbon, complementing the chocolate without ever dominating the taste. This is like a bourbon spiked hot cocoa. Touches of coffee, molasses ad fudge throughout. The one drawback, the maple never made a reappearance after the first sip.

M: Thick as a brick. Coats the tongue, tastebuds and everything in between. Not sure if this is part of what the molasses adds, but if so, it should be a requirement for every imperial stout.

O: Loved it! The one disappointment was the absence of the maple, but I have yet to find a beer that fully delivers on the maple promise (going to have to find me some Lawsons next). Other than that, I would stockpile this if it was readily available. Going to have to steal some of my son's Nestle Quick, toss it in a coffee mug, microwave it and spike it with some bourbon to hold me over til the next time I can get my hands on some of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 03:17:55 | More by ant880

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into large snifter - thanks to brystmar - 2012 bottle

Viscous opaque blackness in the glass with a bubbled dark brownie colored head resting on top. Thick collar of tanned retention with spotty lacing left on the glass.

Smoky and sweet in the nose, driven by a combination of maple syrup, chocolate cake and bourbon. Oak, dark fruit, coffee and vanilla bean with toffee and roasted dark malts. Warm and boozy.

Slick and sweet up front with bourbon warmth, cocoa powder and dark chocolate bark. Vanilla beans with caramel and toffee, layered on a maple syrup base. Oaky and warm with a thick, robust malt backbone. Touches of tobacco and red wine with roasted coffee beans. Multiple layers of flavor and malt continue to evolve while drinking, leading into a boozy and sweet finish.

Full bodied, medium carbonation, creamy and sticky on the tongue. I've tasted this a couple times before, but this was my first time enjoying the better part of a bottle and I couldn't be happier with this. Wonderfully deep and warm with plenty of rich bourbon and chocolate, finished off with sticky maple syrup and vanilla. I'd seek this out again in a second.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 04:16:45 | More by xnicknj

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.29/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 bomber into a 3F wine-style glass. Big thanks to Tony.

A: Pitch black body with a thin head of fine brown foam that settles into a ring and leaves some delicate lace. Nice.

S: Sweet, roasty, oaky, spiritous, and rich. Dark chocolate, bourbon, char, raisins, and molasses. Dark and intense.

T: Follows the nose. Crazy collage of intense flavors: molasses, red wine, grape skin, bourbon, tobacco, dark chocolate, charcoal, and boozy bitterness. A little much, but really enjoyable.

M: Rich, full body with lots of carbonation. Maybe a little too frothy, but pleasant.

O: Really enjoyable, but a little rough. I'm loving a third of the bottle, but I can't imaging drinking a whole one.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:54:16 | More by woosterbill

mdaschaf

Washington

4.24/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Much thanks to Ben for this one!

A: Pours a thick black with a dark tan head on top, decent retention forming a nice cap on tip. Moderate lacing.

S: This beer has a very nice aroma, some bourbon and roasted malt with a bit of chocolate and deep molasses. There is a little bit of smoke on the aroma as well.

T: Lots going on in the flavor profile here. Some chocolate and a bit of coffee upfront with a definite maple sweetness mixed in. There is a little bit of dark fruit, mostly raisin and cherry. Also a touch of smoke.

M: Full bodied, definitely on the thick side. Rather chewy.

O: A very solid beer from Midnight Sun. A beer I was happy to have split, not sure how much of it I could drink on my own.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 16:37:22 | More by mdaschaf

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012. 12.7% ABV

Pours a viscus black, dark tan head, frothy, lacy, and creamy.

Aroma of coffee, fudge, vanilla, oak, bourbon, booze, and chocolate covered raisins.

Roasted taste, with cocoa, and touches of espresso. Light bourbon, with maple-y finish, oak and sap. Alcohol is there, but svelt all things considered.

It's vicious. Thick, chewy, and syrupy. Coats, sticks and has epic substance.

Can't deny this pedigree!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 06:35:55 | More by EgadBananas

beerhan

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-black as night, completely opaque. Half-finger dark brown head that remains.

S-lots of toffee, maple, wood, bourbon,

T-dark chocolate and oak up front. more subtle bourbon tones follow with a dry finish.

M-little to no carbonation and very rich. Thick beer

O-Really nice offering here. Although they may be different styles, I prefer arctic devil to this one. The alcohol does catch up on this one and is pretty hard to have more than a small pour.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 18:51:34 | More by beerhan

spicelab

Australia

4.58/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber with huge thanks to Boozecamel for sharing. Reviewed from notes.

Motor-oil consistency and hue. Modest dark tan head, average retention, recedes to a film.

Pungent and cutting earthy maple syrup, chocolate brownies, oak, beef jerky, molasses. Nice dryness and subtle nuttiness.

Simultaneously sweet and dry, which is an impressive coup. Most of theh aroma elements are there to some degree, although dominant flavours are thick choc-carmael fudge and liquorice. Amazing.

Thick and viscous, however carbonation strikes me as aggressive for the style.

Full-on and uncompromising with a great flavour/aroma profile. Enough said.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 01:14:26 | More by spicelab

hooliganlife

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Blake!

Not sure on the vintage, I believe this is the latest so 2012? Maybe 2011.

Pour was black, little head. Pretty thick looking

Dark chocolate and roasted charred malt. Some sweet bitterness.

Lots of char and roast. Light sweetness, but well blended with the bitterness. Hints of dark chocolate and coffee.

A bit lighter than it looks, mild carbonation.

Pretty decent, nothing really mind blowing.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 15:03:20 | More by hooliganlife

dirtylou

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage

#Infectiongate

appearance: served in an oversized snifter, jet black body, creamy mocha lace

smell: bourbon, tannin notes, rich fudge

taste: charred malt, fudge, smoke, light bourbon, soy sauce. I don't know if its the "infection" or what, but at $20, this is a huge dissapointment.

mouthfeel: a bit thin, lots of soy in the finish

overall: this is a Pass in the future

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 22:09:55 | More by dirtylou

draheim

Washington

4.58/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On rumors of a possible infection I cracked my first of four bottles tonight before it potentially starts going downhill.

22oz bottle (2012) into a tulip. Pours a light-sucking obsidian black with a gorgeous reddish-brown head, about 1 finger, that settles to a thin film and ring.

Aroma is rich and enticing. Heavy bourbon and oak, roasty dark malt, earthy nuts, sticky molasses. An elusive hint of the wine barrels that grows stronger as it warms.

Taste follows nose. Deep and complex. Bourbon, roasted malt, molasses, dark fruit, oak, chocolate, smoky char. Nice balance between strong bitterness and high-gravity sweetness. Alcohol is completely hidden.

Mouthfeel is heavy, sticky, slick. Just about right for a beer of this magnitude.

Overall, just an overpowering bourbon-soaked beast of a beer. Hopefully the infection rumors aren't true but if they are I'll enjoy drinking the remainder before they're too far gone.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 06:17:24 | More by draheim

JohnnyP3

Alaska

4.58/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bottle pours a pitch/tar black with a thin light-brown head. Some moderate carbonation and light lacing as it moves down the glass.

Smell is smoke, booze, burnt sugar/molasses, and maple. Hint of winter fruit.

Taste is dark fruit (raison/plum), maple syrup, charred wood, burnt sugar. Some tobacco flavor emerges as it rolls around the mouth. Cherry in the finish. Some booze flavor from the bourbon oak barrel aging. Very complex.

Mouthfeel is thick, chewy , and viscous. Velvety smooth with just a hint of carbonation. Not too sweet or syrupy. Just right.

Overall, a massive, complex, contemplative beer. Agree with comments below about letting it warm some. Really opens up further and provides additional nuances to explore. Take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 05:28:41 | More by JohnnyP3