Moscow
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

MoscowMoscow
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From:
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
11%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 8.54%
Reviews:
69
Ratings:
296
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 29, 2021
Added:
Dec 31, 2011
Wants:
  59
Gots:
  55
First brewed as part of our 2011 World Tour series, MOSCOW Rye Russian Imperial Stout is a hefty, opaque black liquid that pours slowly and soulfully into your snifter. A high percentage of spicy rye and roasted dark malts create a dense, chewy yet elegant winter wonderland of flavors. And from AK we say: Let it Snow…in Moscow.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Kevin73:
Photo of Kevin73
Reviewed by Kevin73 from Washington

4.14/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
This is a gorgeously thick, syrupy, chewy beer! One of the thickest beers I've ever come across. Pours a beautifully opaque and deliciously sludgy brownish black with a caramel head, but unfortunately with almost no lacing. Looks great while you're pouring it as the head sinks swirling artfully into the abyss. Feels wonderful in the mouth, not too oily, coating disappears quickly and leaves very little aftertaste. The flavor was not as complex as I'd like, dominated by the roasted malts, with very subtle chocolate, fruit, vanilla and a bit of tartness on the finish. I did not find it to be a particularly well balanced flavor, a problem I find with a lot of imperials. That being said, there are worse flavors to dominate than dark malts. This is not a bad tasting beer by any stretch and is one of the better imperial stouts I've tried. The rich thickness of it is amazing.
Apr 17, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
really awesome to encounter the 2017 vintage on tap, it has aged exceptionally well. its unique among russian imperial stouts in that it has a bunch of rye malt in it that really shows through, but its also quite classically styled behind that, is super nuanced and good, and is smooth as silk at this point, a pretty well hidden alcohol content, i really enjoyed this. its deep near black in color with a substantial dark mocha head on it and apparently more carbonation than is common in these. the nose shows just trace oxidation, but big earthy rye notes, black pepper and dry cocoa powder, licorice and black tea, and a dark roasted intensity in the espresso realm, awesome. the flavor is rye forward too, very cool with all the roast, this is bitter and deep there without really tasting smoked or burnt. i get some english type yeast, seemingly an oak profile too although i dont think this was barrel aged, and a curious lack of middle malt sweetness, this is drier than most all the way through, finishes fast for something this big. palate coating but not as heavy as many, complex but cohesive, and different enough to be memorable. this was easily my favorite of the three beers i had from these guys while i was up in alaska, its downright delicious. i hope to get the chance to visit the brewery next time!
Jun 29, 2021
Photo of SHODriver
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Older bottle from 2012-2013ish

A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a dense and slightly rocky two fingers of dark tan head which retains very well while fading slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of intense chocolate with some rye spice and coffee along with some roasted malts
T: Taste is roasted malts, bitter dark chocolate, charred wood, burnt sugars, and espresso. There are some hints of oxidation but it blends in well with the base beer. On the swallow there's some slight spice, more roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee, and caramelized sugars with a hint of charred wood.
M: This beer is fairly full in body with a silky smooth feel on the palate. Carbonation is on the low end but it's adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a great beer and a solid example of the style. It has good flavors and a nice complexity. The beer at this stage shows good balance of flavor as well instead of being dominated by one note. I'd like to revisit this one when it's fresh.
Aug 26, 2020
Photo of IKR
Reviewed by IKR from California

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Black with a generous-sized foamy dark beige head that stuck around for a while. A very good looking Imperial Stout.

Smell: Roasted malts, and some bready notes. The nose is fairly mild but I've had this one cellared for a while.

Taste: The taste profile features roasted malt notes, and some rye spiciness. The finish dries out with the roast malts and spicy rye notes lingering to the end. The beer has a mild alcohol presence.

Mouth-feel: Medium bodied with a generous level of carbonation. The body is satisfying.

Overall: A tasty non bal-aged stout. I've had this one cellared for years and it has aged well. I'm not sure of the year but the label is mostly black and looks completely different from the photo here (maybe 2011 if I'm reading the bar label right?). I need to seek this one out fresh because this was good.
Jun 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4.23 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Feb 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by NickThePyro from Washington

Jan 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.13 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Aug 27, 2019
Photo of Oh_Dark_Star
Rated by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

4.19/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I usually prefer the American Imperial Stouts over the Russian like, but this really (really) grew on me as it was imbibed.
Apr 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.82 by Soneast from Wisconsin

Jun 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

May 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Mar 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.78 by Mikexw from New York

Oct 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Sep 15, 2017
Photo of EdwardAbbey
Reviewed by EdwardAbbey from Washington

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I like what the hefty portion of spicy rye brings to this, but I also regret what it takes away, because it ever-so-slightly overwhelms the rest. If you love rye and like big stouts, this could be right in your wheelhouse. But if you love big stouts and like rye, it might leave you a little disappointed, as it did with me.
Aug 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by Nunya from Ohio

Jul 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.12 by Agentveba from North Carolina

Jul 08, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4.34/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Reviewed from notes. The appearance that poured like jet fuel - pure black and slow like motor oil (could’ve sworn I heard the "glug, glug, glug" of the beer pouring out); small super tan/slightly brown colored slim looking head, light speckled all over the place lacing. The smell had a roasted cocoa with a spectacular dose of coffee aromas coming through, I believe I’m also getting some anise - ?? maybe. The taste had a roasty sweet and ever so slightly bitter cocoa/coffee flavoring with the anise just a tad stronger than before. There is some alcohol in the taste, but I realize I’m having a 11% beer from the growler 3 days after it was put into the growler; super sweet sticky aftertaste (holy coating of my lips, don’t think I’ve ever had any beer so sticky). It had somewhat of a dry sweet cocoa finish. On the palate, it sat about a medium to heavy, yup this beast is a sipper (don’t try to dominate this beer) in other words there’s no such word as sessionable for this beer. Carbonation is fairly smooth for an RIS - good for the style and for me. Overall, really nice RIS but I didn't get the suspected rye that was supposed to be in this.
Jun 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by morrowd3 from Vermont

Apr 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by Ctb6582 from Maryland

Oct 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4.88 by RodSmith from District of Columbia

Jun 29, 2016
Moscow from Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 296 ratings