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Midnight Sun
Yukon Brewing
- From:
- Yukon Brewing
- Yukon, Canada
- Style:
- American Stout
- ABV:
- 6.2%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 14.47%
- Reviews:
- 69
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 20, 2021
- Added:
- Apr 12, 2004
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 14
In the fall of 2003, Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters, a local Whitehorse coffee company that roasts their coffee fresh here in the north, approached us with an idea. Zola Dore (the Yukon Bean Queen) was enjoying a home brewed espresso stout she was producing at a local U-brew when inspiration struck, “Let’s work together to produce this beer in bigger volumes”. Sometimes brilliance can be confused with insanity and espresso stout beer certainly lends itself to insanity, but several awards and hundreds of enthusiastic reviews later and it’s clear this creation is a winner.
To say that our brew team outdid themselves is perhaps not going far enough. By the time they finished creating, we had a beer with eight different malts (that’s right, Alice, eight malts) not to mention oatmeal and, of course, espresso coffee. The result is a beer that is fine as frog’s hair, full bodied yet smooth, rich with coffee aromas and flavours without ever losing sight of the fact that it’s beer.
To say that our brew team outdid themselves is perhaps not going far enough. By the time they finished creating, we had a beer with eight different malts (that’s right, Alice, eight malts) not to mention oatmeal and, of course, espresso coffee. The result is a beer that is fine as frog’s hair, full bodied yet smooth, rich with coffee aromas and flavours without ever losing sight of the fact that it’s beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by altstadt from Canada (BC)
3.24/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.24/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Opaque brown-black color. Poured a short head that was a dark tan. The head collapsed to a thin skiff in half a minute. To opaque to see the carbonation level. Left no lacing.
Dominant dark roasted malt scent with a bit of a chalk/mineral mixed in. Slightly sweet. A hint of vegetal hops. Swirling the glass boosted the mineral and malt, and also a bit of mint and a hint of barnyard. In general, this has a very mild scent.
The flavor is of dark roasted malt, but is on the milder side. Slightly sweet. A bit grassy, or some other green vegetation. Medium-mild bitters settle in after it warms in the mouth for a while, but they taste like they come from the more roasted malt (slightly acrid) rather than from hops. The malt tastes stronger and closer to burned deeper into the glass. The aftertaste is a burst of acrid bitters as everything else vanishes.
The foam never gets close to creamy. It feels a bit limp. Relatively low carbonation.
The interesting mineral scent doesn't come through in the flavor. The malt is just a touch overly roasted. This builds up over time and gets rather acrid towards the end of the glass.
Jan 20, 2021Dominant dark roasted malt scent with a bit of a chalk/mineral mixed in. Slightly sweet. A hint of vegetal hops. Swirling the glass boosted the mineral and malt, and also a bit of mint and a hint of barnyard. In general, this has a very mild scent.
The flavor is of dark roasted malt, but is on the milder side. Slightly sweet. A bit grassy, or some other green vegetation. Medium-mild bitters settle in after it warms in the mouth for a while, but they taste like they come from the more roasted malt (slightly acrid) rather than from hops. The malt tastes stronger and closer to burned deeper into the glass. The aftertaste is a burst of acrid bitters as everything else vanishes.
The foam never gets close to creamy. It feels a bit limp. Relatively low carbonation.
The interesting mineral scent doesn't come through in the flavor. The malt is just a touch overly roasted. This builds up over time and gets rather acrid towards the end of the glass.
Reviewed by Sid_Smith from Canada (AB)
4.44/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Really down with this beer.
Smells sweet, molasses, roasty malts and creamy coffee, a hint of alcohol.
Tastes stronger than smell, sweet molasess, followed by roasted malts the on the aftertase, a ton of espresso bitterness, as well as a faint hops bitter.
Have already bought the Dark Side pack 4 times I think, it's a favorite. Comes with the Lead Dog Olde English Ale and Longest Night Cascadian Dark Ale, which are both super good as well.
Jan 11, 2018Smells sweet, molasses, roasty malts and creamy coffee, a hint of alcohol.
Tastes stronger than smell, sweet molasess, followed by roasted malts the on the aftertase, a ton of espresso bitterness, as well as a faint hops bitter.
Have already bought the Dark Side pack 4 times I think, it's a favorite. Comes with the Lead Dog Olde English Ale and Longest Night Cascadian Dark Ale, which are both super good as well.
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
3.93/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a nonic. The appearance was a pure black color with a creamy to slight tan one finger head. Messy lacing stuck and then slid after a decent amount of warming. The smell had a large amount of espresso, roasty and bitter. A light sweet milk chocolate balances nicely. The taste was balanced between the roasty, the sweet and the bitter. Everything just seemed right with the flavor. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with even a slight sessionability about it. A nice roasted espresso coffee bean rolled across my tongue. Overall, a really nice espresso stout.
Jun 09, 2017Reviewed by Lucaskowalik from Canada (AB)
3.99/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L- Jet black with mocha colored head
S- Mostly espresso and cocoa with hints of toffee
T- Primarily espresso (almost too much) with some vanilla and cocoa
F- Full body with a dry hoppy finish and a comforting alcohol warmness
O- I really like stout's and espresso so this beer is right up my alley but i feel like it is too much espresso which gives the beer a lack of depth. It could be improved with a more complex flavor although i still quite enjoy it currently.
Jan 16, 2017S- Mostly espresso and cocoa with hints of toffee
T- Primarily espresso (almost too much) with some vanilla and cocoa
F- Full body with a dry hoppy finish and a comforting alcohol warmness
O- I really like stout's and espresso so this beer is right up my alley but i feel like it is too much espresso which gives the beer a lack of depth. It could be improved with a more complex flavor although i still quite enjoy it currently.
Rated by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
3.88/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Undated bottle, consumed 07/08/2016
Jul 09, 2016Reviewed by beer-fan-1 from Washington
4.13/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Great taste and not heavy. Good look but minimal head. Definitely dark with coffee initial and aftertaste. Does not linger. Word of advice - I drank most at lunch before eating. Hot dog with onions. DO NOT drink if having raw onion. Kills and leaves bad initial taste. Aftertaste still there but quickly overpowered by the onion.
May 30, 2016Reviewed by matthaus_2000 from Canada (AB)
3.44/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
6 pack for $12.50 at Calgary Co-op, Poured into a Guinness glass...
Look: Jet Black. Some foam. No lace.
Smell: Espresso
Taste: Espresso. Strong. Bitter. Subtle towards to end.
Feel. Medium-bodied, doesn't have the creamy feel of other popular stout. Refreshing. Not a hint of chemical.
Overall: It is not as refined as those from Deschutes and Dieu du Ciel. But It is a very honest beer. You want an espresso? Have an espresso. The name even tells you this is a straight forward espresso. 6 pack for $12.50 keeps me coming back.
Feb 03, 2016Look: Jet Black. Some foam. No lace.
Smell: Espresso
Taste: Espresso. Strong. Bitter. Subtle towards to end.
Feel. Medium-bodied, doesn't have the creamy feel of other popular stout. Refreshing. Not a hint of chemical.
Overall: It is not as refined as those from Deschutes and Dieu du Ciel. But It is a very honest beer. You want an espresso? Have an espresso. The name even tells you this is a straight forward espresso. 6 pack for $12.50 keeps me coming back.
Reviewed by Back_in_the_Saddle from Vermont
2.76/5 rDev -27.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.76/5 rDev -27.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
This was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a black color with a one finger white foamy to fizzy head. It dissipated immediately. There wasn't any lacing.
The smell had some espresso, light roasty cocoa beans and a tad of sweet vanilla.
The taste was mildly roasty and sweet running through the previously mentioned flavors. Lingerring sweet to roasty aftertaste. Mild sweet finish.
The mouthfeel was semi-roasty with subtle notes of sticky sweetness clinging to my tongue. It sat about a light to medium in body as I was hoping for a bit more oomph, yes, it's a tad thin for a stout.
Overall, this twist off bottle tells me that this really isn't anything special to seek out again. Nice to try.
Nov 24, 2015The appearance was a black color with a one finger white foamy to fizzy head. It dissipated immediately. There wasn't any lacing.
The smell had some espresso, light roasty cocoa beans and a tad of sweet vanilla.
The taste was mildly roasty and sweet running through the previously mentioned flavors. Lingerring sweet to roasty aftertaste. Mild sweet finish.
The mouthfeel was semi-roasty with subtle notes of sticky sweetness clinging to my tongue. It sat about a light to medium in body as I was hoping for a bit more oomph, yes, it's a tad thin for a stout.
Overall, this twist off bottle tells me that this really isn't anything special to seek out again. Nice to try.
Rated by papat444 from Canada (QC)
3.25/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Flashback #323
Aug 19, 2015Reviewed by Bunman3 from Canada (AB)
3.91/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This is a beer that starts strong, but finishes subtle. The espresso and chocolate dance all around your senses to begin with. Eventually, however, this goes down like a strong coffee should - you're not sure if you need it, but somehow, you REALLY want it.
Jun 20, 2015
Midnight Sun from Yukon Brewing
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
126 ratings
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