Midnight Sun Espresso Stout - Yukon Brewing Company

ablaze

Alberta (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful 1L bottle with a nice yellow-orange label, a raven clutching a coffee bean in it's beak.

Pours a solid black with a nice creamy-foam brown head. Lacing slides down the glass nice and thick.

Smell is a musty dark chocolate and espresso, delivering well on it's claim.

Tastes mellow and robust with an initial hit of bittersweet spicy espresso forming into juicy chocolate with a slightly dry, earthy, and toasted finish. Lingers nicely.

Feel is thick, smooth and rich, with a slight tartness.

After awhile this one's a bit cloying and sweet.

This is a memorable brew from the Yukon. Presentation is nice and inviting, and they have combined stout and espresso very well. I had this with soft pumpernickel and butter, but this would be remarkable to finish a juicy gravy and roast as well. I will be seeing this one several times over this coming fall and winter.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2007 20:11:34 | More by ablaze

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

04-17-2013 15:04:18 | More by Whatup14

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

03-16-2013 16:19:44 | More by NightINgale

ptarmigan98

Manitoba (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

02-16-2013 01:29:45 | More by ptarmigan98

zachloveshisbeer

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

A dark, wicked brew poured into a pint glass with little or no head retention. Smells of coffee, chocolate and caramel tones and I also get a slight alcohol on the nose. The taste is beyond your wildest dreams and packs quite the wallop. I find that this is truly a winter warmer and being that it's from the Yukon, they need all the help they can get! When you don't see the sun for weeks on end and the snow is piled up past your roof, you want to be drinking this while nestled in your Snuggie next to your fireplace.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 21:26:18 | More by zachloveshisbeer

MrTinnedPEach

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

01-05-2013 18:32:08 | More by MrTinnedPEach

Ivanhoes_Backpack

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

01-05-2013 14:04:21 | More by Ivanhoes_Backpack

blackcloud

Alaska

3/5  rDev -22.1%

01-03-2013 22:13:40 | More by blackcloud

nquigley16

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

12-28-2012 23:07:42 | More by nquigley16

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%

11-29-2012 05:55:08 | More by KalanM

highway99

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

11-13-2012 04:51:48 | More by highway99

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

1/5  rDev -74%

11-06-2012 20:49:26 | More by cfalovo97

Otterburn

Quebec (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best before november 2012..

Very dark appearance, totally black.
Small beige head, around the glass, poured into my Guinness pint.
I cant see any carbonation..

Smashy coffee espresso smell, stout smell.

Taste vvery much as an espresso, nice torrefication,
Bitterness is alright

mouthfeel: a bit thick, ,low carbonation and long coffee aftertaste

Overall, enjoy
very drinkable for a strong stout*

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 21:43:32 | More by Otterburn

Melomanemusher

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

09-02-2012 02:07:28 | More by Melomanemusher

Reswald

Alaska

4/5  rDev +3.9%

06-26-2012 00:50:21 | More by Reswald

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-26-2012 05:59:15 | More by oldp0rt

microwavabledish

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

12-18-2011 09:48:32 | More by microwavabledish

nighthawk

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

341 mL bottle with date notched in label poured into pint glass. Noticed too late that this beer is two months past its best-by date. Oh well, let's give it a shot anyway.

Pours a deep enough brown to be confused with black, only hints of oaky brown at the edges when held to light. Mocha head is a finger high and bubbly, fades quickly, but leaves nice lacing on the glass.

Nose is a nicely potent coffee, roasted grains, hints of chocolate and caramel.

Coffee holds back a bit in the flavour. It's still there, but I get more of a caramel and roasted/charred bread and grain flavour up front, and some fruity esters and mild bitterness on the finish.

Smooth body, nice carbonation, but a bit too thin for my liking.

Overall this is a good espresso stout, and if I lived in Montreal, I would likely buy this regularly if it were available all winter. It's no Peche Mortel, but it's tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 22:23:13 | More by nighthawk

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Very dark, almost black in colour (unable to see through it) with right amount of head.

Smell: Roasted espresso beans, dark chocolate undertones.

Taste: Immediately hit with espresso flavour, with a little bit of a roasted taste. Pleasant aftertaste with a lingering coffee flavour.

Mouthfeel: Goes down very nice and smooth. Perfect amount of bubbles for this style of beer.

Overall: This is one of the best flavoured stouts I have ever tasted. I cannot think of a single thing that would need improvement. I highly recommend it for a cool, crisp day in the fall or winter (it'll warm you right up!). A true classic from Yukon Brewing.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 02:35:13 | More by leaddog

CrazyMike

Alberta (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pitch black appearance with a thick brown head that quickly disappears leaving good licensing. Smell consists of roasted malt, strong coffee, chocolate and smokiness.

Taste has a strong espresso hint to it, thought I was drinking coffee at first. Picked up roasted malt, smokiness, toffee, grain with a hint of chocolate and vanilla as well. Surprisingly light bodied with moderate carbonation. Aftertaste is a beer version of the aftertaste for coffee.

This is definitely a unique stout, I didn't expect "Espresso Stout" to be so literal. On top of the dark complex taste, it is very drinkable. A must try if you’re a coffee fan

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 04:00:20 | More by CrazyMike

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.6/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Got this one in a trade with jprime. I'd wanted to try this one for a while, so thanks for helping out man!

From a bottle into a snifter.

APPEARANCE: A dark pour produces a one finger, medium looking, somewhat noisy tan head with good retention. Black body with zero carbonation evident. Head fades to a ring and decent wisp that persist until the end and leave some dots of lacing down the glass. Good look, but the head needs to relax a little.

SMELL: A mild nose of roasted and smoky malt with some soft espresso coffee notes. Pleasant, but simply too mute.

TASTE: Relatively sweet with very little espresso. Roasted malts and caramel up front with some soft, mild coffee notes at the finish. Mild flavors and slightly watery through the middle. At the swallow, however, things come to life a little. A smoky and sweet caramel aftertaste is bigger and lingers nicely, with touches of bitter espresso as balance. This is just too mild to be memorable, and the espresso flavors aren’t forthcoming enough.

PALATE: Medium body and lower levels of carbonation. A little watery on the palate, goes down fine and finishes slightly dry on the palate. Needs to be fuller and creamier; too watery.

OVERALL: A little disappointing as an espresso stout. All the elements are there, but it’s simply too mild and watery to even be considered average. Flavors picked up a little after the swallow, but that is only half of the story. Glad to have tried this long time Want, but will not be seeking this one out again. Thanks for the hook up jprime!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 18:49:08 | More by Jeffo

fostachild

Ontario (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

poured a pitch black color, with a small tan head.

smell was of chocolate, mocha. fairly nice.

taste was decent - heavy coffee, malt, and a slight bitterness to it.

overall is was pretty average stout, didn't find it to stand out amongst other similar styles i've had in the past.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 02:22:50 | More by fostachild

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours black with a figer of frothy tan head.

Smell. Roasty dark malts, medium roast coffee and a little molasses and chocolate.

Taste. Dark roasty malts, tobacco and molasses, slightly sour coffee with some smokey dark malt bitterness in the end.

Mouthfeel. Medium-light body with medium, slightly prickly carbonation.

Overall. Good everyday drinker. A little rough around the edges but drinks well.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 02:59:01 | More by Rutager

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very dark with translucent chestnut edges and a thin cap of fine mocha bubbles. Decent head retention and streaky lacing. Big coffee grounds and caramel aroma, milk chocolate. Quite bitter throughout, from both the hops and the dark malts/coffee. Malted milk sweetness and a hint of chocolate with burnt sugar and nuts in the finish. Low carbonation, silky texture, very smooth, medium bodied, slight astringency. Quite good.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 00:22:41 | More by DrJay

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pitch black with a beautiful two-finger creamy mocha-coloured head. Head reminds me of whipping cream a little bit- quite creamy.

S: Very strong espresso aromas, quite alot of dark chocolate, and some faint vanilla. A strong roasted aroma hangs over this, almost bordering on too much- kind of like sticking your nose in a bag of ground coffee beans.

T: Espresso and dark chocolate is quite present and pleasing, but there is a surprising kick of earthy hops to even the flavour out. Wasn't expecting that from the overly-coffee aroma. Also picking up raspberry notes in this, as another reviewer pointed out.

M: Rather thin for the style, even coming in at 6.2%. Would prefer a bit more viscosity. Carbonation seems a bit flat, but it doesn't necessarily have an effect with this style.

D: Nice stout, but at $3.50/bottle (SAQ) I don't think I would be reaching for this again. Good offering from a Canadian brewery- great to see this sort of product out there.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 00:11:30 | More by Digimaika2