The Viking
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

The VikingThe Viking
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From:
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
12%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.22 | pDev: 7.82%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
32
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 31, 2016
Added:
Sep 12, 2008
Wants:
  48
Gots:
  7
To commemorate the life of a huge-hearted and long-time friend from the homebrewing community, Midnight Sun Brewing Company brewed a very special beer in honor of David Yanoshek, who was fondly known as “Yano”.

This big strong beer celebrates the abundant life of an incredible man with an enormous yet ever engaging laugh. Yano pursued life with a Viking spirit, endless love and boundless energy for family, friends, scouts…and beer.

A big strong beer for a big strong guy, The Viking Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale boasts a beautiful balance of character and complexity. Dark roasted malts, Belgian yeast, star anise and sweet-ripened raisins come together in an amazing ale that can be enjoyed now and cellared for later celebrations.

As you lock horns with this commemorative ale, toast to Yano. With his incredibly stoic spirit and his irrepressible laugh, Yano was the gentle giant who will forever touch our lives. Pröst!

23 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by t0rin0:
Photo of t0rin0
Rated by t0rin0 from California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

Oct 29, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.06 by rawfish from California

Mar 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by unclekeith from Alaska

Nov 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ReeseMax3 from Pennsylvania

Apr 08, 2014
Photo of AgentMunky
Reviewed by AgentMunky from New York

4.17/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a footed glass. From notes. Reviewed 2 November 2013.

Red-dark with little black tint. Sweet-strong booze on the nose. This beer is amazingly sweet and fruity. I like what's going on here. The after taste is lingering and excellent. I was lucky to get to try this beer, and I'd recommend trying some if you have the chance.
Nov 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by KevSal from California

Nov 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Nov 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by largadeer from California

Nov 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Nov 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by meganza from Alaska

Jun 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by spycow from Illinois

Jan 12, 2013
Photo of Sean9689
Reviewed by Sean9689 from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks, dunt!

A - Pours black, tan-colored head, spotty lace, thin collar.

S - Dark fruit, wood, caramel, toasted sugary spice, smooth booze. This is how a Belgian Strong should smell...really hard to find anything wrong with this beer. Perfectly balanced with the sweetness, light yeast, and alcohol.

T - More of the same amount of awesomeness on the palate. Plums, raisins, dates, candied sugar, light yeast, smooth booze, caramel, and wood. The 12% alcohol is dangerously hidden. The finish is dark fruity sweetness with a smooth booze kick.

M - Full body, rich and smooth, sweet creamy finish.

O - MS continues to kill it and this beer is one of those that when you have this style again, it will be hard to beat. Not sure if I'll ever have this one again, but I really hope so. Thanks again to dunt for sharing this! Recommend.
Jun 07, 2012
Photo of Treebs
Reviewed by Treebs from Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle served in a Portsmouth tulip. Huge thanks to Tnudish for the rare Midnight Sun tick.

A: Pours a dark brown color with some darker plum like hues around the edges. A light tan head forms on the pour and recedes a thin ring that leaves some splotchy lace behind.

S: The slightest cardboard smell rises up from the glass, but it's quikly overshadowed by roasted chocolate malts, prunes, pit fruit and a malt sweetness.

T: The taste is more of the same. The slightest wet paper taste is present, but it more dark prunes and figs with some cherry pit, sweet cherry flesh, and some chocolate malts.

M: Medium to heavy bodied. Smooth and oily in the mouth. The carbonation is at a minimum, but it's well received in a beer like this.

O: This beer has held up very well and I was fortunate enough to try it. If you are still hanging on to one I would suggest drinking it now as the oxidation is still in its infant stage and I can't see this getting any better.
May 14, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 11, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by whartontallboy from New York

Jan 02, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Photekut from Tennessee

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of FosterJM
Reviewed by FosterJM from California

4.32/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
771st Review on BA
Bottle to snifter
22 oz

@Woodshop Classix
I am not sure your name but THANK YOU for sharing!!

App- A very traditional dark brown BSDA appearance with a great 1-1/2” to 2” head. When it fell left a muddled pond top head to it. Good cling as a BSDA would.

Smell- This was a smaller BSDA and had the same notes just tame and inviting. A dark fruit note comes in 1st and then the aromatics moves to the soft yeast and the bubbly spice last.

Taste- This was very good. I liked it with some age to and not so over the top on the dark fruits and the yeast. Showed a real tameness and restraint to craft a balance between fickle flavors. The dark fruits were balanced against a bit of bubble activity to be really inviting.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonated. Left that nice bubbly feel with some yeast behind. A playful drinking beer.

Drink- I was very excited to see this one sitting on the table. I had to ask for a sip as BSDA are a favorite of mine. I never knew Dave but I think he would be mighty proud of this one.
Aug 30, 2011
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
So happy to try this. Thanks for sharing it, Todd!

A: The beer pours a dark brown with a large brown head and excellent retention.

S: Surprisingly roasty, but it works well. Lots of dark chocolate and some coffee notes, as well as a hint of licorice. Sweet malts, dark fruits (raisins, currants, black cherries), and toffee.

T: Really a rich flavor. Tons of the dark fruit character you expect for the style but a bit more aggressive on the roasted malt. Lots of caramel and toffee with a hint of vanilla and coffee. Some booze, but it works well enough.

M: Definitely full bodied with a moderate level of carbonation.

O: One of the best Midnight Sun beers out there. Too bad this one is so hard to come by as I'd be happy to have it again.
Apr 04, 2011
Photo of aerozeppl
Reviewed by aerozeppl from New York

3.83/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Oh you did not know. dmeadows.

A: Dark in color with a touch of red around the edges. Finger and a half of cola colored head. Spot on for the style.

S: Nice sweetness. Dark candi sugar. Little bit of dark fruit.

T: Tons of dark malt and fruit. They really work together quite well. A really solid Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Quite a bit of sweetness.

M: Very well carbonated. On the heavy side of medium bodied. Prickly carbonation.

D: Easy drinking. The carbonation did cut it down a little bit. This beer was good the problem was everything else we had that day was excellent. I would love to have this again.
Jun 04, 2010
Photo of tpd975
Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Gillard.

A: Pours a nice shade of dark brown with a tall tan head. Excellent retention and lace.

S: Lots of sweet candy malts. Chocolate, caramel, toffee, and brown sugar. The is a nice booze blast as well.

T: Malty sweetness in the flavor as well. Lots of booze soaked dark fruit, earth, and light hops in the finish.

M: On the fuller side of medium, rich, sweet, and smooth.

D: Good I heart midnight sun.
Mar 11, 2010
The Viking from Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 32 ratings