Saturn - Belgian-Style Fresh Hop IPA
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

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From:
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
Belgian IPA
ABV:
8%
Score:
89
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 12.69%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
25
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 12, 2014
Added:
Oct 31, 2008
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  1
In tribute to its namesake god of agriculture, SATURN celebrates a bountiful Pacific Northwest hop harvest. Ample malt sets the stage for this end-of-season party. Fresh Cascade and Centennial hops from Yakima Valley mingle with Belgian yeasts to impart abundant spice and earthiness.

55 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by GRG1313 from California

Nov 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

May 28, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 29, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.26/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks for this 3 year old Belgian IPA, Bobby...

Pours light amber in color with a tall white head. Really a dead nose. Some faint hops, maybe a little citrus and floral hops on the back end. A little bit of sweet pale malt to go with all the fine faded hop flavors. Really sort of bland. Medium body and carbonation. Not really surprising that this was a disappointment.
Jan 13, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 11, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by nmann08 from Virginia

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
very light in color with a good clarity to it. This led me to be able to see the streams of carbonation that were rising up from the bottom of the glass effortlessly. A nice light and white head came up over the top and settled down to about two inches before really faded away to just a broken crown after a space of two minutes or so. The aroma was light, hints of light coriander and peach were the most prominent, followed by a very nice touch of light grass in the finish. Quite complex and very well done I have to admit. The flavor was crisp, cleaning, light and very easy to drink, especially early in the session. Just the lightest amount of spice kicking up toward the finish, but a generally very light, and very flavorful profile
Oct 02, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle consumed at a recent DC area tasting. Served in a SAVOR snifter.

Pours a light golden color with good head formation and some good lacing throughout. It was interesting to see that this was once dubbed as a fresh-hop IPA after taking the first whiff of this. The hops are completely behind, but what's left is a pretty damn good Belgian Strong Pale. The nose is a bit more tame than the flavor, but carries a really nice bit of Belgian yeast along with some mild spice. The flavor really brings some factors together in a nice way. There's some yeast and light fruit plus a bit of mild grain. Some warming alcohol in the background. Good carbonation and a mildly-spicy finish. This one has aged out quite nicely and seems like it will continue to improve.
Mar 31, 2011
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A 22 ounce bomber bottle. Thanks to mymrnngjckt for sharing. Uncapped and poured into a snifter. Saturn appears a hazed copper color with just about an inch of fluffy off white head. Nose and flavors consist of lemon, evergreen, pine, spicy peppery yeast, grassy, bubblegum, light malt. A few notches better than medium bodied with ample carbonation and a clean finish. Delicious stuff. Thanks Kevin!
Jan 27, 2010
Photo of sprucetip
Reviewed by sprucetip from Alaska

4.38/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From notes. Thick off white head, good retention, thick lacing, very active. Clear bronze, extremely attractive.

SMELL huge spicy grassy hoppy noes. Fruity with a little sweet tart candy, and a general backing sweetness for balance. Prominent, and with legs. Very nice.

TASTE citrusy and floral hop flavors and bitterness balanced by a substantial malty base. Vague Belgian yeast character. very smooth and balanced. Some lingering bitterness. Fairly complex. Delicious.

FEEL smooth, full body, pleasant texture, some drying in the finish.

OVERALL wickedly easy drinking for a big, bold IPA. One of my favorite Midnight Sun IPA's so far.
Dec 11, 2009
Photo of bmanning
Reviewed by bmanning from North Carolina

4.06/5  rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks akbeerfiend for this 22oz bottle.
Pours dark gold with a huge fluffy white head that lasted for a good 15 min.
Initially has hefeweizen aromas of cloves, banana, and bread. There are also IPA aromas of orange and tropical fruits.
Flavors of grassy hops mixed with Belgian Pale Ale spices. Although the hops are on the downhill in this beer, it's still a very well crafted Belgian IPA, just not quite as fresh. I really wish I could have tasted this when it was freshly bottled, because it's one of the better Belgian IPAs I've had.
Nov 01, 2009
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
On tap that the MSBC loft - cloudy nectarine color with a creamy off-white head, decent last to the thick skim, leaving heavy lace.

Smell is very impressive, considering this is a fresh hop ale from last fall!!! Floral, fruity apricot ale esters

Taste is also quite good, very floral, more English ale esters, moderate bitterness. Yummy, for sure, the floral quality is very unique, like it was brewed with flowers, not hops. I'm also a big fan of English ale esters, and am really digging that counter-balance of ripe fruit they are providing.

Mouthfeel is extremely creamy with a drier finish, medium bodied. Perhaps the creamiest beer I've ever had, on CO2 no less, I had no choice but to give this a 5.

Drinkability is great, I'm really shocked at how well this is holding up going on 9 months old. Regardless of the age, it's just a damn tasty ale.
Jul 23, 2009
Photo of khiasmus
Reviewed by khiasmus from South Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
A 'psht,' and a white volcano leaps forth, the sharp ring of glass on glass as I fight to not lose a drop. And successful, but my what a monster of foam... The beer is quite half-and-half, a sticky coral reef hanging on tightly as the bulge of the fresh volcano remains in the center. The color of lava, a burnt orange, some small rocks gathering about the base... interesting.
And then the sour, a funk of brettanomyces fighting with the sharp bitter cascades... another tip and a fresh volcano, lopsided, vesuvius, such a city, fossilized, mothers clutching babies, a rent sanity by a pillow of white.
Singeing vegetation, a singular aroma, and the dank notes from the depths of the cave, limestone, sharp white cheddar. The proud mountain remains. An assault. Twisted metal clings to the mouth with the earth, the trees being fossilized in their places or whisked away by the molten stream. The sweetness, honey-cakes somewhere in the back, has given way to a lingering sour, bitter, angry. The earth has heaved her fury back upon the reckless weary. There is a glimpse, the wrath of God. Such a little glimpse.
But it recedes, it cools in limpid streams, the turbulence subsided and a clean, bitter calm ensues. Nothing to be heard, save the call of a falcon wheeling high above. The mountain appears tired, looming above the vast wreckage of so recent a massive tirade. Quelled, now peace.
But proud man will build here again. He heeds no warning.
Jul 13, 2009
Photo of shivtim
Reviewed by shivtim from Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
A unique brew.

Hazy copper/gold, with a big white billowy head. Fast rising bubbles. Nose is yeast, wheat, wild... almost hefewiessen-like qualities. Taste is extra funky, slightly sour, some vague citrus rind. Weird... a little too weird, even for a Belgian IPA.
Mouthfeel is a real strong point. Very full and foamy. Pretty good drinkability, but the odd flavors would make it hard to drink more than one.
Jul 09, 2009
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewery the other day.

Saturn pours a tannish amber gold color with good head retention and outstanding lacing. On the nose, I get chocolate and rootbeer, with some underlying white pepper and hoppy bitterness. Flavors on the palate generally replicate the nose, with the beer starting off fairly sweet, but then finishing very hoppy and dry. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, and drinkability is pretty good. The amount of hoppy bitterness on the finish is pretty impressive with this beer, and really keeeps it from ever becoming tiring or heavy on the palate. Good, solid beer from MS.
Jul 05, 2009
Photo of DrDogbeer
Reviewed by DrDogbeer from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Slit a bottle the other night. Thanks, Lakersfan16!!

Poured into a tulip. Pours a hazy yellow with a really active, arge white head. Smells mostly of some semon, some light pine or grass and a bit of a pilsner-like aroma. Taste is nice. Muted hops, but they are definitely there, with some light spice and pepper. Some hints of minty hop flavor as well. Good amount of carbonation keeps this crisp. Another great beer from MS!
May 07, 2009
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a hazed, golden-amber body with a full, fizzy, off-white head.

Smell: Toasted and pils maltiness and fresh hops giving a suggestion of juiced citrus fruits.

Taste: Seemingly pilsner malts with a bit of toasted grains and only a light, vague sweetness. Fresh hop character of pressed citrus fruits -- leafs, rinds, oil, pith, and all! Medium-high, earthy bitterness. Light touch of peppery alcohol. Faint final hint of malts before the dry, bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Moderate carbonation.

Drinkability: Fairly good. It's not my favorite in the Midnight Sun Planet Series, but it's still a quality brew. So, throw on Holst's "The Planets" and enjoy.
Apr 03, 2009
Photo of gford217
Reviewed by gford217 from Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Big thanks to Tim for providing me with this installment of the Planets series.

Pours a clear amber with tons of bubbles streaming up from the bottom feeding a huge head which lasts for the duration as a solid cap and leaves spotty lacing.

The aroma is fairly subdued but has a solid lemon grass aroma from the fresh hops. The spicy yeast really starts to come out as the beer warms.

The taste is more aggressively hopped than the aroma would indicate and has a big bitterness up front. The Belgian yeast form as sizable backbone of bubblegum sweetness and earthy spices. There is some pretty abrasive bitterness in the finish.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated, but it's the bitterness through the finish that really stands out.

This is another solid beer from MSBC and one of the most unique dry/wet hopped beers I've tasted. Very original and very tasty.
Mar 03, 2009
Photo of beerceller99
Reviewed by beerceller99 from Louisiana

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Murky blood orange color with a frothy egg shell white head. Nice aroma is a strong blend of fresh floral and ganja bud hops with earthy spicy yeast. Medium body with soft carbonation. Good flavor is earthy spicy yeasts meshing nicely with a fresh floral and evergreen hops. All this on a creamy, lightly sweet bready malt base brew. Nicely bitter hop taste to finish. Very good brew.
Jan 31, 2009
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
22oz Bomber

Well, I get the chance to sample this from the one, the only, the myth, the legend, AKBelgianBeast, thanks Frank! Saturn is a Belgian-style fresh hop IPA that fills my Goose Island Willi glass with a hazy dirty copper colored beer. Tiny carbonation rushes to the surface from multiple points throughout the glass. The clean white head grew quickly to three fingers of sticky persistent foam. Eventually the head recedes to a more manageable finger's height and leaves chunk lacing down the glass as I drink.

The nose on this dry hopped, wet hopped IPA is really unique. There are certainly a lot of Belgian characteristics with yeast esters jumping from the glass. Tart green apple bubblegum and coriander lead the way while faint notes of banana and clove roll ghost like in the background. The wet hopping makes this beer smell as good as it does with soft but resinous notes of pine and mild grapefruit pith. The malt base is very sugar cookie-like which allows the yeast and wet dry hopping to build this beer into what it is. Very nicely done.

Those yeasty esters are in the flavor but don't rule the roost like the nose suggested. The resinous hops are right where they should be and what is expected in fresh hopped IPAs. Bubblegum, coriander, and banana flash through here and there between the pine sap hoppiness and less noticeable grapefruit pith. The resinous hoppiness becomes almost leathery on the swallow while it leaves behind a mouth coating bitterness. The semi sweet sugar cookie malts know where they belong, in the back. This is a good IPA indeed.

The body runs straight down the middle of the spectrum. The carbonation is soft and lively while massaging the tongue on its way through. A solid bitterness is left on the back of the tongue after each gulp.

Saturn has a surprising 8%abv and none of it is noticeable. This beer drinks like a hoppy 5% which means I wouldn't have a problem drinking this stuff all night long. A growler would do me right.

I'm a big fan of this brew. The yeasty Belgian qualities come out more in the nose than in the flavor but the resin hop qualities are what make this beer the gem that it is. Thanks again Beast for the great box of brew!
Jan 19, 2009
Saturn - Belgian-Style Fresh Hop IPA from Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 25 ratings