Midnight Run Imperial Dark Lager
Hideout Brewing Company

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours fairly crystal clear very dark reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of chocolate, cocoa, light coffee, brown sugar, toast, dark bread, light nuttiness, plum, apple, light licorice/anise, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast/roasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready malt, earthy hops, and light-moderate fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. A bit too fruity in the nose, but not too bad. Taste of chocolate, cocoa, light coffee, brown sugar, toast, dark bread, light nuttiness, light licorice/anise, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast/roasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal/roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, cocoa, light coffee, brown sugar, toast, dark bread, light licorice/anise, and herbal/roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness, complexity, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, earthy hops, and light fruity yeast flavors; with a nice bitterness/sweetness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Fairly clean on lager flavors with restrained yeast ester notes present in the taste. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and fairly creamy/bready/chalky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warmth lingering after the finish. Overall the is a very good imperial schwarzbier style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, earthy hops, and light fruity yeast flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV. A nicely enjoyable offering.