Darkest Night
Cambridge Brewing Company

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From:
Cambridge Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 10.35%
Ratings:
21 | reviews: 8
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 17, 2015
Added:
Jan 06, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by WesWes:
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The beer pours a dark brown color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a solid crystal malt sweetness with some bisquit and roasted malt aroma. The cedar adds a nice level of complexity and really brings the other aromas together. The taste is good. It has a quaffable sweetness that boasts of crystal malts. The cedar compliments the sweetness and adds a layer of dryness to an already smooth roasted taste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an easy drinker for sure. Love the cedar wood character.
Feb 26, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of VelvetExtract
Reviewed by VelvetExtract from Massachusetts

3.56/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Tap. Pours a clear, dark copper color. Nice, tight, off-white head. A pretty beer. I actually did not know what style beer this was. I got a modest intensity aroma that had winter spice and the 'go-to' caramel malty sweetness. Apparently this beer was aged on a unique type of wood.i, personally didn't detect any wood but I wasn't shovng my nose into the beer at the bar. I enjoyed how the holiday spices aren't too overpowering. Light cinnamon and nutmeg and such. Caramel and some toasted, sweet bread. Not bad for a style I rarely enjoy.
Jan 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Ian_B from Massachusetts

Dec 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by PatGreer from Massachusetts

Dec 16, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by kvgomps from New Jersey

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by trippnwo from Florida

Dec 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by kinopio from Massachusetts

Dec 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Aisha from Massachusetts

Dec 10, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by morebeergood from Massachusetts

Dec 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by firstlighthiker from Tennessee

Dec 07, 2013
Photo of axeman9182
Reviewed by axeman9182 from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served in a tulip glass at Cambridge Brewing Company.

Darkest night pours just that, black as night. There's a about a finger of mocha foam sitting atop the beer. The head displays some decent head retention, and leaves a nice ring of lacing at the top of the glass, although what's left underneath is a bit more spotty. The nose brings some notes of coffee and plum up front, with some spicy herbal aromas lurking in the background. The flavor's got a light bit of caramel to it, before a big coffee, roasty quality comes and settles in as the focal point of the beer. There's just a hint of peppery phenols as the beer fades into the finish. The body's not what I would call "bone dry", but it's pretty darn close. The carbonation is just a touch muted for what I would like to have sen. Darkest Night is classified as a Winter Warmer here on BA, but to my mind it seems very much like a black Saison. Regardless of the style though, I definitely enjoyed my glass.
Mar 08, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by bpk59 from Massachusetts

Jan 14, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by CP20 from Massachusetts

Jan 12, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by waiting4lunch from Finland

Nov 18, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Nov 14, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of Duhast500
Reviewed by Duhast500 from Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the tap into a pint glass.

The color is a nice dark black with some ruby hues when held to the light. There is a brownish foamy head that is about a finger high and leaves a light lacing on the glass.

The smell is some nice caramel malt flavor. Some cinnamon flavor hides behind some hoppy crispness.

The taste is some nice burnt malts that give a slight smokey feel to this beer that stays just for a moment then leaves to bring on a molasses and caramel flavor.

The feel of this beer is evened out between a high carbonation feel and some crisp feel.
Feb 08, 2010
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: 1/2 inch head, clear, reddish-brown in color

Smell: gingerbread and cinnamon

Taste: gingerbread, cinnamon, toasted malt, and light hops at the end

Mouthfeel: sweet start slightly bitter finish, light bodied, moderate carbonation

Drinkability: This is an excellent winter warmer that is not overly spicy. It tastes like a good cookie. I could have three or four in the cooler months.
Jan 23, 2010
Photo of Jayli
Reviewed by Jayli from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap at RedBones in Somerville 1/20

A: This beer pours a rich deep ruby brown with mahogany edges. A good 1/2 inch of khaki colored creamy head on this one. Heads retains nicely and maintains a 1/4 film the whole way through leaving nice sticky ringlets of lacing.

S: Nose is of thick caramel malts, hint of hops, cinnamon, and molasses.

T: Taste is extreme burnt malts up front, followed by cinnamon and molasses, caramel, and in the finish is a bit of hop presence.

M: Medium body, high carbonation, nice crisp feel.

D: Goes down easily, fairly tasty, it doesn't fit the mold of your typical winter warmer. I could definitely have a pint or two more of these.
Jan 21, 2010
Photo of applky
Reviewed by applky from New York

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Redbones.

Not sure if this is really a winter warmer. Struck me more as a spicy bock, but regardless...

Dark brown in color with wonderful translucence around the edges (this and the bittersweet malty flavor made it seem like a bock to me). Carmel and cinnamon in the nose with some subtle, toasted malts that become much more apparent on the tongue. A slight honey/toffee sweetness that's tempered by a wonderful, rich spiciness. Malts, to my mind, dominate this beer, making it seem more full-bodied than average in the mouth.

A truly wonderful beer, somewhere between a session beer and a sipper. Enigmatic, to be sure, and perhaps even more enjoyable because of that.
Jan 21, 2009