Midnight Lager
Stella Artois

Excellent head production and good retention. It's a really beautiful beer, with a dark tan head atop an ebony body.

Toasty nose, leading off with notes of burnt toast, coffee, dark fruit, pumpernickel, toffee, and cola. There's a hint of aspirin that detracts just a touch.

Flavor is much lighter, and a touch sweeter, very appropriate for the style. The result is a very drinkable lager that carries a nice but subtle roasty character.

RB transfer

 

Note: I am in the process of moving all of my ratings from other beer sites to here, so that all of my ratings are consolidated in one place. The review below is an exact copy of my original RateBeer review from 01/22/2021.


11.2 oz. bottle. 5.4% ABV

AROMA: Faint hints of caramel, roasted malt, and dark brown sugar.

APPEARANCE: Pours an opaque black with a medium, tan head that dissipates slowly with moderate lacing.

TASTE: The aroma leads you to believe that this beer might be a little on the sweet side, but that is not the case. Upon first sip, I get a bitter astringent taste, which is followed by flavors of unsweetened dark chocolate and coffee.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with medium carbonation and a tacky texture. And by that, I don't mean sticky (e.g molasses), but rather more like "high-friction" where the tongue doesn't glide over it very easily, and it feels like there is a lot of drag.

OVERALL: I'm not overly impressed by this beer. Especially, when they are asking a premium price for it. The flavor and body are okay, and I might occasionally buy it just for a change of pace, but there are plenty of other beers that are better and cost less.

 

 

 

Poured very dark, near black, but maybe it was the carbonation (which is quite lively) that is reflecting light making it look less than black. Who knows, The tan head was pleasing to look at, but it didn't last long.
Aroma very mild for me, and that's the norm. I did get a little cracker type smell in with the malts and hops.
Taste is solid! I'm not normally a fan of Stella but in a quest to try as many dark lagers as I can, I had to try this one and I am not disappointed. Smooth yet lively, malty and biscuit flavors trump the hops but the flavors are so balanced it works quite well.
For the price point, I think I'll pick up a 6 pack every year they are available. Good beer!

 

 

Poured from an 11.2oz bottle that says brewed in the U.S.A. Baldwinsville, NY

On the pour there is a not quite one finger head that dissipates over a few minutes to just a light covering and ring around the glass. What does stay of the head sticks around for the whole beer. Lots of carbonation coming up to the top but it is black so you can't see the carbonation. Held up to light it becomes a very dark murky brown still almost black however. It wants to lace but it just can't quite stick.

Aroma is largely sweet and bread toasty malts. Lager character is quite apparent. Some bittering hops coming through in an earthy herbaceous way. Nice but maybe some diacetyl, but vague.

Taste follows the smell with the nalt being forefront and lager beer flavor right after. Some bitterness comes through after the main flavors subside. Aftertaste is some sweet maltiness that remains mingling with what remains of the hops.

Feel is quite nice at first. Big presence with the carbonation and surprising creaminess. Once the burst of foam subsides it becomes more dry but a bit watery and disappears on the finish.

Overall it's a nice dark lager very similar to a German Dunkel. Also very much like a Stella. So if you like dark beer and you also like Stella and want to combine the two, then voila.

LOOKS:
Black ad midnight with a tan colored, active and bubbly foamy cap, lays out quick with plenty of cover to admire.
SMELLS:
Roasty chocolate pecan malt, blackberry-Blueberry vanilla fruity and creamy sweetness. Noice!
FEELS:
A jazzy first hit, carbonated and bubbly, clean and soft edges. Smooth, once again--clean with a refreshing finish. Wow.
FLAVA:
The roasty dark chocolate malt is fantastic, almonds within, charred herbs, dark fruity berries wild style, creamy, vanilla soft notes all around that other stuff. Basically takes on a roasty, chocolate stout within a the traditional Pilz, lager style.
OVERALL or bits n' pieces:
I dig it thoroughly.

 

 

 

Served on tap at the venerable Chimney Rock Inn in NJ. When I saw this on their list of offerings, I thought I'd give it a try, as regular Stella is just okay for me and not one of my usual go-tos - but I was curious to see how this one would play out. It's a good beer that I enjoyed. Very dark pour, malty, a bit fizzy, very low hop presence, some nice roasty coffee/cocoa notes in the mix. Vaguely reminiscent of Heineken Dark, from what I recall on last sampling that brew many years ago.

If you are seeking a darker beer that is not as complex or heavy as a stout or porter, but still with a bit more heft than a standard lager, this might do the trick to fill that slot. With regular Stella, I'm typically one-and-done, but I liked my first Midnight enough to down a second one (which the ABV definitely accommodates). Would definitely seek out again when I am in the mood for this variety of brew.

 

L- Dark brown/ Black with a nice tan head

S- Sweet coffee, chocolate, barley and toffee

T- Roasted barley with almost undetectable hoppyness. light bitter.

F- medium light body. medium carbonation.

O- Surprisingly tasty. the aroma is fantastic and really carries this beer. I would buy this again.