Midnight Still - Hazelnut/Cacao
Holy Mountain Brewing Company - Interbay Brewery + Taproom

This 500ML bottle is the 2024 version, which has a longer barrel listed on the bottle (24 & 29 months for the two components). Thick, tough blue wax.

Surprisingly fizzy brown head, since the base beer I had almost a year ago was as still as asphalt. The nose is big bourbon with a little hazelnut sprinkled on top.

Midnight Still – Hazelnut + Cocoa is heavy & sticky. The tastes aren’t easy to tease out. There’s a massive malt layer overcutting everything, along with a hefty helping of chocolate. In a weird reversal of the nose, the hazelnut is subtle, the barrels a back-of-the-throat exhale of booze. The weighty, pastry-stout measure means even this mini-bomber should probably be shared.

The additions make this a few cuts below the base beer. Good, but set up the original for me, thanks.

Poured as a share at Mortalis Hypnos release. I think I focused entirely on the hazelnut element, not factoring in the cocoa. The latter really adds a bigger than expected hot chocolate vibe. The two flavors blend well together, though it’s sort of a like
it / don’t like it outcome. $50 Tavour pricing. Not many people tried a sample, so maybe kind of a waste to bring today. In hindsight, it’s really a warm, fuzzy, kid-got-a-snow-day-off-from-school drink.

It’s hard to describe how outstanding this beer is. A deep, rich, full, unmatched clinic in what an adjunct bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout can be. It delivers an experience that would be insulted, bastardized by more words. It’s made to be bought and sipped. It’s a powerful experience.

Pitch black oily pour, brown head. Big hazelnut and bourbon right away in the nose, with potent hot fudge and vanilla. Taste just has absolutely massive hazelnut, impressive, but the booze is verging on hot, chocolate blankets them both to add a layer, malts, vanilla, and a kiss of nougat round out. Feel is the achilles heel, as the taste was boozy not hot, the feel I think crossing into that territory as it warms, otherwise lush, smooth and thick. Perfect dessert beer for the holidays or early winter in general.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

500ml bottle, 2018 vintage. Snifter glass. Dark black body, good legs, one half finger offwhite head, good retention, no lacing. Smell is massive hazelnut and chocolate, a bit of candy bar milk chocolate, whiskey warmth, slightly toasted darker chocolate malt, light earthy espresso. This comes together even better on the palate; the hazelnut is front and center without being too sweet or artificial. Big fudgy milk chocolate, bourbon, light earth, espresso. It's extremely well balanced with the bourbon, hazelnut and cacao, with the base stout providing a thick fudgy layer of chocolate; and it is not too sweet by any means, and split three ways the beer was not cumbersome to finish. Full bodied, chewy and palate coating which keeps stimulating the taste buds for minutes. Delicious hazelnut stout, one of the best of its genre.