Berserker Imperial Stout | Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Alaska, United States | website
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.70%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Vicious and viscous, this menacing brew pours opaque black with a creamy maduro-colored head. Its aroma offers seductive whiskey, chewy red wine, dark fruit and lavish tobacco. Berserker Imperial Stout invades your taste buds with in-your-face flavor. Weighing in at almost 13% alcohol by volume, Berserker is completely out-of-control. Give it a good fight. Berserker Imperial Stout was aged in both red wine and whiskey barrels.
Original release of Berserker was at 10.4%, subsequent vintages have gone upwards of 12.7%. When reviewing, please list beer vintage and that vintage's specific ABV.
30 IBU
Added by BeerAdvocate on 12-13-2005
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Reviews: 289 | Ratings: 1,149
3.92/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brewed with maple syrup and molasses and aged in bourbon barrels. Clocks in at 12.7%.
Appearance: pitch black with a dark brown head. Appeared vicious and thick.
Smell: at first, picked up maple syrup. As the beer warmed up it became much like red wine - fruits, tobacco, and oak. The bourbon also came around but seemed a little hidden from the other aromas.
Taste: taste red wine, tobacco, smoke, and very faint notes of maple syrup. As the beer warmed up, I swear its almost like I was drinking dry red wine - a merlot or something. The beer was slightly sweet at the beginning but was quickly bitter and had a charred finish.
Mouthfeel: rich, smooth with some heat. The finish leaves a lingering tobacco/wine/oak as well as a little heat.
Overall: this one is quite different.. The vast majority of stouts I tried present the typical flavors of chocolate and coffee, but this one had neither. Interesting brew. Not something I call a dessert beer; more like something I would be drinking like brandy in front of the fireplace.
★ 1,039 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brewed with maple syrup and molasses and aged in bourbon barrels. Clocks in at 12.7%.
Appearance: pitch black with a dark brown head. Appeared vicious and thick.
Smell: at first, picked up maple syrup. As the beer warmed up it became much like red wine - fruits, tobacco, and oak. The bourbon also came around but seemed a little hidden from the other aromas.
Taste: taste red wine, tobacco, smoke, and very faint notes of maple syrup. As the beer warmed up, I swear its almost like I was drinking dry red wine - a merlot or something. The beer was slightly sweet at the beginning but was quickly bitter and had a charred finish.
Mouthfeel: rich, smooth with some heat. The finish leaves a lingering tobacco/wine/oak as well as a little heat.
Overall: this one is quite different.. The vast majority of stouts I tried present the typical flavors of chocolate and coffee, but this one had neither. Interesting brew. Not something I call a dessert beer; more like something I would be drinking like brandy in front of the fireplace.
★ 1,039 characters
4.84/5 rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
22oz bottle poured into snifter glass. Vintage is not listed but it is aged in oak bourbon barrels and is 12.7% ABV
A: Beautiful chocolate head that looks very creamy. The body is pure blackness with not even hints of light escaping.
S: Smells like chocolate, toffee, burnt sugars, anise, raisins, maybe some maple.
T: Sweet roasted malts, burnt sugars, plums, raisins, toffee, chocolate, almost coffee like, a touch of maple on the finish.
M: Velvety, silky, creamy, lush
O: Wow just wow. This beer is so rich and decadent. Such perfect flavors piled on top of each other you have the roasted malty anise taste of the stout a little toffee from the bourbon and a little residual sugars from the molasses and then just a hint of maple. On top of that you have such a creamy, chewy, silky body it is amazing.
★ 812 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
22oz bottle poured into snifter glass. Vintage is not listed but it is aged in oak bourbon barrels and is 12.7% ABV
A: Beautiful chocolate head that looks very creamy. The body is pure blackness with not even hints of light escaping.
S: Smells like chocolate, toffee, burnt sugars, anise, raisins, maybe some maple.
T: Sweet roasted malts, burnt sugars, plums, raisins, toffee, chocolate, almost coffee like, a touch of maple on the finish.
M: Velvety, silky, creamy, lush
O: Wow just wow. This beer is so rich and decadent. Such perfect flavors piled on top of each other you have the roasted malty anise taste of the stout a little toffee from the bourbon and a little residual sugars from the molasses and then just a hint of maple. On top of that you have such a creamy, chewy, silky body it is amazing.
★ 812 characters
4.58/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Thanks chickman. Pours dark and thick with a nice head. Molasses and light bourbon and light red wine aroma. Very light mouth feel with red wine, molasses to a bourbon, touch of smoke with a red wine finish. What was that? This stout is a roller coaster of flavors. Very smooth transitions and shuttle but damn hold on. Drink it slow and buckle in. Excellent stout. Very complex. Right in my wheel house as I'm a huge bourbon stout fan. The high Abv is well hidden not overpowering at all. I will look for more. Thanks again chickman!
★ 538 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Thanks chickman. Pours dark and thick with a nice head. Molasses and light bourbon and light red wine aroma. Very light mouth feel with red wine, molasses to a bourbon, touch of smoke with a red wine finish. What was that? This stout is a roller coaster of flavors. Very smooth transitions and shuttle but damn hold on. Drink it slow and buckle in. Excellent stout. Very complex. Right in my wheel house as I'm a huge bourbon stout fan. The high Abv is well hidden not overpowering at all. I will look for more. Thanks again chickman!
★ 538 characters
4.06/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Large shared bottle.
Fine looking beer that looks, and is, quite thick. Essentially black and opaque body with a decent head.
Strong, rich flavor.
Very full body, but not as viscous (or complex) as the CC Hunaphu I had just minutes before.
★ 239 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Large shared bottle.
Fine looking beer that looks, and is, quite thick. Essentially black and opaque body with a decent head.
Strong, rich flavor.
Very full body, but not as viscous (or complex) as the CC Hunaphu I had just minutes before.
★ 239 characters
4.21/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bomber into a Snifter, 11.2% and I believe it's a 2014 bottle.
A ton of molasses, really hard to pick up anything else. A hint of bourbon but zero maple. Really smooth drinking at this point, impressed at this ABV. This was definitely a hot mess when it was fresh, glad it sat in the fridge for a long time.
★ 309 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bomber into a Snifter, 11.2% and I believe it's a 2014 bottle.
A ton of molasses, really hard to pick up anything else. A hint of bourbon but zero maple. Really smooth drinking at this point, impressed at this ABV. This was definitely a hot mess when it was fresh, glad it sat in the fridge for a long time.
★ 309 characters
4.27/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12.7 abv...unsure of vintage but bought in oct of 2015 in Seattle. Motor oil! God dam motor oil!!! Smell molasses like all hell. Barrel character is reeeaallyyy tough to pick out...but there is something there. Taste....woof....whoa...booze. Mouthfeel..get that old school FILM out cuz cot dam this bitch stays with you. O..wish I sat on this longer. Cheers!
★ 366 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12.7 abv...unsure of vintage but bought in oct of 2015 in Seattle. Motor oil! God dam motor oil!!! Smell molasses like all hell. Barrel character is reeeaallyyy tough to pick out...but there is something there. Taste....woof....whoa...booze. Mouthfeel..get that old school FILM out cuz cot dam this bitch stays with you. O..wish I sat on this longer. Cheers!
★ 366 characters
4.65/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2012 vintage poured into a snifter
A- pours motor oil thick with one of the darkest brown heads that I've seen on a stout, that eventually reduces to a ring around the edge of the glass
S- dark charred malt gives notes of dark chocolate up front, immediately followed by a barrel character that gives aromas of vinous red wine, dark berries, currants, black licorice, whiskey barrel & toasted oak. Sweet aromas of maple syrup, molasses, toffee & melted caramel close it out
T- deep dark chocolate, tobacco and light smoky charred malt up front, turns to notes of red wine, currants & black cherries, quickly followed by a mellowed out bourbon presence that gives flavors of caramel, vanilla & charred oak. The sweetness of the maple kicks in near the finish, giving notes of toffee & molasses. The linger provides more chocolate and intermingling barrel flavors
M- medium-heavy body with medium-low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that turns chewy into a velvety finish
O- this is a bottle that I forgot I had, but it has aged fantastically. The wine & bourbon barrels have blended into one and there's just enough heat left, very well done
★ 1,157 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2012 vintage poured into a snifter
A- pours motor oil thick with one of the darkest brown heads that I've seen on a stout, that eventually reduces to a ring around the edge of the glass
S- dark charred malt gives notes of dark chocolate up front, immediately followed by a barrel character that gives aromas of vinous red wine, dark berries, currants, black licorice, whiskey barrel & toasted oak. Sweet aromas of maple syrup, molasses, toffee & melted caramel close it out
T- deep dark chocolate, tobacco and light smoky charred malt up front, turns to notes of red wine, currants & black cherries, quickly followed by a mellowed out bourbon presence that gives flavors of caramel, vanilla & charred oak. The sweetness of the maple kicks in near the finish, giving notes of toffee & molasses. The linger provides more chocolate and intermingling barrel flavors
M- medium-heavy body with medium-low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that turns chewy into a velvety finish
O- this is a bottle that I forgot I had, but it has aged fantastically. The wine & bourbon barrels have blended into one and there's just enough heat left, very well done
★ 1,157 characters
4.55/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Roughly 12 months old bottle.
A - Pours a liquid bowling ball black. Solid black body with essentially no highlights to speak of. Dark milk chocolate head pours a finger high with nice retention and ok lace.
S - Fantastic nose. Bourbon, brown sugar, molasses, dark vanilla, raisins, prunes, edge of hazel nut, allspice, and a touch of dark maple syrup.
T - Absolutely loaded with molasses. Hazelnut, milk chocolate, gingerbread, warm scotch, and prunes round out the flavor profile.
M - Smooth, medium body.
O - A delicious, thick, molasses-heavy imperial stout.
★ 578 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Roughly 12 months old bottle.
A - Pours a liquid bowling ball black. Solid black body with essentially no highlights to speak of. Dark milk chocolate head pours a finger high with nice retention and ok lace.
S - Fantastic nose. Bourbon, brown sugar, molasses, dark vanilla, raisins, prunes, edge of hazel nut, allspice, and a touch of dark maple syrup.
T - Absolutely loaded with molasses. Hazelnut, milk chocolate, gingerbread, warm scotch, and prunes round out the flavor profile.
M - Smooth, medium body.
O - A delicious, thick, molasses-heavy imperial stout.
★ 578 characters
4.23/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pour into my snifter glass. A dark lack color into my snifter glass. This is a real dark pour with lots of flavors in the glass. I see the molasses in the taste but am left looking for the maple they claim to have here. A gret BBA beer but lacking in the maple flavor.
★ 269 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pour into my snifter glass. A dark lack color into my snifter glass. This is a real dark pour with lots of flavors in the glass. I see the molasses in the taste but am left looking for the maple they claim to have here. A gret BBA beer but lacking in the maple flavor.
★ 269 characters
4.14/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
We're having a sip of this on New Years Eve while enjoying the lights over the harbor and Tony Bennett belting out something toffee-coated. A nice beer to have when you're glad to be alive.
Well, I think this is perfectly delicious. Big and plenty sweet, but somehow restrained and sophisticated. Molasses aroma and powerful in the taste. Viscous and coating the glass. Burnt sugar and a bitter finish that gradually creeps in. Custard with the dark caramel coating. From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Bottlecraft in San Diego.
★ 528 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
We're having a sip of this on New Years Eve while enjoying the lights over the harbor and Tony Bennett belting out something toffee-coated. A nice beer to have when you're glad to be alive.
Well, I think this is perfectly delicious. Big and plenty sweet, but somehow restrained and sophisticated. Molasses aroma and powerful in the taste. Viscous and coating the glass. Burnt sugar and a bitter finish that gradually creeps in. Custard with the dark caramel coating. From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Bottlecraft in San Diego.
★ 528 characters
4.27/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2014 vinatage. pours a thick oily black with a dark brown head that fades quickly. Aromas of bourbon and oak. Tastes of cocoa, fruit and smokey wood with a very sweet, almost candylike finish. Alcohol is hidden fairly well and it doesnt taste like a 12.7%. Very smooth mouthfeel, Overall a good beer but just a tad too sweet on the ending
★ 340 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2014 vinatage. pours a thick oily black with a dark brown head that fades quickly. Aromas of bourbon and oak. Tastes of cocoa, fruit and smokey wood with a very sweet, almost candylike finish. Alcohol is hidden fairly well and it doesnt taste like a 12.7%. Very smooth mouthfeel, Overall a good beer but just a tad too sweet on the ending
★ 340 characters
4.96/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
2015 bottle. 12.7% ABV.
Super oily slick, black colored, aggressive pour led to a nice khaki frothy head; some carbonation bubbles but very little in the way of lacing. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, and molasses waif from the snifter. Massive flavors of wood, smoke, vanilla, bourbon, cocoa and a sweetness I'm guessing is the maple syrup. Mostly a thick bodied brew but I'm leaning towards medium; maybe from the wine barreling? Coats the palate well with a bit of a dryness on the throat. Alcohol is hidden very well and this is one gem I'm glad I savored. An amazing sipper that will warm the heart! Enjoy!
★ 616 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
2015 bottle. 12.7% ABV.
Super oily slick, black colored, aggressive pour led to a nice khaki frothy head; some carbonation bubbles but very little in the way of lacing. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, and molasses waif from the snifter. Massive flavors of wood, smoke, vanilla, bourbon, cocoa and a sweetness I'm guessing is the maple syrup. Mostly a thick bodied brew but I'm leaning towards medium; maybe from the wine barreling? Coats the palate well with a bit of a dryness on the throat. Alcohol is hidden very well and this is one gem I'm glad I savored. An amazing sipper that will warm the heart! Enjoy!
★ 616 characters
4.5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
8 ounce draft at Torst in Brooklyn.
Great tan head with good retention.
Wonderful smell of mollasses, fruit, and barrel.
A million wonderful flavors in taste that are strikingly similar to the nose. Sweet aftertaste.
Not too intense of a mouthfeel despite the ABV. It was a medium to heavy body.
OVERALL: A BA Imperial stout done right. With a merry-go-round of flavors that were thoughtful and contemplative with each sip.
★ 427 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
8 ounce draft at Torst in Brooklyn.
Great tan head with good retention.
Wonderful smell of mollasses, fruit, and barrel.
A million wonderful flavors in taste that are strikingly similar to the nose. Sweet aftertaste.
Not too intense of a mouthfeel despite the ABV. It was a medium to heavy body.
OVERALL: A BA Imperial stout done right. With a merry-go-round of flavors that were thoughtful and contemplative with each sip.
★ 427 characters
3.92/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark brown with a quickly fading head, smells of boot strap molasses and maple with a little leather and overwhelming roast quality. While this may not be in my top ten stouts I go back to it every year. If you like Ten Fidy you should also give this a try.
★ 257 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark brown with a quickly fading head, smells of boot strap molasses and maple with a little leather and overwhelming roast quality. While this may not be in my top ten stouts I go back to it every year. If you like Ten Fidy you should also give this a try.
★ 257 characters
4.35/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark black with hints if a brown head. Molasses is on the nose along with the bourbon. Maple is more present on the tongue and not boozy at all. Really well balanced. Heavier mouthfeel and light carbonation.
★ 207 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark black with hints if a brown head. Molasses is on the nose along with the bourbon. Maple is more present on the tongue and not boozy at all. Really well balanced. Heavier mouthfeel and light carbonation.
★ 207 characters
3.38/5 rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
2015 Bottling (12.7% abv) poured into a snifter.
L - Poured a very dark brown with a small amount of dark head that quickly disappeared, leaving no lacing.
S - Lots of roast coffee/tobacco smell with peculiar hop notes and a bit on the medicinal side.
T - Similar to the smell. I don't detect the maple syrup but the wine barrel I do.
F - Medium full mouthfeel with moderate carbonation.
O - Bought it for the sweet additions which didn't end in the final product. If you want an overly roasted stout with medium mouthfeel and some medicinal qualities, pick this one. Otherwise, don't.
★ 594 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
2015 Bottling (12.7% abv) poured into a snifter.
L - Poured a very dark brown with a small amount of dark head that quickly disappeared, leaving no lacing.
S - Lots of roast coffee/tobacco smell with peculiar hop notes and a bit on the medicinal side.
T - Similar to the smell. I don't detect the maple syrup but the wine barrel I do.
F - Medium full mouthfeel with moderate carbonation.
O - Bought it for the sweet additions which didn't end in the final product. If you want an overly roasted stout with medium mouthfeel and some medicinal qualities, pick this one. Otherwise, don't.
★ 594 characters
4.16/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 bottle.
This was poured into a snifter.
The appearance was a jet black color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated evenly and nicely. Light lacing wove around the glass nicely.
The smell had some chocolate, light coffee, a little bit of wine (but not overbearing), and tobacco.
The taste was sweet with the previously mentioned flavors and subtly slides into the dry part of the wine and tobacco (not bad, but I'm guessing, once I let this age a bit, it'll be less pronounced).
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a nice sipping quality about it. Carbonation seems to fill the void where the wine dryness seems to lack, (funny how I'm not a wine guy at all, but previous years I've had this, I've noticed more wine), eh, not worried, I think I like it more with less of the wine characteristics.
Overall, this year's batch is pretty good to me. Glad I didn't review last year's as I think there was a bit too much of that wine-like quality to it.
★ 971 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 bottle.
This was poured into a snifter.
The appearance was a jet black color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated evenly and nicely. Light lacing wove around the glass nicely.
The smell had some chocolate, light coffee, a little bit of wine (but not overbearing), and tobacco.
The taste was sweet with the previously mentioned flavors and subtly slides into the dry part of the wine and tobacco (not bad, but I'm guessing, once I let this age a bit, it'll be less pronounced).
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a nice sipping quality about it. Carbonation seems to fill the void where the wine dryness seems to lack, (funny how I'm not a wine guy at all, but previous years I've had this, I've noticed more wine), eh, not worried, I think I like it more with less of the wine characteristics.
Overall, this year's batch is pretty good to me. Glad I didn't review last year's as I think there was a bit too much of that wine-like quality to it.
★ 971 characters
4.12/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Interesting, this smells like a chocolate banana malt. The bourbon is mild and the cocoa is big. Thick but manageable, share this with a friend to warm up.
★ 155 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Interesting, this smells like a chocolate banana malt. The bourbon is mild and the cocoa is big. Thick but manageable, share this with a friend to warm up.
★ 155 characters
4.68/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
2015 12.7% poured into pint glass.
Look: Jet black. Pours like motor oil. Beautiful!
Smell: On the nose, lots of dark fruit. Backed by notes of maple.
Taste: Like the aroma, get lots of dark fruit. Also nice tobacco roastiness. Maple lingers in the aftertaste. All the flavors are balanced so well. Really damn tasty.
Feel: Very smooth. Get some bourbon booziness.
Overall: An exceptional Imperial Stout. One of the best balanced beers I have ever had. If you are looking for a sweet as hell maple beer or boozy bourbon bomb then this is not the beer for you. However, if you are looking for a really well balanced RIS with amazing nuances then this the perfect beer. Cheers!
★ 676 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
2015 12.7% poured into pint glass.
Look: Jet black. Pours like motor oil. Beautiful!
Smell: On the nose, lots of dark fruit. Backed by notes of maple.
Taste: Like the aroma, get lots of dark fruit. Also nice tobacco roastiness. Maple lingers in the aftertaste. All the flavors are balanced so well. Really damn tasty.
Feel: Very smooth. Get some bourbon booziness.
Overall: An exceptional Imperial Stout. One of the best balanced beers I have ever had. If you are looking for a sweet as hell maple beer or boozy bourbon bomb then this is not the beer for you. However, if you are looking for a really well balanced RIS with amazing nuances then this the perfect beer. Cheers!
★ 676 characters
4.61/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Poured from bomber into tulip, 2015 12.7% ABV. Pours jet black, thick as oil. Thin brown head which dissipates quickly. Smell is black licorice, molasses, and bourbon. Taste is black roasted malt, molasses, oak, and campfire smoke. End note of maple and vanilla with aftertaste of black coffee. Slight heat from alcohol. Body is thicker than hell and can certainly stand up to the alcohol. I have been wanting to try this for some time and was not disappointed. I would love to taste this after a year or two in the cellar.
★ 523 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Poured from bomber into tulip, 2015 12.7% ABV. Pours jet black, thick as oil. Thin brown head which dissipates quickly. Smell is black licorice, molasses, and bourbon. Taste is black roasted malt, molasses, oak, and campfire smoke. End note of maple and vanilla with aftertaste of black coffee. Slight heat from alcohol. Body is thicker than hell and can certainly stand up to the alcohol. I have been wanting to try this for some time and was not disappointed. I would love to taste this after a year or two in the cellar.
★ 523 characters
4.46/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
pours almost jet black with a large dense dark brown head. after the head goes down (takes a bit, left with a small halo
smell of chocolate coffee and a sweet whiskey
delicious, can taste the coffee, molasses and a bit of bourbon
nice and thick low carb. smooth
a great beer was a 2014 would def look for again
★ 315 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
pours almost jet black with a large dense dark brown head. after the head goes down (takes a bit, left with a small halo
smell of chocolate coffee and a sweet whiskey
delicious, can taste the coffee, molasses and a bit of bourbon
nice and thick low carb. smooth
a great beer was a 2014 would def look for again
★ 315 characters
4.43/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12.7% ABV listed on bottle: Pours a sinister black color with a creamy 1-2 finger brown head that was full of tiny bubbles and faded with the spotty foamy lacing sliding down the glass. After a few minutes it looks like a glass full of motor oil.
The initial wave of sweetness includes molasses, brown sugar, maple syrup, toffee, caramel, red wine, cocoa powder, dark fruit like raisins, then the booze which is a cross between rum and bourbon. Earthy notes and some hints of hops want to come through but get smacked out of the way by the bourbon and molasses. I let the bottle warm up for at least 30 minutes so the nose allowed for a wonderfully complex mix of all the flavors above that didn't cross over into cloyingly sweet.
Taste is very close to the aroma with the strong sweetness up front that includes molasses, maple syrup, toffee, brown sugar, caramel, red wine and or oak barrels, charred wood, s'mores, cocoa powder, dark fruit like raisins, plums and chocolate covered raisins, vanilla, coffee grinds and very rich dark chocolate. After the sweetness fades a bit the booze slides in, which like the nose is a cross between rum and bourbon with some very rich red wine mixed in. Initially I thought the molasses and syrup aspects made this too sweet, but as it continued to warm up the complexities brought out more malty sweetness, candied sugar, light peppery and leafy spices and fresh pumpernickel bread. The booze is present but the ABV is not a factor and blends in quite well with the fine mix of flavors.
Mouthfeel is creamy, slick and smooth with a velvety feel that slides across the tongue with mild carbonation, a medium to chewy body, a slight bitterness that resembles a bold coffee, and then the trailing sweetness that doesn't cross over into sugary sweet and cloyingly nasty and keeps it aggressive with a lot of char, booze, oaky notes, bourbon, molasses and syrup which whip around in a tornado of complex flavors. The fruit and hops managed to sneak in a little balance to level out this hard hitting stout, which is very tasty and incorporates the alcohol very well. A really enjoyable slow sipper, will seek this out again.
★ 2,163 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12.7% ABV listed on bottle: Pours a sinister black color with a creamy 1-2 finger brown head that was full of tiny bubbles and faded with the spotty foamy lacing sliding down the glass. After a few minutes it looks like a glass full of motor oil.
The initial wave of sweetness includes molasses, brown sugar, maple syrup, toffee, caramel, red wine, cocoa powder, dark fruit like raisins, then the booze which is a cross between rum and bourbon. Earthy notes and some hints of hops want to come through but get smacked out of the way by the bourbon and molasses. I let the bottle warm up for at least 30 minutes so the nose allowed for a wonderfully complex mix of all the flavors above that didn't cross over into cloyingly sweet.
Taste is very close to the aroma with the strong sweetness up front that includes molasses, maple syrup, toffee, brown sugar, caramel, red wine and or oak barrels, charred wood, s'mores, cocoa powder, dark fruit like raisins, plums and chocolate covered raisins, vanilla, coffee grinds and very rich dark chocolate. After the sweetness fades a bit the booze slides in, which like the nose is a cross between rum and bourbon with some very rich red wine mixed in. Initially I thought the molasses and syrup aspects made this too sweet, but as it continued to warm up the complexities brought out more malty sweetness, candied sugar, light peppery and leafy spices and fresh pumpernickel bread. The booze is present but the ABV is not a factor and blends in quite well with the fine mix of flavors.
Mouthfeel is creamy, slick and smooth with a velvety feel that slides across the tongue with mild carbonation, a medium to chewy body, a slight bitterness that resembles a bold coffee, and then the trailing sweetness that doesn't cross over into sugary sweet and cloyingly nasty and keeps it aggressive with a lot of char, booze, oaky notes, bourbon, molasses and syrup which whip around in a tornado of complex flavors. The fruit and hops managed to sneak in a little balance to level out this hard hitting stout, which is very tasty and incorporates the alcohol very well. A really enjoyable slow sipper, will seek this out again.
★ 2,163 characters
4.52/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to rudzud for sharing. 2011
Midnight black creamy head hits almost a finger fades slowly, super dark pitch black nice legs.
Nose is great, super dark malt, roasty, little char, super dark chocolate cocoa, fudgey, little fluffy nougat, caramel, nice candy bar, mild vanilla oak and toasty, light bourbon, hint of.
Taste more super dark malts, thick fudgey cocoa and caramel, dark char like notes but not acrid, black roast little coffee, roasty, fluffy nougat, no real maple, well the tiny but in the background gets overpowered, tons of vanilla oak and bourbon barrel, some booze, earthy bitterness. Finish is sticky mildly sweet, little booze, little earthy char, mild bitterness, dark fudgey char etc.
Mouth is thick chewy fudgey, little creamy, decent carb hint if booze.
Overall very nice,
★ 808 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to rudzud for sharing. 2011
Midnight black creamy head hits almost a finger fades slowly, super dark pitch black nice legs.
Nose is great, super dark malt, roasty, little char, super dark chocolate cocoa, fudgey, little fluffy nougat, caramel, nice candy bar, mild vanilla oak and toasty, light bourbon, hint of.
Taste more super dark malts, thick fudgey cocoa and caramel, dark char like notes but not acrid, black roast little coffee, roasty, fluffy nougat, no real maple, well the tiny but in the background gets overpowered, tons of vanilla oak and bourbon barrel, some booze, earthy bitterness. Finish is sticky mildly sweet, little booze, little earthy char, mild bitterness, dark fudgey char etc.
Mouth is thick chewy fudgey, little creamy, decent carb hint if booze.
Overall very nice,
★ 808 characters
4.34/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: black with a thin reddish tinged mocha head. It recedes quickly, but a ring remains throughout, despite no lacing.
S: big bourbon vanilla nose, coupled with a coffee-fudge quality. There is some molasses, and a mild marshmallow quality, alongside a hint of dried tobacco, all with no real hint of the alcohol.
T: sweet malt base up from coupled with some maple and molasses, and vanilla coffee notes from the bourbon. It finishes a bit drier with some leathery/tobacco qualities but still remains quite sweet and a fair taste of ethanol.
M: A bit prickly for a fairly low carbonated beer. Body is decently full, and fairly chewy, though a touch sticky and more than mildly hot. This beer actually gets thicker towards the bottom half of the bottle, as if the molasses had settled there. Crazy!
O: a very fine beer, a bit reminiscent of BCBS, if oddly a bit hotter and not quite as solid.
★ 903 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: black with a thin reddish tinged mocha head. It recedes quickly, but a ring remains throughout, despite no lacing.
S: big bourbon vanilla nose, coupled with a coffee-fudge quality. There is some molasses, and a mild marshmallow quality, alongside a hint of dried tobacco, all with no real hint of the alcohol.
T: sweet malt base up from coupled with some maple and molasses, and vanilla coffee notes from the bourbon. It finishes a bit drier with some leathery/tobacco qualities but still remains quite sweet and a fair taste of ethanol.
M: A bit prickly for a fairly low carbonated beer. Body is decently full, and fairly chewy, though a touch sticky and more than mildly hot. This beer actually gets thicker towards the bottom half of the bottle, as if the molasses had settled there. Crazy!
O: a very fine beer, a bit reminiscent of BCBS, if oddly a bit hotter and not quite as solid.
★ 903 characters
Berserker Imperial Stout from Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
4.32
out of 5
based on 1,149 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
this is an amazing beer, and one i have been seeking out for a long time, stoked to finally get into it! i loved it, but i was expecting it to be a little heavier on the maple, but its amazing. very strong but not overly thick or syrupy in texture. i think it has a lot of nuance and layers, smoke, tobacco, maple, coffee, heavy roast and char, no barrel required. its not quit black in color, and holds its rich lathery tan head pretty well, and we drink this one rather slowly, allowing it to warm up and evolve. strong chocolate notes, molasses, raisin, even cherry for a moment in the middle. i wanted a little more maple, but this is way more complex with maple as one component rather than a dominating element. the roast on the barley is strong, and its cool with the sweet maple, also very earthy with a hint of smoke near the finish, drives a little bitterness into it. not super rich in feel for what it is, not overly heavy, this seems a little less intimidating than i thought it would be, sort of smooth and gentle going down with its alcohol really well hidden. really a beer of incredible depth, pipe tobacco arising in the finish, long and mellow, deep wintery beer, makes sense it comes from alaska, it has that kind of vibe to it. impressive quality, i could always go for more maple, but they have obviously done an amazing job with this, more complex than most of these huge stouts, even without the barrel!
★ 1,427 characters