Berserker Imperial Stout | Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Alaska, United States
midnightsunbrewing.com
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
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,184 | Reviews: 296
4.23/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.06/5 rDev -29%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Bomber to tulip, the appearance pours like motor oil (i.e. jet black pour has that "glub glub" sound to it), about a finger’s worth of foamy slightly tan/almost off white head that dies within about a minute. Barely any lace.
The smell - well, its mostly bourbon, woo-wee, holy crap, boy is that over over powering or what, woo-wee...as it warms, there is some maple and molasses; lil’ bit of oakiness coming through, unsure how well it combines, though its not really combining to me, I do get some roastiness and some major vinousness/wine-ness to it.
The mouthfeel had the overly vinous harsh to sour quality invading not as I had hoped it would.
Overall, would I have this again? Well, not fresh at least, I'll age a bottle of this if I ever get it again.
763 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Bomber to tulip, the appearance pours like motor oil (i.e. jet black pour has that "glub glub" sound to it), about a finger’s worth of foamy slightly tan/almost off white head that dies within about a minute. Barely any lace.
The smell - well, its mostly bourbon, woo-wee, holy crap, boy is that over over powering or what, woo-wee...as it warms, there is some maple and molasses; lil’ bit of oakiness coming through, unsure how well it combines, though its not really combining to me, I do get some roastiness and some major vinousness/wine-ness to it.
The mouthfeel had the overly vinous harsh to sour quality invading not as I had hoped it would.
Overall, would I have this again? Well, not fresh at least, I'll age a bottle of this if I ever get it again.
763 characters
4.46/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.75/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.28/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Picked up a 22oz at ISO beers, in San Jose. No bottled-on date noticed. Poured into a Glenmorangie whiskey glass at refrigerator temperature.
A - Poured flat with no head and very spotty lacing. The liquid itself is pitch black like an Alaskan wintry night, and mocha tints coating the glass where the liquid has been. Quite a hefty pour too, almost sludgy coming out of the bottle, more like in the Speedway category, than the Marshal Zhukov.
S - Very very subdued smell, likely due to the cold temperature. Should pick up some aromas as the liquid warms up...assuming it stays that long in the glass.
T - Definitely the highpoint of the beer. Very reminiscent of the Abyss, in that there are very prominent red wine characteristics coupled with roasty, chocolatey notes. Drinks much lighter than I anticipated, due to the supressed carbonation that explodes on the palate, bringing forth notes of roast, red wine, oak, bker's chocolate, and a very meaty umami flavor. The coating on the lips and teeth is excellent, and very, very drying. My teeth are almost going numb like I sucked on some sour candy, surprising and very delectable. Maple, and bourbon while boldly advertised on the bottle, are not noticed on the palate,
M - This is a heavy beer that has an amazing drinkability, thanks to the plentiful carbonation that can be felt but not seen. There is an element of subtle tinge of drying cherry-like tartness which aids the drinkability as well. Very well executed.
O - Overall a very well executed beer as an IRS. The lack of bourbon in the aromas or the taste, and the lack of the familiar notes of almonds, vanilla, or coconut leaves me unsatisfied given this was to be a BBA stout
1,696 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Picked up a 22oz at ISO beers, in San Jose. No bottled-on date noticed. Poured into a Glenmorangie whiskey glass at refrigerator temperature.
A - Poured flat with no head and very spotty lacing. The liquid itself is pitch black like an Alaskan wintry night, and mocha tints coating the glass where the liquid has been. Quite a hefty pour too, almost sludgy coming out of the bottle, more like in the Speedway category, than the Marshal Zhukov.
S - Very very subdued smell, likely due to the cold temperature. Should pick up some aromas as the liquid warms up...assuming it stays that long in the glass.
T - Definitely the highpoint of the beer. Very reminiscent of the Abyss, in that there are very prominent red wine characteristics coupled with roasty, chocolatey notes. Drinks much lighter than I anticipated, due to the supressed carbonation that explodes on the palate, bringing forth notes of roast, red wine, oak, bker's chocolate, and a very meaty umami flavor. The coating on the lips and teeth is excellent, and very, very drying. My teeth are almost going numb like I sucked on some sour candy, surprising and very delectable. Maple, and bourbon while boldly advertised on the bottle, are not noticed on the palate,
M - This is a heavy beer that has an amazing drinkability, thanks to the plentiful carbonation that can be felt but not seen. There is an element of subtle tinge of drying cherry-like tartness which aids the drinkability as well. Very well executed.
O - Overall a very well executed beer as an IRS. The lack of bourbon in the aromas or the taste, and the lack of the familiar notes of almonds, vanilla, or coconut leaves me unsatisfied given this was to be a BBA stout
1,696 characters
4.34/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.56/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.19/5 rDev -26%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
4.25/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Type: 22-oz. bottle
Glass: AleSmith Barrel-Aged Reserve snifter
From: Bine & Vine Bottle Shop in Normal Heights (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $19.99
Purchased: Jan. 6, 2017
Consumed: Jan. 20, 2017
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial Stout
Misc.: Bottled on Oct. 24, 2016
Picked this up with basically a $50 gift certificate for my birthday. Had heard of Midnight Sun and saw on one of the emails that they had a few coming in, so I pounced on this and the Arctic Devil Barley Wine. $19.99 (Berserker) and $17.99 (AD) seems a bit much but I got them anyway. Show me I’m wrong.
Poured a pitch black color with 1-to-2 fingers of frothy tan head. Calm, serene setting underneath the top. Average lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 3.75)
Smelled a big boozy mix of bourbon and maple syrup. Also some chewy molasses in there, probably making it seem boozier than it is. Getting that molasses after the bourbon and maple syrup, but that bourbon kind of dies off. Also earthy leather, port red wine barrels, dates, vanilla, toasted oak, hints of coconut and dark caramel. Not as good as I thought it would be, but still appetizing. (Smell - 4.00)
Initial taste had me thinking it wasn’t quite an imperial stout, but then it smoothed out and I felt it warm all the way down my body. A lot of different flavors pulling at each other, getting in order smoky molasses, port wine, oaky bourbon, vanilla, earthy leather and tobacco. Getting less maple syrup than the nose and more port wine. Either way it’s sugary sweet. Also dates, figs, raisins, overripe plum, dark caramel, toffee and toasted coconut. Really feeling the alcohol, warming up the body rather quickly. This is complex. (Taste - 4.25)
Full body. Sticky texture. Average carbonation. Long, semi-smoky, warming finish. (Feel - 4.25)
This was a different imperial stout for sure. Liked it overall, but I feel like I overrated it just a bid. (Overall - 4.25)
4.16 | 93 | A-
1,944 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Type: 22-oz. bottle
Glass: AleSmith Barrel-Aged Reserve snifter
From: Bine & Vine Bottle Shop in Normal Heights (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $19.99
Purchased: Jan. 6, 2017
Consumed: Jan. 20, 2017
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial Stout
Misc.: Bottled on Oct. 24, 2016
Picked this up with basically a $50 gift certificate for my birthday. Had heard of Midnight Sun and saw on one of the emails that they had a few coming in, so I pounced on this and the Arctic Devil Barley Wine. $19.99 (Berserker) and $17.99 (AD) seems a bit much but I got them anyway. Show me I’m wrong.
Poured a pitch black color with 1-to-2 fingers of frothy tan head. Calm, serene setting underneath the top. Average lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 3.75)
Smelled a big boozy mix of bourbon and maple syrup. Also some chewy molasses in there, probably making it seem boozier than it is. Getting that molasses after the bourbon and maple syrup, but that bourbon kind of dies off. Also earthy leather, port red wine barrels, dates, vanilla, toasted oak, hints of coconut and dark caramel. Not as good as I thought it would be, but still appetizing. (Smell - 4.00)
Initial taste had me thinking it wasn’t quite an imperial stout, but then it smoothed out and I felt it warm all the way down my body. A lot of different flavors pulling at each other, getting in order smoky molasses, port wine, oaky bourbon, vanilla, earthy leather and tobacco. Getting less maple syrup than the nose and more port wine. Either way it’s sugary sweet. Also dates, figs, raisins, overripe plum, dark caramel, toffee and toasted coconut. Really feeling the alcohol, warming up the body rather quickly. This is complex. (Taste - 4.25)
Full body. Sticky texture. Average carbonation. Long, semi-smoky, warming finish. (Feel - 4.25)
This was a different imperial stout for sure. Liked it overall, but I feel like I overrated it just a bid. (Overall - 4.25)
4.16 | 93 | A-
1,944 characters
4.49/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 Vintage. Poured into snifter glass. It pours black as midnight with two fingers of frothy, mocha-colored head and lacing with excellent retention. It's a lovely pour. It smells of dark roasted malt, freshly brewed coffee, cocoa, caramel, peat, smoke, and whiskey. This is delicious! A wonderful blend of roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, tobacco, and dark fruit. Also, there are red wine notes in the taste, particularly at the finish, that I didn't smell. While you can taste the whiskey, it's subtle and pleasant; not overly hot. This stout is medium-bodied; it's creamy but not chewy. It is mildly carbonated and while it isn't overtly boozy in taste, you can certainly feel the 12.7% ABV. This is a sipper for sure. Overall, it's a wonderful Imperial Stout, with lots of taste notes that blend seamlessly. It deserves its world class rating.
858 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 Vintage. Poured into snifter glass. It pours black as midnight with two fingers of frothy, mocha-colored head and lacing with excellent retention. It's a lovely pour. It smells of dark roasted malt, freshly brewed coffee, cocoa, caramel, peat, smoke, and whiskey. This is delicious! A wonderful blend of roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, tobacco, and dark fruit. Also, there are red wine notes in the taste, particularly at the finish, that I didn't smell. While you can taste the whiskey, it's subtle and pleasant; not overly hot. This stout is medium-bodied; it's creamy but not chewy. It is mildly carbonated and while it isn't overtly boozy in taste, you can certainly feel the 12.7% ABV. This is a sipper for sure. Overall, it's a wonderful Imperial Stout, with lots of taste notes that blend seamlessly. It deserves its world class rating.
858 characters
4.54/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Very dark appearance with little head and just the right amount of carbonation. Very nice aroma with light molasses. Great bourbon taste with molasses without any alcohol after taste. Excellent stout
202 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Very dark appearance with little head and just the right amount of carbonation. Very nice aroma with light molasses. Great bourbon taste with molasses without any alcohol after taste. Excellent stout
202 characters
4.17/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.48/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Berserker Imperial Stout from Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
4.31
out of 5
based on 1,184 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25