Midnight Sun Black Lager
Ithaca Beer Company

 

 

 

a very good black lager. Few beers exist that both my wife and I think are very good. This is one of those. It has become our "house" beer, occupying space in both the upstairs and downstairs fridge. When in doubt, pull one out. Nice balanced, not too heavy, easy drinking black lager.

 

Poured into a narrow pint glass: color is very dark brown to black, amber edges, head is light tan with fine bubbles and presents 1 finger thick, head lingers with a solid top, some lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is light sweet malt, roast, chocolate, toast, clean earthy hops.

Taste is sweet malt, light roast, chocolate, light toffee, hops are earthy, crisp, neutral.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low bitterness - lingering light malt sweetness.

Overall a lightly sweet schwarzbier, lighter on roast with a bit more chocolate malt flavor, crisp bitterness.

 

 

 

Pours black with a coffee colored head that leaves a healthy amount of lace behind.

Smells roasted caramel malt, whole grain bread, chocolate, and coffee.

Taste is a nice malt punch of coffee and chocolate giving way to sweet caramel malt and toasted bread balanced by earthy hops and acrid bitter herb. A little heavy on the carbonation and a bit too acrid, but still pretty tasty.

 

 

 

 

 

L - should've had this during the eclipse! Pours a midnight black, as one could wildly imagine. Dark roast brown coarsely-bubbled head that gently dissipates into a thick, mocha ring.

S - milk chocolate and lactose. Hint of grain. Slightly burnt, but you gotta go hunting for it.

T - a little less sweet and a little more roasty on the tongue. Thin in flavor and oddly refreshing. Black coffee and dark chocolate.

F - a little aggressive and prickly. Medium all around but a touch foam-heavy when swished in the mouth.

O - the look and smell are the winners here. Not a bad beer though and like I said before: quite refreshing! Easy drinking when you want something a little darker. Surprising hop bite on the very end.

 

12 oz bottle poured into a lager glass.
Look: black with a thin tan head
Smell: roasted barley, chocolate and coffee.
Taste: roasted barley, dark chocolate, and coffee. Bittersweet.
Feel: A lighter version of a stout.
Overall, I highly recommend this beer to stout and porter drinkers. I would buy this one again

On-tap 4/21/2017 at Doherty’s Ale House in Warwick, RI, served in a tapered pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a large foamy light brown head that fades slowly and leaves a very thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains coffee, roasted malts, lager yeast, chocolate and some hops.

T: The taste starts out bready with flavors of lager yeast and a hearty roasted malt character that are quickly followed by flavors of coffee and dark chocolate. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly bready.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry and slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this is a decent beer to drink for a while if you’re in the mood for the style.