Beer # 176 - Treat, Midnight Sun Brewing Company, Anchorage, Alaska

Midnight Sun hails from Anchorage, Alaska. I've had the pleasure of visiting the brewery last year and have enjoyed several of their beers. Their distribution has increasingly expanded and now I've seen their beers regularly around Portland. Treat is their Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter, at 78% with 30 IBUs. With pumpkin, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, it promises to be an interesting ale! Let's pour!

It pours opaque with a big tight head.

The aroma is lively with vanilla with clove, pumpkin and spice.

It has a very creamy full body. Pumpkin mixes with cocoa to make it slightly rich on the tongue. Cinnamon and spice take over on the back of the tongue, balancing back the sweetness of the pumpkin and the richness of the cocoa. Roasted malt arrives late to curb back the spice and the vanilla, allowing the beer a nice smooth finish.

The aftertaste is balanced by the roasted malt. Vague sweetness and pumpkin are apparent, but instead of a lingering sweetness, there is a nice long smooth full malt flavor.

It is a wonderful beer, one of the best pumpkin ales I've ever had!

Cheers!

Smoked Porter 2008, Alaskan Brewing Company, Juneau Alaska

Our next beer is a perennial favorite of mine - the Smoked Porter by Alaskan Brewing Company. It is widely released for a short time....

It pours opaque with a big caramel colored head.

It smells of big malt - roasty, smoky and slightly sweet.

The taste is big smoky malt. It has a full body and is consistent throughout. It has a nice roasty character that builds as you drink it.

The aftertaste is roasty and smoky giving away to a nice smoky residue before resetting.

It is an interesting and fairly unique beer. If you haven't tried it - it is definitely worth the sample!

From their website, I learned that they smoke a select amount of malts in a commercial food smoker with local alder wood.

It is 6.5%, with 45 IBUs

Cheers!

Winter Ale, Alaska Brewing Company, Juneau Alaska

So, we've all heard of the Alaska Brewing Company - let's see how their Winter Ale holds up. Its an English Old (or Olde - a little more authentic) Ale...

It pours a bright glowing amber with a medium head.

The aroma is hop with a mild tree-ish flavor. The website identifies it as Spruce, I'm not sure I can be that specific.

The taste is clean crisp hop with very little bitterness. It is a balanced ale - with a hearty body, that is definitely a warmer for the winter. The "tree"ness i.e. Spruce is definitely there in the finish. It finishes more complex than it starts and lingers nicely.

The aftertaste is mild - the malt, tree and hop linger before leaving the palate clean. It has a great warmth to it that grows as it is consumed!

I've seen the beer all over - it's an easy drinker that is a sure bet for enjoyment at a party. I think you could pair it with any holiday meal - it is 6.4 % with 27 IBU's.

Cheers!