Sam Adams A Dark Night in Munich
Wow. It’s been a looooong time (2007 in fact) since I last indulged in one of Boston Beer Company’s LongShot variety packs. I can’t believe that I haven’t picked up any of them in the past 4-5 years. That’s just nutty.
I’m not sure what spurred me on to finally pick up a six pack of the latest batch of winners, but it might have something to do with this 5.9% Dunkel and the accompanying Imperial Stout. A Dark Night in Munich is a rich brew with just enough of a light roast to give it a welcoming earthy character. Both of the bottles in the variety pack didn’t stand a chance and only lasted the one day in my fridge.
Appearance
The brew pours a dark, chestnut brown with a long-lasting and dense, off-white crown of foam.
Aroma
Roast malt, a subtle distant char, caramel, light sweetness and an earthy character dominate the aroma while a moderate amount of unidentifiable fruit also come in. The beer smells clean and refined.
Taste
While the nose on this beer was pretty layered, the flavor didn’t quite match it in terms of depth. There’s a nice, light touch of char on the roasted malt that leads to a good, clean finish with a surprising amount of warmth for the alcohol content. As the beer warms in the glass, much more of it’s flavor profile begins to emerge with a richness and fruit component taking over.
Overall
I enjoyed both of the bottles of A Dark Night in Munich. I can see why it was chosen to be part of this year’s winners. It’s rich, earthy, yet clean on the palate. I just wish the flavors were as deeply layered as the wonderful nose. Next, we’ll see how that imperial stout stacks up.
Rating:3.75/5