Midnight Sun 3767 Belgian-style IPA with Brett
Alcohol by Volume: 8.0%

Intro: Midnight Sun Brewing (AK) rocks. Ballast Point Brewing (CA) rocks. When the two breweries get together to collaborate on a beer, one might expect it to seriously rock. When the style of beer they brew is one of my favorites, Belgian IPA, then my expectations shoot up a bit more. Luckily, I’ve rarely been disappointed by either of these breweries in the past.

Description: Pours a light golden copper with a huge fluffy head that ain’t going nowhere; I feel like I could almost chew on the head, actually. Aroma of spicy Belgian yeast and some funky Brett mixes together with hops to give off some pineapple and citrus flavors. Holy crap; this beer is ridiculous. For a guy like me who really likes just about any attempt at a Belgian IPA, this might be the cream of the crop. The base IPA give off just enough sweet malt and citrus hops that mix perfectly with just a touch of character of dark fruit from the barrels, and then it’s all topped off with a funky dose of Mr. Brett. No singular aspect overwhelms, and the combination is sublime. Not too heavy. Not too light. I’ll polish off the entire 22oz bottle myself with happiness, thank you. I thought the Cab barrel might overwhelm the beer, but its effects were very toned down. Kudos to Midnight Sun and Ballast Point. Beers like this are just damned exciting.

Verdict: Find at all costs
Availability: It might be tough to find since it was released a couple of months ago, but it is out there. Sounds like 99 Bottles, Malt and Vine and Pike St Beer & Wine still have stock. I’d check Whole Foods as well.

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Commercial Description/Press Release:

The extensive distance between two breweries on the West Coast – 3767 miles – is bridged by this collaboration beer. Brewers Gabe Fletcher of Midnight Sun Brewing Company [Anchorage, AK] and Colby Chandler of Ballast Point Brewing Company [San Diego, CA] designed and brewed an exciting representation of their passions: hops, Belgian yeast, oak aging and Brettanomyces.

Just prior to the Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Fest in JAN 2009, Gabe and Colby brewed a West Coast-worthy IPA at Midnight Sun Brewing Company. This hop-centric beer became the jumping-off point for other intense flavors. During its course to completion, 3767 was affected by three different yeast strains–including Brettanomyces, aged for several months in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, and then bottle- and keg-conditioned.
The plan is for 3767 to hit Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and San Diego in NOV 2009 for a West Coast Toast. Here’s to the collaborative spirit readily found in our brewing industry. Clink!