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Midnight Owl

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Very dark ruby Black IPA with a fresh, distinctive hop and citrus nose; the palate runs malty with caramel and real complexity. It pours from cask only between October and February. Entered as an Old Ale and Strong Mild, it took East Midlands Gold in that category in 2014 and 2016, and the East Midlands Champion Winter Beer title in 2016. Rich and warming at 5.5 %.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
dark30
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2016
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Old Ales & Strong Milds
Gold · 2016
Champion Winter Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Gold · 2014
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Old Ales & Strong Milds
Silver · 2014
Champion Winter Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands) (Old Ales & Strong Milds)
★Gold — Champion Winter Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands) (Old Ales & Strong Milds)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppymaltycaramel
hoppy
malty
caramel
citrusy
dark fruit
Aroma
Fresh, assertive hop character dominates the nose, with bright citrus notes cutting through dark roasted grain.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Midnight Owl

◎ Appearance

Deep ruby-garnet body with near-opaque clarity, characteristic of the Black IPA style at SRM 30. A dense, persistent head forms on the pour, with fine Schaumkleiden clinging to the glass. The cask conditioning imparts a soft, natural carbonation that enhances the visual warmth.

deep ruby-garnetdense headcask-conditioned

◌ Aroma

Fresh, assertive hop character dominates the nose, with bright citrus notes cutting through dark roasted grain. Caramel and subtle cocoa undertones emerge from the malt bill, grounding the volatile hop oils in a measured, layered bouquet. No rough alcohol heat despite the warming strength.

citrus-forward hopscaramel sweetnessroasted grain

◐ Taste

Sweet malt entry with pronounced caramel and toffee notes provides a full, vollmundig palate. Herbal, resinous hop bitterness (60 IBU) arrives mid-palate and develops into a drying finish, creating genuine complexity between sweet and bitter poles. The 5.5% ABV allows these competing flavors to integrate without heat or aggression.

malt-forwardcitrus bitternesswarming alcohol

◑ Finish

Long, lingering aftertaste balances residual caramel sweetness with dry hop resin. The cask aging contributes a subtle oak and vanilla note that extends the finish without overwhelming.

dry hop resincaramel fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Midnight Owl

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About Black IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Black IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Black IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, malty, caramel character as Midnight Owl will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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