Some beers announce themselves before the glass even reaches your nose, and Night Witch is one of them. This is not a subtle stout, nor does it pretend to be. Each yearly release leans fully into excess, delivering a beer built for slow sipping and patience. The 2025 edition continues that tradition, offering a massive imperial stout that feels unapologetically heavy and indulgent.
Night Witch 2025
Lupulin Brewing Night Witch 2025 pours with motor oil viscosity, the liquid slowly sliding from can to glass and filling it with a jet black brew. A deep brown head of fine bubbles forms and settles, leaving behind a small dark ring around the edge and a slight oily sheen clinging to the glass.
The nose is packed with rich, warm chocolate and coffee, filling each inhale with roasted depth. Light notes of vanilla and oak sit underneath, joined by a distant touch of toffee. As the beer warms, just a hint of sweet bourbon begins to peek through.
On the palate, this one is thick and coating, with the dense liquid covering every surface of the mouth. Big chocolate flavors dominate, mixing with coffee and a touch of burnt malt bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. Subtle notes of oak and sweet bourbon emerge in the aftertaste, lingering as the beer remains full and expressive all the way through. The hefty 12.7% ABV is less apparent in alcohol heat and more evident in the massive body and weight of this sipper.
Season Of The Witch
Night Witch 2025 drinks well now, but it feels like a beer that will only improve with time. It is still a bit sweet in its current form and could benefit from some aging, allowing the malt to mellow and the barrel character to step forward. That said, it is already an enjoyable and satisfying pour, especially for those who appreciate their imperial stouts big, bold, and unrestrained.