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Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine

Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine - Barley Wine

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 Percentile 
99
overall
Brewed by Midnight Sun Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine

Anchorage, Alaska USA

bottled
common

on tap
available

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
2724.01/5.03.98/5.0Winter14%97.1Snifter
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Commercial Description:
Arctic Devil Barley Wine, aptly named after the ferocious wolverine of the north, is an English-style (meaning malt-inclined) barley wine. Though the recipe and process for Arctic Devil have evolved over the years, it is typically brewed in January then aged in oak barrels for several months before the entire batch is blended, bottled and released on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In its youth, Arctic Devil gnarls and snarls its way across the palate. Containing this beast of a beer for long periods in oak barrels--some having previously aged port, wine or whiskey--tames the unleashed malt and fierce hop flavors, melding and mellowing this powerful liquid into an incredible elixir worthy of a brewer's table. Each annual batch of Arctic Devil Barley Wine represents the brewers' resolve to create an intriguing and sought-after barley wine by precisely brewing to well-designed specifications, carefully selecting the type and combination of barrels to use for aging, and meticulously checking the beer as it ages. Distinct nuance and complexity are contributed by the wood's previous tenants, resulting in unique flavor profiles in each batch that continue to change over time. We invite you to savor Arctic Devil Barley Wine upon its release then cellar some for future enjoyment.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Rciesla (3515), Exit 15W, New Jersey, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/518/20
Dec 26, 2008  
Two year old bottle thanks to BrianK for my first taste of this incredible barley wine. Pours a deep amber body with an off white head. Very vinous with port and sherry vinous character. A solid oak flavor as well as alcohol latent fruit and sweet malty caramel. A very light hop bitterness is expressed in the final note. Awesome!


 TipsyMcStager (900), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Dec 23, 2008  
Not really following why this is in the 99th percentile, its not that great. Aroma of licorice and some malt. Pours opaque black, thin head. Sweet licorice flavour, some burnt fruit, dry finish. Thick palate. Definitely drinkable, but not over 4 for me. Woulnt mind trying an aged sample to compare.


 kegbear (265), Orange, California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/517/20
Dec 22, 2008  
Bottle. Aroma of dark fruit and molasses. Tastes of brown sugar, molasses, caramel amd dark fruits. Very nice indeed.


 JB175 (1660), Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Dec 22, 2008  
2006 bottle. Nice looking reddish-amber color with a small-med head. Aroma is dominated by a smooth oakiness, brown sugar, dark fruits and caramel. Flavor has a nice vanilla-oak mix that balances well off of some strawberry, burnt caramel, brown sugar, and roast. Superior mouthfeel with loads of complexity. Awesome stuff, and one of the best malt-forward barleywines out there.


 iowaherkeye (1832), Bakersfield, California, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Dec 15, 2008  
22oz bottle no date from BOLTZ7555. Thanks. Clear deep brown with a small beige head, fading to swirls and a thin ring. Plenty of dark fruits consisting of raisins, prunes and figs up front. Just behind is brown sugar, chocolate and old oak. Port, whiskey and buttered vanilla also have a pretty decent showing, with a little alcohol in the background. Oh man, I did a list of the aromas. Darn. Flavor has the brown sugar dominating but the dark fruits are a close second. I almost got a toffeeish element in there. No other real surprises compared to the aroma. Barrel aging with the different barrels never got overpowering and blended very well together with the beer. Whoo. This is strong. Warming all the way down the throat and into the belly. Dry finish with bitterness peaking around a 3. Big thick body with low to moderate carbonation. This was a damn good beer, and I need to get a couple more bottles for aging.


 blutt59 (2045), Dallas, Texas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Dec 9, 2008  
bottle, thanks to bhops, dark garnet to chocolate color, nose is port wine and prunes, flavors of spciy with buttery, scotch whiskey and caramel flavors


 ilovedarkbeer (1326), Dallas, Texas, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/58/104/517/20
Dec 7, 2008  
Bottle thanks to BHops. Dark reddish orange brown color. hardly any head. Nose is booze, raisins, port, dark candied fruits, sweat. Taste is the same with dark brown sugar, and a pretty good mouthfeel.


 mar (1740), Rowlett, Texas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
Dec 7, 2008  
bottle thanks to bhops. nice chocolate pour with no head. aroma of oak, maple syrup and malts. awesome thickness with a thick caramel and butterscotch flavor that finishes with some great oak notes.



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