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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?  
 jimbowood (945), Athens, Georgia, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/517/20
Jun 1, 2008  
bottle from liquid solutions. This is a nice beer, but doesn’t show the depth of flavors that I was expecting based upon other ratings. Nice maple syrup flavor with not noticable oak or bourbon.


 jrob21 (1247), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/103/516/20
May 18, 2008  
Sorry MaltOMeal, I couldn’t let this one sit around for long. Thanks for forwarding it on. My only complaint with this one is the big alcohol bit on the back end of the palate. Otherwise it has some huge molasses, port wine, plum, brandy like flavors and aromas. I also have the unfortunate circumstance of comparing this to the most recent Alaskan BW and right now, the Alaskan is the standard to which all else is being compared. In comparison this one holds up well for big bold flavors, but balance and smoothness fall a little short.


 raphael (410), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
May 8, 2008  
Bought this bottle 13 months ago. Dont know how it tastes "fresh", but this one amazing. intense aroma:malt syrup, sherry, brandy soaked plums. Kept a decent head while being a rich translucent garnet. Flavor conyinues with syrup--malt and maple, wood smoke, burnt sugar, black cherry. lays heavy on the tongue like a slippery meal.


 jbuzz (658), South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
May 8, 2008  
Bottle thanks to blackdonald. This is easily the best Barley Wine I have tried. Malty aroma, dry fruit and alcohol feel. Yet very smooth. I got a hint of apple on the aftertaste.


 bhensonb (4174), Woodland, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/514/20
May 1, 2008  
Bottled Jan 2 5 (?) Bomber from Liquid Solutions. Strongly malty aroma with an aged fortified wine aspect. Very dark brown color with garnet? hints at the edges. No head. Full bodied with mild, creamy carbonation. Rather syrupy. Maple. Some dark fruit. A bit of coffee at the finish. Also heat develops in the back of the throat. And wood. Quite a sipper.


 WeeHeavySD (2931), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Apr 24, 2008  
Finally. 22oz bomber via trade with NYBeer, just got a vintage bottle of this, not sure of the vintage of this but I’m guessing its oldish as the trade happened in October. Shared with bikesandbeer and my girlfriend and others. Pours a dark dark brown with a tan head that started about 1 finger and faded to a partial ring. Nose is really really really heavenly. Its damn noserific, yes that makes no sense, but ok. Taste is big, very warm taste with lots of up front caramel. The flavors are various including a bit of vanilla, some dried fruits, and clearly lots of caramel. Alcohol is present, but in a barleywine I’m not really upset, it feels nice on the throat its a wonderfully yummy sipper. So yes I like this beer I’m so happy to finally drink it, now I need to get my hands on a bottle of M.


 adrian910ss (1393), philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/519/20
Apr 23, 2008  
22 oz bomber. Pours a dark coppery amber with a medium sized beige head. Aroma of vanilla, butterscotch, oak and malt. Taste of vanilla oak, malt, dry fruit and alcocol. clears out the sinuses. Very warm and uplifting to say the least.


BeerNeedy (60), Anchorage, Alaska, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/102/517/20
Apr 21, 2008  
22 0z bomber. Pours like north slope crude, but doesn’t look like it. My first impression was that they had found a way to turn beer into a rich and heavy liquid pastry. My second impression was I had thrown down a couple of shots due to the distinct warming in my esophagus. The beast is on the loose. Treat yourself to a bottle sometime, but be for warned it’s not for the meek.



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