Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine

Bottle. Poured a cloudy thick brown body with thin head. Aroma is of sweet malt, chocolate and molasses. Flavor is malty, molasses, some wood and a light touch of chocolate. the mouth feel was thick as hell and damn tasty. I wish I could get more of this stuff but it’s so damn pricey - but well worht it.

3-4-08 bottle (overly expensive bottle)
Big brown thick pour with thin head and very little lacing. Molasses smell with figs and light alcohol. Nice molasses, almost burning sugar/caramel flavor. A hint of berry scented acetone in the smell as it warms. Really heavy, but nice. This is probably the most alcohol present in a beer that I like. Big, thick palate. Still a bit too much prune, fig, alcohol flavor for me. Nice developed and balanced beer but just not the most drinkable or refreshing on a warm day.

$18 for the ’08 22-oz bottle. Pours a rich burgandy color with a short lived tan head. Smell is malty, molassesy, with lots of rich chewy, sweet and sticky dried fruits and nuts, along with a noticeable alcohol presence as well. Taste is similarly malty with a dark sweet fruity and nutty flavor. Somewhat prailine like. Really nice flavor aside from the somewhat strong alcohol presence which by the 2nd glass definitely detracts from the beer. Moderate body, to perhaps a bit sticky and syrupy but definitely not overly so. I really loved the unique nutty fruity malty flavor in this and would like it even more if the alcohol tamed down with age. Unique and really nice, but hard to justify the price I paid.

08 bottle: dark brown with small head...pleasant roasted armoma, with a hint of alcohol. Smooth creamy mouthfeel, not too thick. Tastes great, with lots of caramel and toffee, but the alcohol comes through too much. The finish is sticky and sweet

Bottled shared again by jarspag at Whistler; this was definitely the standout beer of the trip! Hazy burgundy color with light brown edges and an initial thin beige head. Some tan lacing gives way to nice bubbles on the glass edges. Fantastic aroma that really blew me away here; strange though considering I didn’t pick up any barrel, but talk about heavenly! Lots of toffee and sweet caramel with cinnamon and loads of nutmeg. Vanilla cream, mocha, pumpkin spice with raisins and figs as well...wow. Earthy flavors combine grassy hay with more caramel and some milk chocolate with dark fruits. Hints of leather, wood and tobacco ride above the silky smooth malt backbone. The palate is extremely elegant, the flavor transitions are well-played. Full bodied with lasting bitterness and a warming end. Hell yeah! Saucenyyyy!

Bomber shared with J-Nizz in the village...Saucenyyyyyyy. Defaaaanse!

Thanks a lot Tim for shipping this my way. Finally, a brew on my vacation that delivered!!!! Nose picked up sweet malts, plum, oak, caramel, toffee, warm booze. It came off a bit flat - which can be expected. Flavor was (very) sweet plum, boozy oak covered caramel with bourbon, wood, leather. Finish hung around for days - simply decadent! Mouthfeel was full bodied, sticky, bite-able . . . a real legit tonsil massage - timeless!!! This was barrel aged to perfection, it complimented rather than ripped apart the flavor. The bourbon compliment made this flow down the road of an artful masterpiece. I could have easily drank the whole bottle. If I lived up in Anchorage, this would be a staple in my diet...

Bottle shared by Kan at an Evening w/ Pantanap #3. What a beer to end with! Murky, dirty brown with medium off-white head. Aroma is orange, sweet, subtle sweet malt, earthy. Sweet and dirty flavor with a nice orange. Big burn in a medium to full body. Very big citrus and burn.

The flavors that come out of this barley wine are like no other. This has got to be one of the most enjoyable barley wines I have had to date.