Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine

22oz bottle from NYbeer. I’m so thankful to get two as to cellar the other one. This is a damn fine beer, but I think some cellaring would do wonders for it. Almost looks like a Barbaresco in the glass after a minute or two. The thick khaki head quickly disappears leaving a still looking beer. Deep, thick reddish/brown. Beautiful looking pour. Aroma of brown sugar, wood tannin, dark, candied fruits (raisins and figs), vanilla, some tropical fruit, clove and a touch of alcohol... which does not distract at all. Wonderful balance of sweeter malt and earthier hops and wood. Silky smooth on the tongue. Not a lot of carbonation, but what little is present is quite lively. As on the nose, there is an excellent balance of sweet and earthiness on the palate. Black liquorice stands out. Tart cherry, plenty of wet wood, caramel, toffee, bitter hops and alcohol which adds to the complexity. This is one great beer that will only get better with time. Thank you so much for this gem Steven!

2/1/08 22oz bottle sampled at "An Evening with Pantanap #3". Thanks to Kan for this gem from ALASKA. Pours a mahoganny brown with a thin off white head. Dark fruits and caramel malts in the nose. Malty flavors. Dark fruits and cherry against roasted, charred, and anise flavors. Finishes bitter. Really tasty and really good for 14%.

bottle (2007).....shared at P3....the last one of the night....a dark caramel brown pour with a thin off-white/ivory head....aromas of sweet caramel, toffee, and vanilla. some lighter barrel-aged notes and some banana to boot..... flavors don’t deviate to from the aroma notes. nice with an emphasis on the caramel, dark fruit, and vanilla overtones with a little peppery hoppy bitterness in the finish. a little hot but should settle down nicely with some age.

2007 vintage, 22oz bottle. sampled at "An evening with Pantanap #3". thanks kan! pours murky reddish-brown with thin off white head. nose of licorice, vanilla, toffee, and cotton candy. flavor is much of the same with raisins and booze to it. this needs time to mellow but its still nice now.

22. Pours deep ebony with caramel highlights. Slim creamy rim of tan. Big toffee and roast nose. Plenty of caramel and butterscotch there as well. Beautiful medium creamy body with very soft carb. Sweet candy bar notes on the mid-palate: caramel, butterscotch, toffee, and then a wee bit of roast grain as well. An unfortunately sharp booze bite joins the party near the finish. Not quite rubbing alcohol in its intensity, but enough to keep this from a somewhat higher score. Bound to be lovely and soft in a year or two.

2006 22 oz. bottle via trade with jsquire - Pours a hazy deep copper color with a 1/2 finger thick light tan head. Very light spotty lacing. Aroma is awesome. It’s toasted malt, esters, faint vanilla, and light oak. The flavor is pretty much the same with a touch of licorice. Medium to full body. The alcohol is noticeable. Fairly smooth and soft mouthfeel. An excellent BW. Best thing about it though, I got the whole bottle to myself.

Thank you Joe shared at DOTD. Very nice aroma of mixed fruit, molasses and wonderful barleywine. One of the best I have had. Taste is so good. Some fruit, hops, caramel, vanill and sugar. Really good.

2007 Bottle. Pours a deep chestnut with ruby red note and a medium creamy/bubbly off white head that left spotty lacing. Aroma was a ton of dried dark fruits, caramel, vanilla, some oak/woodiness, leathery, tobacco and some earthy notes with just a touch of hops still lingering and just hints of some alcohol. Flavor of dark fruits, toffee, caramel, vanilla, oak, some decent hop bitterness to balance the malty sweetness. Some alcohol warming characteristics, but nothing out of style and actually really added to the complexity of this beer. One heck of a great Barley Wine!