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Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine

Percentile
99
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

Regional Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
2764.01/5.03.98/5.0Winter14%97Snifter
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?  
 after4ever (2711), Brier, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Feb 1, 2008  
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.


 cbkschubert (1967), Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/104/517/20
Jan 30, 2008  
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.


 yobdoog (1431), Woodridge NY, New York, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Jan 30, 2008  
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.


 TomDecapolis (3150), Skippack, Pennsylvania, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jan 29, 2008  
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!


 MaxxDaddy (263), Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
Jan 24, 2008  
Generously shared by someone at HDG (thanks wherever you are!). Dark brown pour with no head. Big aroma of dark fruits and caramel. The taste is pretty similar. A nice malt-dominated barley wine if you ask me. This came pretty late in the day, and I didn’t get any of the barrel-aged tastes. Palate was thick with a sweet, warming finish. I’d really like to get a bottle of this for myself some time.


 hophead75 (1954), Boonton, New Jersey, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/517/20
Jan 24, 2008  
I didn’t take detailed notes on this one. Someone Shared this at DOTD II. Deep amber in color with a small off white head. This was one of the best barleywines I’ve had- the aroma and taste being quite complex, but was one of the smoothest I’ve ever had- alot of caramel, dark fruits, vanilla. The barrel aging added some nice complexity.


 jimhilt (1674), Bow, New Hampshire, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/515/20
Jan 12, 2008  
Pours a two finger light tan head that fades slowly leaving no lace. Cloudy amber/brown color. Light carbonation and heavy bodied. Caramel/alcohol nose. Flavor starts sweet, malty, but the higher ABV (10%) is in your face - leaves an alcohol burn. The difference between this and Avery’s Mephistopheles Stout (at 16%) is like night and day. I should have let this age for a few years. Pricey at $15.99 for a 500ml bottle from John’s Marketplace Portland, OR.


 Brigadier (1230), Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/517/20
Jan 9, 2008  
650 ml bottle

miketd’s generosity appears to have few limits. Not long after opening one rare beer someone brought out this gem. I’ve yet to try any Midnight Sun beers but should I ever get the chance to visit Alaska I will be stocking up on as much as I can ship home affordably. If you have any spare bottles I would not object to them showing up on my doorstep (full please :) )

Aroma / Appearance - The sticky lacing clung to the sides of the glass as the rest of it filled with a dark brown body. The nose was boozy but wheaty and chocolately. Overall being chewy and thick it felt like the perfect thing for a cold winter day.

Flavor / Palate - Caramel, vanilla and ash made me think this was barrel aged before finding out that was the case. The throat warms from the alcohol which is not subtle at all. It even lingers in the finish which is strong enough to overpower most simpler styles. You might be able to finish a bottle alone but if you have friends invite them over.



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