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Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine

Percentile
99
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

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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?  
 awaisanen (1279), Irvine, California, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/516/20
Nov 9, 2006  
From a 22oz Bottle. Pour of deep, caramelly mahogony with a hint of native copper and a nice layer of bubbly beige head. Fantastic aromas of rich baked apples dusted with a touch of cinnimon spice. Additional treats of caramel, vanilla, and a touch of bourbony oak. Wonderful olfactory treat. Full, yet silky body thats dangerously easy to drink. Luscious flavors of baked apple crisp and caramelized oaky malts soothe the tongue. Clean finish that highlights the malt profile continuously on the tongue without revealing any of its alcohol bite. Dangerously smooth. Excellent example of a British style barley wine.


 MiP (9065), Sønderborg, Denmark
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/518/20
Oct 23, 2006  
Bottle, 10%. Very nice aroma, sweet, fruity, creamy, dusty, vanilla, wood.Cloudy dark brown colour, some dark floaties. Small light brown head. The flavour is quite sweet, more or less the same as the aroma, plus some coconut. Quite peppery and nice.


 thedm (3834), Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/105/57/104/515/20
Oct 12, 2006  
This bottled brew from a bottle shop poured a medium sized head of foamy finely sized brown colored bubbles that was long lasting and left behind a hazy with fine particulate brown colored body and a good lacing. The aroma was malty vinous and caramel malt. The mouth feel was tingly at the start and at the finish vinous aftertaste. The flavor contained notes of hops vinous dark malt and brown malt. The flavor was biting with a malt hop bite in the finish and a mild alcohol burn as it goes down. Delicious and one I would certainly buy again.


 fordest (1954), Santee/San Diego, California, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/103/518/20
Oct 5, 2006  
22 oz bottle thanks to sprinkle. Dark Copper color with smallish head. Lots of raisin and molassas aroma. Caramel and chocolate. Wow. Flavor was equally as good. More dark fruit with roasty nutty malts. Hop finish was mingled with quite a bit of alcohol flavor and burn. Very very yummy. Thanks Mike


 YourDarkLord (1800), Urbana, Illinois, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/518/20
Sep 8, 2006  
Deep reddish brown body with a small frothy tan head. Had side by side with Moylan’s Old Blarney, which had a similar ABV but the alcohol in this one was evident in the aroma and taste. Not in an unpleasant way, though. Notes of oak, dried fruit, maple syrup, bourbon in the nose. Smooth and full in the body. The flavor was a pleasant mix of fruit and wood with a big alcohol bite.


 BückDich (4830), McCall, Idaho, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/517/20
Sep 2, 2006  
Bottle: Dark amber color, tan head and nice lacing. Nose of oak and bourbon with sweet caramel and plum, some raisin and molasses. The flavor is balanced, nice malts and hop balance, nice alcohol and a rich minerally earthy finish. Mouthfeel is nice and creamy, nice rich umami and balance. Yummy!


 IndianaRed (1555), Boise, Idaho, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/104/517/20
Aug 29, 2006  
Bottle poured a deep hazy, brown, w/ nridish tints. Small thin light tan head. Aroma was a wonderfull. sweet carmel, malt that you just wanted to drink in. Flavor was a very sweet malt, again with carmel and light roast notes. Quite obvious achol burn as it goes down, but you somehow don’t mind it. Low on the bittering for the style, which was fine for me. Sweet enough that it was nearly sugary or cloying. I suppose a bit unbalanced tchnically, but delicious none the less. Palate was a very soft cabonation, and a very smooth slick heavy feel. Very yummy, and underrated. Thanks, Buck Dich


 Nuffield (2720), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/517/20
Aug 29, 2006  
Gorgeous deep red/garnet color. Oily, syrupy. Rich caramel and bountiful malts. Lots of sweetness, vivid alcohol, and layers of fruit. Very fine. Gosh, and a great label too.



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