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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?  
 DragonStout (1380), Pataskala, Ohio, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/104/518/20
Jun 27, 2009  
woo whoo # 1300!! This is truly a great smelling brew.I can inhale this all day.A sweet bourbony nose. Caramel, toffee and sweet dark fruits.Flavor of dark fruits,cherries, toffee, and caramel with a boozy drive that warms the belly.A high heat spicy bite on the end that lingers with bourbon.


 BeerVirgin72 (778), Pataskala, Ohio, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/518/20
Jun 27, 2009  
Bottle courtesy of dragonstout. Pour was dark brown almost black. No head. Aroma was vanilla, milk chocolate and cherries. Flavor was sweet up front. Vanilla, coffee, and almost a cherry cola flavor. Lightly carbonated like a soda as well...Finish came in a bit spicey. The alcohol came through in the flavor of black pepper. Blended well. Alcohol was present, but not over powering...Delightful barleywine!


 DrHomolka (728), Columbus, Ohio, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/518/20
Jun 16, 2009  
Bomber. Made Jan 09. Pours a dark mohagany with a small but consistent off-white head. Aroma shows classic aged barley wine aromas of the English variety, certainly surprising seeing as this is so young. Dried fruits, caramel, sherry and port, spirits, bourbon and oak. Really nice aroma, Flavor is drier than expected, toasty with a tiny bit of alcohol. This is very complex. My review is not doing it justice but this is one of the best Barley Wines I’ve had. We’ll see how this ages.


 nbutler11 (741), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/512/20
Jun 16, 2009  
2008 Bottle generously shared by ajm. Pours a dark shade of amber with a trim tan head. Smells and tastes sicky sweet -- much like cough syrup. Highly distracting. Faint caramel and dark fruit notes are present, but certainly overpowered. Didn’t get much from the barrel or malt, which was a downer.


 neepsntatties (320), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Jun 15, 2009  
Received an ’08 of this from, "AKfaust" . Good thing, too, as Oregon still hasn’t (as far as I’ve seen at various bottle shops) received the ’08. Colour... burgundy-brown. Nose... sweet, burnt caramel and toffee. Palate... tiny bubbles, sweet and slightly cloying, oak, caramel, dark brown sugar and a very long, warming finish.


 ajm (917), Los Angeles, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/515/20
Jun 13, 2009  
2008 bottle from hannont - thanks Todd! Nose is full dark cherry and sugar. Flavor is sweet like cough syrup, light alcohol, dark fruit and RAISIN EVERYWHERE. Very thick and almost cloying sweetness. I don’t know whether to drink this fresh or age it longer, but I will have it again.


 BuckeyeBoy (1654), Boise, Idaho, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 4, 2009  
Bottle Vintage 2006 pours out a dark brown topped with a small head. Aroma was GREAT lots of sweet brown sugar and pit fruit. Tast was more the same plenty of brown sugar and caramel. This brew was so nice. May I have another and 14% what no way.


 BOLTZ7555 (1080), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Jun 3, 2009  
Bottle shared by bockyhorsey @ Hellbilly’s Holiday Tasting...THANKS BILL!!! Fiery orange glow burns red at its center and exudes a 1/8 inch eggshell head. Toasted malt, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and molasses both in aroma and flavor. Dark fruit, vanilla, and maple present as well. Shocked by the alcohol content which isn’t at all overpowering. A very good beer by Midnight Sun.



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