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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?  
 jake65 (1698), Williston, North Dakota, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
May 18, 2009  
Bottle: Leather color with a finger of creamy beige head. Strong aroma is rich with faded citrus hops, toffee, and caramel. At first taste this is impressive! A smooth blend of toffee, dark fruits, sherry, and faded citrus hops. Faded, yet the flavors are so rich and intense... This is some seriously good stuff!


 chicagodri (1041), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/518/20
May 15, 2009  
Bottle from bottletrek.com. 14% huh? This brew hides the alcohol incredibly well. Pours dark brown with a very thin white head. Aroma of caramel, raisins and other dark fruit, and a crap load of malt. Thick body. Incredible sweet with just a touch of alcohol heat. Midnight Sun has some quality stuff.


 dmac (1445), Toms River, New Jersey, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/513/20
May 15, 2009  
22 oz bottle from a trade eons ago. Aroma is weird chocolate, toffee, alcohol, raisin, honey sweetness some vanilla notes. Thick syrupy body with lots of alcohol heat and medium carbonation. Flavor has lots of malty sweetness, honey, toffee, grain, raisin and prune.


 Aggy360 (115), Anchorage/ Vista,CA, Alaska, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/512/20
May 13, 2009  
2008 Vintage in Whiskey barrel, 13.4% ABV, 20 IBUs. Pours a dark brown with red hues. Sweet dark fruit and strong malt nose. Very malty taste and very strong whiskey flavor. Hops are hidden but it is common for an English barleywine. Nice and creamy, somewhat chewy. Good beer but it needs to be aged. I can’t wait to try this in a year when it mellows a little more.


 ditmier (1059), Boise, Idaho, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
May 11, 2009  
2006 Bottle - Thanks Buckeyeboy! - Pours deep brown with a small tan head...aroma is rich dark fruit malt and straight brown sugar, a bit of oak...flavour is similarly rich, with a slight bitterness and nice burn, finishes a bit salty...this is a great one...


 arrogantb (700), Denver, Colorado, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
May 8, 2009  
I have been sitting on this bottle for the last three months and decided today is a good day to drink it. It is very dark, brown with ruby edges. The smell is sweet with alcohol tinges. The taste is very sweet malts, delicious but thick and syrupy with an almost cognac-like flavor. There is a slight vanilla flavor which I assume is from the barrels. This beer is definitely an English style barleywine, very malt-forward. The alcohol leaves a burn. 12/21/08 2007 vintage still very malty sweet, good english barleywine, pricey but will probably age very well, also much stronger than 10%... Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 02-24-2008 03:51:19


 petematte46 (221), Dallas, Texas, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
May 6, 2009  
Deep brownish copper in color with a little off white tan head. Brown sugar aroma with dark fruit notes. Caramel notes. Malty and dark fruity flavor. Plums, raisins, and fig notes. Finish is sweet. Smooth tasting. Full bodied. Dry tasting. Nice beer.


 carruthm (1125), Seattle, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
May 2, 2009  
Massive sweet malt aroma. Alcoholic fragrance as well. Mellows into some dark fruits and sugars. Pours a dark mahogany with a poofy head. Alcohol burn on the tongue with the taste.



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