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Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine

Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine - Barley Wine

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 Percentile 
99
overall
Brewed by Midnight Sun Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine

Anchorage, Alaska USA

bottled
common

on tap
available

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
2724.01/5.03.98/5.0Winter14%97.1Snifter
View Statistics  P 

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?  
 Ungstrup (14758), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/515/20
Aug 15, 2006    Updated: Jun 13, 2009
A murky red-brown beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet with a very powerful alcohol note, but also strong notes of over ripe fruits, malt, caramel, and cinnamon. The flavor is very sweet malty with lots of over ripe fruits, and caramel, leading to a nice hoppy end, with the alcohol burning the throat. I believe this will give You the warmth even in Alaska. The mouthfeel is very thick - I’ll describe it as an alcohol soup - how ever that’ll work, I have no idea?


 Papsoe (14642), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/102/58/103/516/20
Aug 15, 2006  
(Bottle 65 cl) Pours a clear, reddish brown with tiny impurities. Small, off-white head. Vinous oak aroma. Solid body again with lots of oak, overripe fruit and caramel. Some sherry-like accents. Surprisingly subdued bitterness. 130806


 omhper (12155), Stockholm, Sweden
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/510/105/516/20
Jul 18, 2008  
Bottled (10%), thanks Crosling! Hazy mahogany colour, minimal head. Deep raisiny sherry aroma. Sweet and full bodied. Sticky, but mature with complex vinous flavour of caramel and wood. Thick and warming. Has the malty warming complexity of J.W. Lees Harvest Ale. Just wonderful!


 yespr (11649), Copenhagen O, Denmark
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Aug 6, 2008  
22 fl oz bottle, 05 vintage. Pours clear and golden amber with a lacing tan head. Aroma is dense malty and fruity. Mild roasted malt and solid fruity and malty with a nice hoppy note. Smooth and fruity finish yet also quite warming finish.


 MiP (8793), 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.


 joergen (8430), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Aug 14, 2006  
Bottle. Red brown coloured with a beige head. Aroma of wood and vanilla with notes of fruits. Sweet flavour of wood, caramel and dried fruits with notes of alcohol.


 kp (8400), Woodstock, Georgia, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Sep 1, 2007    Updated: Jan 17, 2009

Name: Arctic Devil
Date: March 13, 2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Liquid Solutions
Vintage: 2005
Appearance: pours thick and muddy brown with a scant head
Aroma: sweet malt aroma with a smokey earthy essence
Body: nice thick body
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of brown sugar character that remains dominant until the end, enough bitterness in the finish to keep it almost balanced, this beer will be interesting with age if the sugary aspect turns into ripe fruit

Name: Arctic Devil
Date: December 15, 2005
Source: tasting
Vintage: 2005
unchanged

Name: Arctic Devil
Date: April 20, 2006
Vintage: 2005
Score: iii to iiii
wow, wow, wow, the brown sugar turns into a wonder rich ripe dates, very well balanced, awesome, very creamy, warming, still a lot of brown sugar left, another two years...

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 9/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 18/20
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Drinkability: 9/10
Score: ***4

Name: Arctic Devil
Date: January 08, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta
Vintage: 2007
Appearance: clear dark amber, wispy beige head
Aroma: sweet brown sugar and caramel aroma
Flavor: sweet brown sugar flavor, lots of caramel sweetness, well balanced bitterness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4


 Oakes (8058), gone rambling, Vietnam
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Mar 21, 2006  
Cloudy brown-amber colour. Balanced, chewy, earthy maltiness. Big chewy malt, big dry hoppiness. This clash of palate titans works very well here. It’s a straightforward two-step but both are well done and results in a muscular brew. I need one of those bombers to dip into this beer a little more seriously.



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