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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?  
vferg (16), Livingston, New Jersey, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/510/104/519/20
Feb 19, 2008  
The flavors that come out of this barley wine are like no other. This has got to be one of the most enjoyable barley wines I have had to date.


t4h2c0 (80), seattle, Washington, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/519/20
Mar 17, 2008  
On tap at hardliver 07 at Brouwers. This was the best barley wine there by far! Aged in bourbon barrels this beer pours brownish and has a complex nose that will clear your sinuses. This beer will tear you up at 14% and thats just what i’m looking for. Rare and hard to get so try it if you ever get the chance. One of the best barley wines around!!!!!


 adrian910ss (1410), philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/519/20
Apr 23, 2008  
22 oz bomber. Pours a dark coppery amber with a medium sized beige head. Aroma of vanilla, butterscotch, oak and malt. Taste of vanilla oak, malt, dry fruit and alcocol. clears out the sinuses. Very warm and uplifting to say the least.


 wnhay (722), Princeton, New Jersey, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Mar 16, 2006  
Pours like maple syrup with good lace on the side of the glass. Looks like the Old Numbskull. Hints of maple syrup, caramel, vanilla, coconut, cognac, chocolate honey, molasses and other stuff are in the nose. Taste is remarkable because of the smoothness. Syrupy is the best word to describe it with great alcohol burn and many complexities coming through. It is quite buttery with cognac and various fruits including plum coming into play. Palate is thick with a great alcohol burn. I can’t shut up about this because it is the best beer I have had in over a month. A most impressive creation.


 markwise (1175), 15 Minutes from Kuhnhenn in, Florida, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Aug 29, 2009  
Big thanks to IBrew2or3 for sharing this bad boy! Absolutely outstanding English-Style Barleywine. Pours dark red-brown with an off-white head. Nose is dates, figs, plums, raisins, caramel, toffee, brandy, brown sugar, booze, and vanilla. Complex as a rubix cube. Flavor does not disappoint- some booze, but all of the fruit comes through as well as the brandy, sugar, and barrel. Vanilla melds it all together, as if it was forged by the gods. Excellence in a bottle: full-bodied and finishing with sweet alcohol. Worst part of the bottle is the mourning when it is gone.


 CaptainCougar (5407), Rockville, Maryland, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Jul 23, 2005    Updated: Feb 1, 2009
Pours a clear deep copper with some good viscosity, but very little head. Aroma boasts a lot of raisins and dark fruits with some alcohol and a touch of piney, earthy hops. Body is fairly still, but very sweet, sticky and complex. Mildly warming caramel malty finish is well balanced with a solid hop presence. A nice barleywine, which is no surprise since it’s from Midnight Sun. Thanks to TChrome for the trade!

Re-rate: had this a few times since and realized how great of a barleywine this is. Perfect amount of rich sweet caramel and resiny grapefruity hops with nice brown sugar and light fruity complexity. I don’t think I’d change anything with this.


 harlequinn (2745), Tacoma, Washington, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/105/518/20
Mar 13, 2006  
Amazing appearance, and a monster aroma. Super sweer, like drinking fresh maple syrup. Nutty and syrupy, with maple and honey, sweet dark molasses abd rich brown sugar. Absolutely the most amazing finish I have ever had in a barleywine.


 ross (1709), weddington, South Carolina, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Nov 23, 2006  
2005 bottle. Have had this for a while. Pours out a dark brown almost block color with a thick tan head that yeilds to just bubbles on the side of the glass. Smell is sweet, spicy, full of what smells like maple syrup. Taste is smooth and contains no alcohol presence at all. Very sweet tasting, notes of maple and cinnamon come through as it warms up a tad. Simply put, a down right amazing barley wine. This ranks among the best for me. Awesome stuff, its just a shame that it is quite difficult to get. Damn, I will be sad when this bottle is done.



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