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Midnight Sun M

 (RETIRED)
Midnight Sun M - Barley Wine

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 Percentile 
100
overall
Formerly brewed at Midnight Sun Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine

Anchorage, Alaska USA

bottling
unknown

on tap
unknown

distribution
unknown

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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
944.27/5.04.18/5.0Special11.6%99.7Snifter
View Statistics  P 

Commercial Description:
On this 10-year mark, Midnight Sun Brewing Company proudly releases its 1000th batch of beer - a larger-than-life Belgian-style Barley Wine (if such a style exists) simply called M - in commemoration of the enduring spirit that founded and sustains this little brewery in the extreme Northwest. Making M required a massive grain bill - seven seductive malts - boosted by strength-inducing Belgian candi sugar. Once original gravity hit 37 Plato, a frenzied fermentation ensued: four completely fabulous yeast strains, two of Belgian origin, transformed this sweet concoction into all that is beer. But not just any beer. A beer of madcap magnitude - 11.6% ABV. Character and complexity increased exponentialy while M meddled and mellowed for several months in all-American bourbon oak barrels. Blending the aged beer before bottling ascertained smoothness. M is mesmerizing, pouring dark and silky. Caramel and spice waft up from the glass; bourbon, molasses, leather and vanilla follow. The first taste proffers tobacco, burnt sugar and raisin with a sublime port-like finish, but bourbon - smooth, sensuous, brooding bourdon - is ever-present. The finish, a bit edgy like an American take on barley wine, provides the necessary leap toward overall balance. M is a precious gift to ourselves as well as you, seekers of beer-that-is-beyond-beer adventures... We are but mere mortals in the presence of M.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 goldtwins (4078), Nesconset, New York, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/517/20
Jun 25, 2006  
Poured a very dark clear ruby color with a small light tan head. Tan legs. Mlaty aroma of sweet dark fruit, raisins and woody. Like a red wine. Moderately sweet malty flavor with more dark fruits. Light bitter finish with tannin notes. Semi-dry. Full bodied. Yummy and goes down nicely.


 blankboy (3157), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/517/20
Jun 24, 2006  
Bottle shared with HogTownHarry & tupalev -- courtesy of biz82. Pours a dark ruby-brown with an average size diminishing creamy off-white head. Nice aroma of caramel malt, chocolate, dark fruit, molasses, bourbon, vanilla, mild hops and so much more, man there’s a lot going on here! The flavour is even better then the aroma and it friggin’ blew me away! Bourbon, chocolate, dark malt, dark fruit, hops, vanilla and on and on -- WOW -- there’s just so much going on and it’s so complex. Not much sign of that 11.6% alcohol. Medium to full bodied, syrupy mouthfeel. This is simply a spectacular Barley Wine and I’m thrilled that I got to try it, thanks to biz82.


 HogTownHarry (3922), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/510/105/518/20
Jun 20, 2006    Updated: Jan 16, 2009
<b>Bottle (650ml)</b>. <i>Shared with blankboy and tupalev, blankboy’s bottle</i>. Looks like an impy stout - opaque brown-black with a good-sized light brown foamy-creamy lasting head. Roast malt aroma, molasses, burnt brown sugar, some mild hops, sneaky alcohol, your dad’s leather armchair, vanilla, hints of dark fruit ... nice. Taste ... holy Jesus; sour cherry, molasses, alcohol, bourbon, hops, yeast, leather, other fruits, french vanilla ice cream - smooth, balanced, aggressive, in-your-face and sophisticated; unlike anything I’ve ever had. Mouthfeel thick, roasty, alcoholic, acidic, syrupy, thick - amazing ... more of an over-amped impy stout with more fruit - long finish, lovely aftertaste. THANK YOU to blankboy for sharing.


 badnewsbeers (1026), Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/516/20
Jun 20, 2006  
thanks to silphium for sharing this gem...black appearance with no head...quite possibly the darkest pour i have ever seen...aroma is huge in roasted malts and molasses...flavor is huge in sugary malts, molasses, candied sugars, mocha, and has some sort of a milk stout backbone....perfect creamy palate....an interesting barley wine that seems more like a milk stout


 Silphium (2114), Haslett, Michigan, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Jun 6, 2006  
Many thanks to DarkElf for this bottle. Deep brown body with red highlights, medium ochre head. Aroma of prune, caramel, and toast, with chocolate and a heavy dose of toffee. Sweet toffee and breads dominate the flavor in addition to caramel and red grape. Tannic. A touch of bitterness around the edges. Good complexity, but a little sweet, reminding me a bit of Pannepot. Medium-full bodied, heavy. Long, sweet finish.


 shadey (1496), Rochester, New York, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/510/105/520/20
May 18, 2006    Updated: May 7, 2008
Dark dark brown color with swirls of cream laced across the top of the beer. Aroma is beautifuly rich and malty, chocolate and fruit, candi and alcohol. The body is spectacular, smooth, sticky and coating. This is just an exciting beer.


 BBB63 (4198), La Porte, Indiana, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/516/20
May 18, 2006  
Bottle provided via trade from Walt (THANKS!) and served in my Duval snifter: Pours a deep chocolate brown with a fading tan head but outstanding oily legs. The aroma of marzipan, old rye bread, brown sugar, molasses, fig, vanilla bean, walnut, port-like vinous esters, non-aromatic English pipe tobacco and one big musty cellar.

The taste is pure dark sugar at first with a heavy handed over ripened fruit complement. Some undertones of white pepper, clove, star anise, bourbon, vanilla, and french oak awakens the palate. A very rich layer of caramel and rye constantly cover the tongue. The finish is a liquorice and anise smack down with a little help of vinous luxurious snap. The mouth feel is oily and heavy through out but there is enough warmth and spice bite to keep it from becoming overblown and cloy.

Unique for sure, a hybrid of Belguim Strong and Stout mixed with a barley wine base. YUMMY!


 Papsoe (14613), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/513/20
Apr 14, 2006  
(Bottle 65 cl) Dark brown with a reddish glow and a creamy, off-white head. Sweetish aroma with lots of dried fruits. Very full-bodied, lots of roasted malt, lots of dried fruit and some vinous, port-like accents. Extremely - almost cloyingly - sweet, making this hard to drink. Tasted at the Oklahoma Beer tasting March 06 hosted by mjames and lilannie. 240306



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