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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?  
 Lou18 (1353), West Paterson, New Jersey, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Oct 31, 2005  
Shared at Mullman’s Devil’s Nite Bash. Wow is right! Smelled and looked like an Impy stout. Lots of body to this dark monster. Good head. Full of fizzy bubbles that helped to carry the complex flavors around the palate. Tons of Licorice in the after taste, very nice. There was some flowery-barley wine after taste, other wise, I would have called it a stout. Very nice, try nice! Thanks to Mullman!


 Sickboy282 (1098), San Diego, California, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Oct 10, 2005  
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Poursa deep brown hue with a small tan head. Aromas of raisins, prunes, oak,..... Alcohol isn’t noticable in the flavor.....Chocolate overtones, dark fruit and a nice roastiness......Thank YOU DARK ELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


 Hairofthedog (419), San Diego, California, USA
4.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/510/105/520/20
Oct 9, 2005  
The aroma had a slight alcohol ester with dark fruit, plums, raisins, roast, malts, and a slight oakiness. The beer poured a deep brown color w/ red hues; almost no head and slight lacing. The flavor had apples, plums, raisins, dark fruit, and oak. The mouthfeel was creamy and well-rounded w/ a full bodied. This beer was absolutely fantastic.... Thanks Darkelf!


 TheBeerGod (3143), Newport News, Virginia, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Oct 9, 2005  
First, a HUGE thanks to biz82 for sending this my way! Pours an opaque dark brown, about the color of a cola, with a thinned lazy tan head. The head fades out around the edge of the glass and becomes small bubbles. Aroma is VERY nice! Lots of raisins, molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, wood, light vanilla, and alcohol soaked fruits. Very much like Sam Adams Triple Bock. Oh. My. God. This is absolutely delicious! Lots of brown sugar, dark chocolate, raisins, molasses, bourbon soaked wood notes, rum soaked fruits, vanilla, and light tobacco notes. Indeed very port-like and sweet. Body is not quite as syrupy as expected. There’s a mild carbonation feel to it. Some obvious alcohol warmth. Creamy at times as well. Very nice. Finishes with lots of raisins, light figs, bourbon and wood, molasses, vanilla, rum cake, chocolate brownies, and brown sugar. Very rich and very good! I wish I had an extra to age....


 zathrus13 (1288), Mount Laurel, New Jersey, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/517/20
Sep 30, 2005  
Thanks to DarkElf for this bottle. Dark brown, with a small, tan head. Aromas are oak, bourbon, sweet malt, dark fruit, and brown sugar. Heavy, thick body, with sweet malt, brown sugar, bourbon, dark fruit, and oak. An excellent brew, I need more of this.


 aracauna (2357), Georgia, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/105/517/20
Sep 21, 2005  
Very dark brown body is topped by a very fine-textured, creamy head. The aroma is rich. A bourbon barrel aspect is present, but it’s far from overbearing or dominating. Instead it meshes seamlessly into the pears, honey, brownies, bananas and a touch of floral perfume. The flavor is definitely sweet, but keeps from quite edging into cloying. The bitterness is balanced, so this obviously isn’t in the Sierra Nevada Bigfoot strain of barleywines. The rich maltiness, in addition to what was in the flavor, is a bit like maple syrup and pancakes. Hefty and satisfying. The liquid is very viscous and the carbonation provides an extremely creamy mouthfeel. Thanks to biz82 for the opportunity to try this one.


 DaSilky1 (1933), San Diego, California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/105/518/20
Sep 17, 2005    Updated: Sep 21, 2005
Down in the depths of my fiery home, the beer shines a burnt mohagany. The summons bell wll chime, tempting you and all the earth, with absolutely no head. There is a job to be done, and Im the one, to smell that malty smokey aroma of metallic bandaid.

So come on, jump in the Midnight Sun, So come on...Jump in the Midnight Sun!

With hell in my eyes and with death in my veins, The velvety smooth rivers of molassis flow. Feeding on the minds of man, brown sugar, port and chocolate raisin search you out. Follow me now my child not the meek or the mild, the Vanilla and smokey tastes will make you do as I say...

So come on, jump in the Midnight Sun, So come on...Jump in the Midnight Sun

Jump by your will or be taken by force, that Smeet bitterness will get you either way. Trying to keep the hellfire lit I am stalking you as prey, but that dessertish finish will even make metallica sound NOT-gay.

So come on, jump in the Midnight Sun, So come on...Jump in the Midnight Sun


 SDbruboy (1832), San Diego, California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Sep 16, 2005  
22 oz. bomber, shared by DarkElf, you rock dude! Pours dark brown, opaque with a thick tannish head which left good lacing. Aroma is sweet and rich with dark roasted malts, brown sugar, caramel, wood and whiskey notes (both from the bourbon barrel and the alcohol content) Flavor is rich , dark fruits, brown sugar and molasses, smooth alcohol, dark coffee, port wine notes, wood, earth and dried ripe cherries. What an amazing amalgam of sensory stimulation! Smooth mouthfeel, gentle carbonation and very drinkable - dangerously so for an 11.6 abv monster. This is one rockin’ brew!



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