Arctic Devil Barley Wine - Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

tectactoe

Michigan

4.34/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Vintage 2007, big-time thanks to Ed for bringing this one to the tasting and sharing it with the rest of us. Pours a dark mahogany color, 50/50 mix of clarity and haziness, topped off with a small tan-ish head that reduces to a ring around the glass pretty quickly.

Aroma is comprised of a nice meshing of oak, bourbon, sweet plums, black cherries, syrup, brown sugar, molasses, and maple. Lots of things going on here - very sweet and very complex. Malty to the core with no real sign of hops or herbals anywhere, but after six years - can you blame it? Amazing how well everything has held up for being this old, and it shows no real signs of oxidation in the aroma.

Arctic Devil hits the palate thick and muddled with a surprisingly substantial amount of carbonation considering its age. Very sweet up front, but still pretty far from being cloying. It's more of a refined and controlled sweetness, albeit very strong. Brown sugar, molasses, maple, light anise, plums, dates, black cherries. Buttery and creamy smooth on the palate - the bourbon and alcohol is noticeable and warming, and becomes even more so with time.

The finish is full of sweet, candied dark fruits and a mild oakiness. Despite the 13.2% ABV, this one remains pretty damn drinkable, making it very dangerous. Even though the aroma didn't show any, the taste reveals some light oxidation - not nearly enough to hinder or really even matter - I mean goddamn, this shit was six years old!

Big thanks again to Ed for opening this one. It was damn delicious. I have no other Arctic Devils to compare it to, but holy shit, this was super-drinkable for a 13.2% barleywine. Very sweet and woody all around, such a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 21:38:49 | More by tectactoe

iL0VEbeer

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +8.2%

05-24-2013 15:29:35 | More by iL0VEbeer

BAsbill

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-22-2013 21:56:05 | More by BAsbill

davesway10

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-22-2013 18:23:01 | More by davesway10

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-22-2013 01:14:25 | More by mikeincharleston

campfirebrew

New York

4/5  rDev -8.9%

05-20-2013 02:28:46 | More by campfirebrew

redliner8

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-19-2013 02:58:18 | More by redliner8

gkatsoris

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A: Pitch black; exactly like an RIS. No head at all, but there is lacing on the glass as I drink.

S: Black cherries, brown sugar, peaches, pineapple, raisins, brown sugar, vanilla, butterscotch

T: Butterscotch, brown sugar, vanilla. Raisins, molasses, and butter.

M: Thick & chewy and thick & chewy. Foam-a-licious. Perfect!

O: God this is delicious! Please come to PA!

thanks Beership!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:57:55 | More by gkatsoris

gpawned

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-17-2013 05:13:31 | More by gpawned

notchucknorris

California

4.18/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2013 Vintage. Got 2 bottles of this, so I wanted to try one fresh.

A: Pours a really dark brown color, nearly the color of a stout. A one finger khaki colored head fades quickly, leaving a clear view of the ominous looking beer.

S: At first, this smells like nothing but oak. But the more I let it open up, the more flavors started popping to the surface. Brown sugar, toffee, leather, tobacco and a pretty hearty smack of booze. Hints of banana bread and raisin as well. The oak fades a bit, but it's still pretty prominent.

T: Even as it warms, the oak comes through a lot more than I'd like, holding back the other flavors in here. Brown sugar and caramel come through along with a pretty big hit of booze. Some toffee, a slight hint of bourbon, and some more buttery oak on the finish. Definitely way too oak forward for me right now, but I can't wait to revisit this in a year or so.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 02:11:40 | More by notchucknorris

cvm4

Mississippi

4.46/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a murky brown, borderline faint black. Little to no head, just a brown ring of carbonation around the glass. For some reason, beers like this are either a let down or really good.

S - Brown sugar, vanilla, definite bourbon characteristics, oak and burnt caramel.

T - Sweet caramel and dark fruits that blends into vanilla and brown sugar and transforms into a bourbon ending.

M - Full bodied, low carbonation. Somewhat sweet finish that can be off putting. But, overall very smooth and the abv kept in check.

O - Rich, chewy, flavorful, leaves you wanting more... Bravo!

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:07:31 | More by cvm4

sharpski

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-11-2013 20:28:36 | More by sharpski

weaksauce

Ohio

4/5  rDev -8.9%

05-11-2013 18:39:41 | More by weaksauce

millelacsmark

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-09-2013 19:37:48 | More by millelacsmark

scottfrie

California

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.5/4.0/4.5/4.25/4.25

12oz bottle into snifter. 2011 vintage.

A: Pours a deep caramel color with two fingers of fine, soft looking, light khaki head that slowly faded into a fuzzy film leaving wisps of spotty lace down the glass.
S: Toffee, leather, fruity hops, brown sugar, dark fruit, tobacco, a hint of pepper, woody oak and whiskey.
T: Tobacco, leather, sweet dark fruits, fruity and leafy hops, caramel, peppery barrel and earthy hops. Mild chocolate and solid bitterness in the finish, mellow whiskey and oak in the aftertaste.
M: Medium-thick body, velvety carbonation, rich spicy bitter sweet mouthfeel. Touch slick and greasy.
O: Amazing English Barleywine; one of the best I've had. Not overly sweet. Perfect barrel.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:03:05 | More by scottfrie

gueuzegossage

California

3.75/5  rDev -14.6%

05-07-2013 05:06:58 | More by gueuzegossage

mdaschaf

Washington

3.71/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2011 Vintage. Review from notes.

A: Pours a brown color with a small tan head on top that quickly reduces leaving a thin ring on top. Minimal lacing.

S: Sort of vegetal, a little caramel and and brown sugar. Some dark fruit mixed in.

T: The flavor is a bit better than the aroma, but was hoping for more. Others who had previously had it said it had certainly fallen off. Caramel and toffee with some brown sugar with a bit of the vegetalness coming back.

M: Medium to full bodied with low carbonation.

O: Really had high hopes, might have just had a bad bottle, or one that might have been a little too old? Will hopefully have this one again and will rereview if needed.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 21:57:25 | More by mdaschaf

Casterbridge

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +8.2%

05-05-2013 05:08:21 | More by Casterbridge

Pete27lax

New York

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-01-2013 15:04:55 | More by Pete27lax

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet.

A: Dark red-brown with slight head and nice lacing.

S: Rich grapes and deep booze. Smoke-sweet,

T: Holy bejeezus this is amazing. Rich, spicy, wine-dark meat-sweet, bitter herbs, long, hoppy, beautiful finish.

M: Nice and well.

O: Oh wow...this is great. Recommended without reservation.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 08:57:17 | More by AgentMunky

ngeunit1

California

4.44/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark red-brown with a finger of frothy khaki colored head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet caramel and caramelized malts, brown sugar, oak, vanilla, whiskey, dark fruits, and some booze.

T - Sweet caramel and caramelized malts, oak, vanilla, whiskey, brown sugar, dark fruits, toasted coconut, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a warming and sweet finish.

D - Fantastic barrel aged barley wine. Great overall balance.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 06:38:50 | More by ngeunit1

Zaphog

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

04-29-2013 17:54:21 | More by Zaphog

baybum

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

04-29-2013 16:49:11 | More by baybum

HopsMatt

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

04-28-2013 04:37:40 | More by HopsMatt

Sethzilla

Texas

4/5  rDev -8.9%

04-23-2013 18:54:58 | More by Sethzilla