M Belgian-Style Barleywine
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

M Belgian-Style BarleywineM Belgian-Style Barleywine
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From:
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
11.6%
Score:
100
Avg:
4.67 | pDev: 7.07%
Reviews:
43
Ratings:
99
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 24, 2022
Added:
Jun 16, 2005
Wants:
  440
Gots:
  11
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.
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Photo of rodmanfor3
Reviewed by rodmanfor3 from Vermont

4.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Truthfully, the beer is now way past its prime, and way too "thin" for the thicc-loving youths of the BiL lifestyle. Seek this bottle out only if you want to gain an appreciation for how far ahead Gabe's vision for beer was back in 2005. This is the precursor to ADWTD b3, the greatest barleywine ever made. It is the original Brew 1000, the beer that sailed a half-dozen Anabasis bottlings and the inspiration behind BW legends like Great and Aaron.

Gabe is the great tastemaker of the BiL tradition. A taste of M will give you an idea of how far ahead he saw into the future of craft beer.
Mar 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.46 by Ristaccia from Nebraska

Aug 06, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by Adamostella from Washington

Jun 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.71 by CTJman from Connecticut

Jul 31, 2018
Photo of unclekeith
Reviewed by unclekeith from Alaska

4.65/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
750 into a Teku at Anchorage brewing with the brewer

L: Unassuming, but dark with a small head and nice collar - holding up extremely well for 11 years in a bottle
S: Dark fruit, figs plums, Belgian yeasty esters
T: Following the nose, very smooth, fruity, some bourbon and red wine
F: No heat, great mouthfeel
O: A triumph - a world class beer - very different than a decade ago but still going strong
Oct 22, 2016
Photo of Fux
Reviewed by Fux from France

4.86/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Sampled at the Tasting to Sink all Sea Shepherds with things like MMM or Dave alongside.
A: Very dark brown, almost black with a small creamy off-white head which doesn't last very long.
S: Smell of dark fruits, fudge, vanilla and roasted malts. Signs of oxydation (light). No way this is a Belgian style barleywine. Deep, complex and balanced. Wonderful.
T: Taste follows the nose with great chocolate flavors dominating. Some very nice tartness, faint but which makes the beer even more drinkable (reminding me a little bit of the flavor profile of the Kate the Great). Then come vanilla, leather, dark fruits and liquorice. As deep and complex as foreseen from the nose. No oxydation from the taste. Marvelous.
M: Medium to high body. Sweetness is really low for the style, which is great! Alcohol is also well hidden. Smooth, velvety palate but not sticky. Just perfect mouthfeel.
O: Awesome beer, actually quite unusual for the style. It could have been a perfect 5 with a little bit less of age on it. It still is the best barlewine I've been given the chance to try. I loved it and I hope I will see this again!
Oct 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.65 by HaveUSeenMyCellar from California

Aug 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.64 by halo3one from Georgia

Mar 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.4 by SocalKicks from California

Oct 28, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by Cobratrooper from Virginia

Aug 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.79 by blisscent from Rhode Island

Aug 20, 2015
Photo of GRG1313
Reviewed by GRG1313 from California

4.39/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Admittedly I tried this for the first time 10 years after its release, the bottle having been cellared the past several years in a 53-55 degree walk in cellar. Sometimes cellaring works - this time it did. This beer is aged; it's old and it's past its prime. However, it remains a beer to be reckoned with.

Deep ruby or pomegranate brown with an assertive spiced coffee, malty, raising and cooked chocolate nose. The texture of the beer (the mouthfeel) is like velvet. This one was a huge surprise all around. I finally opened it since I found it in the back of my cellar and I just "knew" that it would be old and funky and just needed to be opened. Well, it was wonderful! Oxidized? Yeah...a bit, but the flavor profile was all there and truth is, it was part of a blind tasting so no one was influenced by what it was! We were all very surprised and delighted.
Aug 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.12 by BDeibs from Colorado

Jul 30, 2015
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

4.32/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to GRG1313 for sharing this one at his tasting.

Release date: 5/5/05.

Pours a murky reddish-brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, and raisin aromas. Taste is much the same with toast, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, raisin, and slight cardboard flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of earth bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and sticky mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is showing a bit of oxidation in the taste, but the flavors are still fantastic to me.

Serving type: bottle.
Jul 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.2 by vissai from California

Jul 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by drewone from California

Jul 27, 2015
Photo of Retsinis
Reviewed by Retsinis from Arizona

4.64/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Ruby Porterish color. Medium carbed head retention. Semi oxidized, notes of caramel, cola, spice, malt, touch of rye. Wow. Admittedly past prime, but thank you Richard. What a treat to taste.
Jul 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by jophish17 from Georgia

Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by jampics2 from Ohio

Jun 13, 2014
M Belgian-Style Barleywine from Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 99 ratings