Midnight Sun Brewing Company Arctic Devil Barley Wine Ale - Ale Aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Midnight Sun Brewing Company Arctic Devil Barley Wine Ale - Ale Aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels.  I picked up this bottle at Royal Liquors (here) in San Jose.

From the Midnight Sun Brewing Company website: “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 brewed once a year then aged in oak barrels for several months before the entire batch is blended, bottled and released. Arctic Devil is released once a year in the fall.

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.

Midnight Sun’s elusive Arctic Devil Barley Wine is Alaska’s most awarded barley wine.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a murky dark caramel color with no head leaving little lacing.

Aroma: Caramel, toffee, oak, vanilla, bourbon, dark fruits and roasted malts.

Taste: Bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, coconut and oak. Sweet, slightly overcooked malts and boozy, but in a good way.

Overall: Delicious and complex, Midnight Sun Brewing Company Arctic Devil Barley Wine Ale - Ale Aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels is very enjoyable.  This 13.4% ABV beast is worth sourcing if you’re a fan of the style. If I find another bottle I’ll probably cellar it as I am sure this one would age very nicely.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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