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Home > Brewers > Alaska > Midnight Sun Brewing Company >

Midnight Sun M

 (RETIRED)

Midnight Sun M

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 Percentile 
100
overall
A Barley Wine formerly brewed by
Midnight Sun Brewing Company

Anchorage, Alaska USA

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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
794.23/5.04.2/5.0Special11.6%99.4 Snifter P  Stats

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 RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 goldtwins (3731), 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.

 tertons (100), East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/510/105/513/20
Aug 25, 2008  
Thanks to Moejuck. Super malty rich with the mix of chocolate, candy sugar, and molasses mixed in. Full body and thick with flavor and yet thin when settling. The barrel component works well with the bourbon. High drinkability with little trace of alcohol. Would love to see a higher abv M in the future since I think this might be fitting.


 ogglethorp (784), Ohio, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/517/20
Aug 25, 2008  
Bottle, Cleveland tasting, Moejuck! Pours ruby/brown color with a thin tan colored head. Aroma is molasses, brown sugar, caramel malts. Flavor is again molasses, brown sugar, caramel, raisins, hint of alcohol. Palate is full bodied, mild to almost no carbonation, finished chewy and sticky sweet. Wonderful brew, leaves a sticky coating on the lips.


StoutCat (65), Rockville, Maryland, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/58/105/519/20
Jul 6, 2008  
Dark brown, white-cream colored very thin head. sweet molasses aroma with alcohol bite. Flavors of caramel and vanilla, very smooth and sweet.


 OldGrowth (1269), Cary, North Carolina, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jun 2, 2008  
bottle at Carolina Crew get together, from the hand trade with timmcd64 & juzy while on my Alaskan BW fest trip. Great aroma, so much going on with this, wow, Smoke, chocolate, brown sugar, raisin. Clean brownish black color, small head & lacing. Bitter sweet flavor, Like I said with the aroma and a vanilla bourbon addition. Thick body, creamy mouthfeel, bitter sweet finish. This was a great brew, aged wonderfully. Aroma, flavor this had it all. Incredible balance of things. My words aren’t doing this justice.


 kmweaver (1973), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/518/20
Jun 1, 2008  
22oz bottle, courtesy of Stine. Thanks, Eben! Pours a very dark, cola-brown color; light tan head with patchy lacing; touch of oiliness. Caramel, dates, and raisins in the aroma; plenty of dried fruits, with a very relaxed bourbon aroma underneath: slight, sticky bourbon and buttery vanilla (very much in the background); impressively balanced. Relaxed carbonation. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: chewy caramel, dried dark fruits (dates, raisins), and nougat; exceptionally balanced and drinkable; velvety mouthfeel: beautifully integrated bourbon notes (toasty rounded liquor, vanilla, soft wooden notes) with a chewy caramel and dried fruits; I wasn’t completely submerged by the first sip, but there’s so much here when allowed to open up, and so integrated; remarkably drinkable and soft. Excellent. Lengthy finish: chewy dried fruits, dates, and sweet vanilla / toasty malts; very soft ending.




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