Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel (Highland Edition)

Mikkeller
Formerly brewed at Nøgne Ø
Style: Imperial Stout
Copenhagen, Denmark

Serve in Snifter

Black with a good chocolate head. Aroma is whiskey, coffee, oak. Full bodied, slick on the palate with a dry finish. Taste is coffee, chocolate, oak, vanilla, touch of smoke, figs and dates.

Brewed March ’09, Reviewed Dec ’11. Pours syrup-like pitch black with no head until encouraged (eg a 20cm high pour), at which point a thin layer of dark, dark tan is noticeable. Nose shows coffee liqueur, musty notes, chocolate truffles, soft whisky notes and lots of vanilla essence. Pretty interesting. After a while the vanilla is the real dominant aroma. Seems to only improve as time wears on. Flavours are just as intense, lots of booze, whisky, roasted malt and chocolate syrup. Not as much coffee as I expected but definitely noticeable. Unfortunately the booze is pretty obvious and a little harsh. Very syrupy body, almost no carbonation; could use more. Overall a bit harsh and full-on but otherwise quite an experience.

During Mikkel’s and Thomass’ visit in Athens, Oct 2009. This was probalby the best of the barel version we tried that night, which was a hard task considering they were all great ! Pitch black witha small but dense brown head. Roasted malty aroma, smoke, wood, great coffee, whiskey. Roastd malty taste, wood, vanilla, coffee,soem whiskey. Dry roasty finish. Very full bodied, great mouthfeel. A masterpiece.

Bottle. Color black with medium brown head. Aroma hop, wood, whiskey, smoke, chocolate, dark fruits, coffee. Taste coffee, whiskey, oak wood, chocolate, smoke. Great mouthfeel and aftertaste. Top beer.

Finally getting to this - It’s pitch black which is nice for the occasion - just about to watch the PVR’d Rugby World Cup Final with New Zealand. I managed to keep the glutenous blobs within the bottle instead of letting them cannonball into my lovely glass. Produced a thin dark black cap with slippery spot lacing that moved back to the surface just like a now globe that has been left to sit. Excellent aroma - drool inducing rich roasted malts and chocolate, thick coffee that is not over the top, cream. Deep relaxed inhales bring a deep soulful meaning of indulgence. Only on deep smells after letting my beer sit can I pick up the scotch treatment hanging around in the shadows. HInts of berries and an even fainter licorice - the cookie dough hovers above both. Ahhhhhhhhh what wonderful taste - Mikkeller does everything right. Although I didn’t buy this here it’s sure great to have someone bringing in all these excellent Mikkeller beers. Massively rich malts, coffee and then chocolate combo. Whiskey bite notes continue on every sip at every point. My cat just licked my hand for 30 seconds.. such a long tongue!!!mmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Interesting spice hangs around - not quite cinnamon, not quite something else - odd. Light alcohol bite that works and doesn’t annoy. This beer is very well put together - so well that I had totally forgotten about the bitterness until right now when it obviously added up on my taste buds - I wouldn’t exactly call them my ’buds’ but I drink with them more than my other buds. This specific whisky treatment is much softer than the others and, in a way, much more enjoyable with its subdued ways that use little hooks to attach to your senses. There’s that berry quality again. Breathe in the alc. Breathe in the lingering harsh bitterness. Taste it... it’s there always. Now I note some whisky things - sharp bite with faint pear. Thick, smooth and velvety, long lingering hugely thick malt finish. I totally love this beer - so many subtle qualities - I’d email the brewery and tell them how to improve their beer but there is nothing to improve on. Lesson? Ass.

Sampled at SB & WF 2011. Pours pitch black with a small white head. Smells smoky, chocolate and minerals. Tastes soy, smoky and chocolate with a smoky soy finish.

Sampled @ SBWF on September 29. Pours a viscous black colour with a small white head. Smell is slightly sour and very intense with some fruits and alcohol in it. Taste is sweet with alcohol and coffee. It has a nice bitterness to it. Mouthfeel is rather light which was unexpected considering the smell.

Sample @ SBWF 2011. Pours black with a small brown head leaving lace. Aroma is roasted malty dark fruits sweet. Flavor is fullbodied sweet roasted alcohol bitter tart malty. Finishes longlived roasted and bitter.