Mikkeller Simcoe IPA

Date: 03/15/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

dark muddy brown, whispy beige head that eaisly rouses and quicky fades, sweet hop mild aroma, great sweet carmel malt flavor, well balanced hop flavor, nice lasting bitter finish that grows as you go,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***/4

[#600 and yet a masterpiece from Mikkeller] Bottle and properly one of the very last ones left of this unsurpassed batch. Again huge thanks to Mikkel for letting me taste a display of craftsmanship in a bottle.

Looks can be deceiving, but this one delivered all that it promised! Appearance was impressive with a sky-high bubbly froth that kept its journey to the rim of the glass. Landscape display of lacing was left behind. Clear sparkling body at first, then heavy cloudy with a lovely golden amber color.

Editorial note: Simcoe - American high alpha variety released in 2000. Distinctive passion fruit flavor and aroma where Simcoe hops are utilized late in the boil (i.e., boiled for between 20 and 0 minutes). (Alpha acid 12–14% / beta acid 4–5%)

Apart from the very floral and fruity notes that Simcoe delivers there are also notes of herbal, citrus and grass in there. A good mix of malty sweetness was also present. Caramel and liquorish can be detected. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation, and an excellent dry texture. Finish was liquorish sweet with a crisp dry ending. I have an intimate relationship with Simcoe and Mikkeller brew.

500 ml bottle, via Papsoe. Pours a clear very dark copper colored body under a generous foamy beige head that left lots of spotty lacing. Aroma is still quite strong with that lovely simcoe scent. Some hefty sweet candy like maltiness below. Lots of punchy citrusy simcoe flavor with a powdrey sugary finish that I seem get with simcoe beers. Minimal sweetness peeking through the hops even though there’s not much bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a soft almost creamy texture and pinpoint lively carbonation. This was a nice one. I give this a slight edge over Weyerbacher Double Simcoe. A little more of a cleaner and basic malt profile.

(Bottle 50 cl) Slightly hazy, dark amber with a gigantic, dense and lasting, beige head - sorta shaving foam style. Fat and greasy aroma hops in the nose. Quite a full body with a solid base of caramel malt. Dry - almost leathery - notes of the Simcoe leaving a dry but not overly bitter finish. 010207

Pours a hazy dark brown color, small white head. Aroma is as expected, HUGE luscious simcoe goodness. I love this hop. The flavor aint too bad either, pushing the limit on the ammount of pine bitternes but not exceeding.