Mikkeller Stateside

Mikkeller
Brewed at BrewDog
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Pours a clear, sparkling, copper-red color with a full, white, rocky, creamy head; longevity of the head is good and lacing is nice and sporatic. Nose is certainly filled with cascades and some nice supporting malt notes; notes of some pink grapefruit, mint leaves, light pine resins, grassy undertones, and a malt base of cookie and light sweet breads. Flavor is fairly similar with nice cascade notes and some hints at the amarillo with a nice supporting malt base; the medium to medium-high bitterness of the grassy/piney hops is noted throughout the progression with undertones of mint, pink grapefruit, light bitter oranges, cookie and light caramels. Palate is medium, creamy, soft to lively, and lightly drying towards the finish. The finish is average length with the sweet notes fading out, leaving only bitterness of light grass and woodsy pine notes. It’s nice to see European breweries trying to emulate American micros, but this one is not what I would consider to be truly American. The West Coast IPA’s are much more aggressive in the bittering and in the high alpha hops. Nevertheless, it is a nice alternative to European IPA’s and is certainly more than drinkable.

Living in the states and consuming all sorts of Euro style beers brewed by local outfits, it’s nice to see a Euro outfit paying tribute to the wonderful and origional beer styles being produced on this side of the pond. From the bomber is pours a hazy but transparent, orange gold with a large frothy white head. Aroma is heavy on the hops, but nothing outrageous, pine and grapefruit mellowed out by a grainy, biscuit aroma. Flavor is heavy on the citrus bitterness rounded by sweet yet subtle toffee and malt flavors. Finish is heavy on the bitterness, but not mouth puckering like other imbalanced beers. Delicious and complex, an American style beer done with a slightly Euro flair.

Pours with a frothy, initially four-finger thick, light tan colored head that leaves a nice lacing pattern on the sides of my glass as it slowly recedes. The beer is brilliantly clear and shows a multitude of carbonation bubbles in this well carbonated brew. The beer is a full, red-toned, copper color. Aromas of hops and sweet caramelized grain intermingle in the aroma. Though the hops dominate the malt still plays a significant role. Aromas of pine, sharp grapefruit, lychee, berries, lightly toasted bread, soda crackers, sweet malt and caramel are all noticeable. The aroma has enough malt to make this beer seem quite appetizing.

Sharply bitter from the start, the bitterness proceeds to get even bigger through to the finish. There is a fair amount of malt to offset this bitterness though. Chewy, with a medium fullness to the beer, this is definitely not on the dry side for an IPA. I like the residual malt sugars here though as they add a much needed balance to the significant hop character. This is an IPA after all, and the hops do dominate the flavor profile; flavors of bergamot, lychee and ruby-red grapefruit play a significant role up front, but then a substantial pine / menthol / green-herbal note start to kick in towards the middle and finish, where it mixes with the substantial, slightly astringent bitterness. The malt flavors are perhaps not as noticeable despite the important role it plays here, but still flavors of honey-like malt, toasty grain, biscuits, slight toffee and a soft fruitiness are all noticeable before the substantial, lingering, bitterness wipes the palate of their presence.

This is a nice interpretation of an IPA. As expected the malt played a fairly significant role here, though I have had many an American IPA that overplayed the malt, which this one has not done. I still prefer a slightly lesser malt character in a standard IPA; this is not quite as quaffable as it could be, though it is certainly quite drinkable and enjoyable.

Purchased via mail order: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Solutions

This was kind of disappointing, I was really expecting more from this beer. Herbal grassy hop nose. Comes across more of an English style, with a focus on a maltiness as opposed to overpowering hops. Has a kind of caramel nuttiness int he malt flavor. I was just looking for a little more oomph, perhaps a little bigger flavor and complexity. Definitely worth trying, but I could not have said it better than Pigfoot a few ratings down.

Pours a clear amber with nice fluffy white head. Bitter piney hops, floral grassy flavors, grapefruit, lemon, citrus, and a bit of caramel and sweet malt. Nice IPA, well done.

A beautiful dark amber ale with a thick light moka head. Aroma is of complex hops, pihhey, nutty, light berry notes. In mouth, a sweet caramel with smoked peated notes, nutty, lingering herbal hops, citrus. Mouthfeel is a bit lighter than expected, but overall, this is a pleasant experience. Bieropholie import.

A nice rustic tasting ale with a predominant spicy yeast bite that for me is a bit of a detractor from the US hops the beer is featuring. Overall, enjoyable and unique.

Hazy amber with medium off white head. Aroma is fruity with noticeable hops. Flavor has grapefruit, citrus and loads of hops. Very refreshing and it finishes bitter.