Mikkeller Yeast Series: Brettanomyces

Mikkeller
Formerly brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Copenhagen, Denmark

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Taste 2010-06-12. Bottle 33cl. Pours clear, amber with big, frothy, beige head. Aroma is very bretty (obviously) and slightly hoppy. Taste is actually quite surprising to me; Practically no acidity, which I (mistakenly?) thought the bretts would leave. As it warms up, I even think the acidity leaves the aroma as well. It feels very similar to Orval, but the aroma reminds me of an older orval, while the taste reminds me of a fresh one. Very well done, Mikkel. A truly educational experiance. Points for that.

Tap at the Mikkeller bar. Ruby-amber color with a tan, lacing foam. Vinous aroma with white grape, apple, brettanomyces, resin and citrus. Gets fruiter as it warms. Some sour cherry notes are present. Medium body with high carbonation. Sweet taste with more of a lambicy sourness as it warms. Complex, and absolutely outstanding. Thanks!

2011-01-30, bottle, 8-5-8-5-17=43
Hazy-cloudy amber color; creamy head, generous. Immediate fruity aroma, apples too; then vegetables (beans stew), marmalade, vinegar, fresh sausages... Very good body, bold and sweet; malt with strong Bretts presence, astringent, fruity, dynamic. The hopping is both strong and aromatic, some orange fruitiness and some resins appear. Superb.

2010-07-15, bottle, 8-5-8-4-17=42
Hazy copper color; medium sized creamy head; nice fine perlage. I add that the aroma is also soapy. The Bretts seem to limit the impact of the hops, anyway, less evident than in the Belgian Ale and US Ale. At times, it winks at Orval, even if without having the same elegance; stronger.

2010-06-29, bottle, 8-5-8-4-17=42
Hazy light amber color; medium sized head, creamy; beautiful lace. The aroma is really nice: soft Bretts, sugar and delicate but evident fruitiness and aromatic hops. Good body strength; caramel and malt flavor, with respectable residual sweetness; there is the expected Bretts characteristics, tart, light sourness, bitter oranges, light astringency. The bitterness is strong, maybe a tad too much.
The combination of Bretts, sweetness and aromatic hops is a winner. Excellent.

2010-05-05, draught at Mikkeller Bar, opening night, 7-5-8-4-17=41
Hazy amber color; creamy head. Evident Bretts aroma, dusty cellar, but also a bit fruity. Sweetish caramel flavor, with dry, mild Bretts character and light fruity shades, and light astringency. Actually the combination of sweetness, fruitiness and Bretts works out very well. Love it

On tap at the CASK, Pimlico, 27th Nov 2010. Dark hazy orange. Gorgeous Brett aroma. Fruity, slightly sour taste. Candy sugar and orangey hops. Exceptional. You want another before you are halfway through the first glass.

Murky amber with big, foamy, beige head / Delicate nose of orchard fruit and skunky barnyard / Light to medium body, acidic and lightly tart, with good balance and dry, bitter, finish / Musty, funky, flavors of apple, pear, caramel, chrysanthemum, manure, and soap / Good stuff.

Terrific, clean beer with the distinct qualities of lightly "bretted" beer

On tap one chilly afternoon on Mikkeller day at the Cask, Pub and Kitchen. Cloudy dark amber pour with a fluffy white head. Nasal caressing aromas of caramel, citrus, toffee and fresh, warm bread. Crisp, refreshing flavours of tangerine, ginger, caramel, pineapple. Very crisp, sharp taste. Spicy mouthfeel. Dry, spicy finish with a bitter edge. Very nice indeed.

Draft at Capones. Gorgeous amber pour with nice milky head. Aroma is sweet with slightly musty notes. Taste is sweet citrus with nice mild brett funk. Really rounded flavor finishes well. Great.

Considering the lack of "pff" when opening to bottle, there’s a huge foamy head that’s poured. Lot’s of lace on the glass as the head slowly falls in the glass. Copious amounts of bubbles coating the glass. Cloudy burnt orange body color. Aroma of tangerines, naval oranges and coriander. While there is a leather flavor to it, it’s not the strong musky slap in the face you usually get from the bret/pedio cocktail that is usually brewed. Lingers on the palate just like you would get from eating a sour orange. Would be a very good, albeit expensive, part of a sampler pack for Brett if I was designing one.

UPDATED: JUL 26, 2010 A Mes rate. Draught at Mikkeller.
An attractive bright amber with a thin off white head. An fantastic blend of brett and lavender. Plenty of hops, great chewy malt in the background and fruit coming at you all over the place. Really good lemon and farmyard finish. This really hit the spot for me.

Sim notes (tap at Copenhagen Beer Festival): Sweet hoppy aroma with malt & yeast. Great golden colour and a head with nice lace. Bitter brett flavour with sweet malt and tangerine. So so bitter, but very good.