Mikkeller 黑 / Black

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Imperial Stout
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Bottle. Body-jet black with a beige loose head. Nose-alcohol vapors, Starbucks coffee liquor, pecan shells, herbal, smells like coffee syrup. Taste-B-I-T-T-E-R, alcohol burn, sweet like brown sugar, espresso grounds, cough syrup like finish, sweet unami. Like SATB without the maple. Sweetens as it warms. Like Starbucks coffee liquor with some cream and honey and a crap ton of alcohol.

375 ml bottle. Totally black body with a lacing beige head. Strong complex aroma of roasted malt, liquorices, dark chocolate, roasted coffee and tar. Flavor has most of what to expect from the aroma, roasted malt, bitter coffee, bitter chocolate, liquorices, molasses sweetness, lots of alcohol and a burning bitter finish. This beer is a complex monster right now (March 2008), but still has an immature rawness that probably needs a few more years in the cellar. Glad I manage to get another bottle for storage.

By the way, I really do not see this beer coming close to SA Triple Bock. I would never have the imagination to compare this thoroughbred Imperial Stout with an oversweet maple juice. This is more comparable with a raw version of Dark Horizon or Speedway Stout. And the appearance is exactly as good as it’s possible to get with this style of beer if you not prejudiced.

Bottled
Pours absolutely pitch black with a firm head. Sweet liquorice and soy aroma; is this Samuel Adams Triple Bock?? Thick and oily mouth feel. Flavour is sweet with notes of coffee, liquorice and dark, bitter chocolate. But most of all the flavour is bitter; really, really bitter! An extreme beer designed for beer masochists like us.

On tap at European Beerfestival. Pours black with a yellowish head and some lacings. Sweet and dry. Aromas of chocolate malts and dark fruits with hints of honey and ash. Soft carbonation. Sticky mouthfeel. Long sweet finish.

Super Strong, Super Sweet, Super Bitter, and its pretty super. its taste is pure espresso with lots of sugar and minor touch of tartness. NOT a session beer, drink it slowly, but drink it.

Bottle: Dark brown pour with a thin brown head. Dark fruit, roast, chocolate, and smoke in the aroma. Hints of the ABV already. Tastes sweet and fruity into a heavier roast and coffee note. The ABV shows, but not too bad. Molasses and light smoke too. I would like to try this aged 3-4 years... Thanks BuckeyeBoy.

Deep black of color with very nice brown head. An aroma of leather, coffee, alcohol and chocolate. A oily flavor with lots of bitter notes, coffee and sweets and alcohol notes. A year or two for storage and i think it would be great.

decaturstevo’s Febmergency Tasting. Sample from a bottle shared by me thanks to bierkoning. Best by 12/12/17. Totally pitch black with a thin head. Aroma is alcohol, soy sauce, chocolate, coffee. The taste is hugely warming alcohol, big burnt coffee, some chocolate and a small soy sauce finish.