Mikkeller 黑 / Black

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

Bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy, dark brown, mostly lasting. Body is opaque black (flashlight tested), bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (roasted grain, husks, dark chocolate, coffee), lightly hoppy (grapefruit), with notes of alcohol and soy sauce, hint of berry. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately to heavily bitter. Full body, creamy/syrupy texture, soft/lively carbonation, heavily alcoholic. Like many of this brewery’s products, the aroma is the weakest link...there’s not that much to it and this one is somewhat vegetal. Sad, because the other aspects are quite decadent. Easy perfect score for the appearance (surprising head retention for the ABV, and absolute opacity). A rather harsh, burning finish, yes (and a little syrupy as well, hence no 5), but otherwise a very pleasant, luxurious mouthfeel. And a very rich flavor balance that has just enough bitterness to offset the immense malt sweetness. But yep, just not much interesting to say about the aroma...in fact, the first whiff I took upon pouring made me think the overall experience would be dull, but it definitely has a commanding presence in the mouth.

Very dark beer out of the bottle. I had to use pliers to get the artificial cork out of the bottle. Huge dark brown head that left lots of sticky lace. You can tell from the first sip that this is a huge ABV beer, even though the alcohol flavors are not overpowering. Nose has lots of sherry, ripe dark fruit, tobacco, and a thick,sweet alcohol warmth. This is a huge, sipping beer. Lots of caramel, toffee, molassess, chocolate, burnt coffee, fresh ashtray, sweet cherries, just tons of flavors. I just feels like a thick, big, almost dangerous beer. It is a little disjointed, and almost too big. I’ll vote for wildest and craziest.

Black colored brew. #1100. Aroma is alcoholic, spiritus, whisky. Flavor is vinous, whiskey, strong alcoholic, strong bitterness, licorice. A bit controversial, but I like it.

Black/darkest brown, small tan head. Big time licorice, huge roasty bittersweet malt, light coffee, alcohol, sugar. Body is a medium/full, no doubt lightened a bit by the beet sugar, soft carbonation. Very nice, could use more time though. From notes.

Bottle (@ RBESG 2008): Pours pitch-black with a stable, brownish head; liquorice, dark malt, sherry, dried fruit and leather in the nose; full sweet-bitter flavour, full bodied; lingering, warming, first sweet, later bitter finish with traces of leather and coffee. Very good, but very sweet, indeed......

Pours a black color with a brown head. Aroma is molasses, brown sugar, chocolate, roast, a hint of plum, and alcohol. Flavor is malty, caramel, roast, raisins, plum, and a bitter alcohol finish.

RB#4600: 37.5 cL bottle. Pours pitch black with a creamy dense chocolate brown head. Fruity and dense roasted malt aroma. Bite from alcohol in the eyes. Sweet and fruity flavour with a heavy roasted malt flavour following. Impressive sweet flavour with cane sugar and somewhat else - kind of off. Roasted barley acidic dense flavour in addition. Sweet and fruity into the finish with a distinct burning feel. Utterly unbalanced. Has all the ingredienses yet not in a nice blend. :( I did enjoy the experience - although this is tough one.

Bottle Pours out ink black topped with a small brown head. Aroma of tons of dark roast and some sweetness (pit fruit and molassses). Tast was of smoke, molasses and some pit fruit. Still pretty hot maybe stash it away for a while to help mellow.